Oprah and Deepak Meditation Challenge

August 4, 2013April 24, 2014 dotcomwomen

It isn’t exactly the first time that I have signed up for the meditation challenge hosted jointly by Oprah Winfrey and Deepak Chopra. But I never managed to make it to the actual program due to, well, one crazy excuse or the other (I know any woman reading this would totally understand!). This time, however, I am completely determined to participate and benefit from the challenge. During the course of the next 21 days, I will share with you my experiences and honest opinions on the O & D meditation challenge.

Oprah and Deepak 21 Day Meditation Challenge

Had it, Lost it, Trying to Get it Back

Being brought up in a family where spiritualism, naturopathy and yoga were a way of life, I am not exactly new to meditation. My mother would insist that my day started with meditation and deep breathing exercises and what started at first, with an effort to fake an hour-long meditating pose (while I probably recited the lines of my favorite romantic poems in my mind) changed into sanctifying moments as I rolled into my twenties. But somewhere down the lane – work, marriage and kids changed my lifestyle a lot and I am trying to find it all once again. While the seeds of spiritualism sown early in my life make sure I am the same person when it comes to essentials, but I honestly cannot remember the last time I sat down for even a few minutes to reflect on my inner self.

This meditation challenge seems like a perfect way to nudge myself back into what I know is the right thing to do. With the personal guides on this challenge being two people I look upto, I have high hopes!

The Challenge

Jointly brought to the world by Oprah’s Lifeclass and The Chopra Center for Meditation, the challenges address different areas each time. The last challenge was on the topic of ‘Perfect Health’ (can’t believe I missed that one!). This challenge is about developing ‘Miraculous Relationships’. In a nutshell, this challenge aims to:

Help you explore your inner world
Help you create and live a life filled with authentic love
Nurturing relationships
Growing group support and overall support systems

The details listed above only give a brief idea of the kind of relationships this meditation challenge aims to work upon. I am unsure of what exactly I am going to gain after 21 days, and I am willingly embarking on this journey with an open mind and ready to embrace concepts out of my comfort zone.

Tips for Success

Deepak Chopra also gives some useful meditation tips to make the most of this 21 week challenge:

1. Choose a time and place for meditation – Check.

2. Wear comfortable clothing – Check.

3. Let others know how important this challenge is ask them to respect the time you set aside. (They even have a “Do Not Disturb – I am Meditating” printable sign that I plan to skip) – Check, other than the printable sign.

4. Connect with other like-minded meditators through their Facebook page – Check.

5. If you miss a day of meditation, be gentle with yourself and then resume your daily practice – hoping the next 21 days are relatively ‘uneventful’ and the need for this does not arise.

Unlike G+ Hangouts and Webinars, the daily sessions posted on the website continue to stay there for the duration of the challenge (and after that), so you can be flexible with the time and catch up even if you miss a day or two. So, here’s to 21 days filled with nurturing my inner self! And if you wish to join in, here’s where you can register.