47. Meditation and Lyme with Nicholas Arsenault
Becoming grounded amidst the noise.
Interest in meditation has grown by leaps and bounds in recent years and is now practiced by millions of people worldwide. In this podcast, we find out how meditation can help people throughout their health challenges and beyond. Nicholas Arsenault is an outdoor educator who discovered the healing power of meditation through his own journey with Lyme disease, and is now drawing on what he has learned to help others.
The healing power of meditation
Nicholas turned to meditation in order to address the mental health component of Lyme disease. He wanted to be able to direct his own healing process, become grounded and shut out the noise associated with Lyme disease. His meditation practice began when he met Jeff Warren, a meditation teacher from Toronto, Canada. After guiding meditation for several years, Nicholas enrolled in meditation teacher training with Tara Brach and Jack Kornfield with the intention of better navigating his own life and eventually helping others.
Being the observer
Nicholas has some pointers for those who want to meditate but worry that they can’t sit still or turn their minds off. He suggests that, rather than trying to turn off the mind, meditation is about experiencing whatever emerges in their mind and in their experience. Whatever is happening during meditation, it’s all there to be observed as part of the meditative process. He notes that everything that is happening is part of the practice and encourages people to stick with it.
“People say I’ve tried meditating and I can’t do it, I can’t sit still, my mind keeps telling me things, I can’t turn my mind off…meditation is about just experiencing whatever emerges, whatever’s unfolding in your mind and in your experience…everything you’re experiencing and observing is there to be observed, and that is the meditation itself.”
Nicholas Arsenault
Mapping it on to everyday life
Nicholas relates his own experience of how meditation maps on to his daily life. He has noticed that this often shows up throughout the day when he’s able to take a few grounding breaths, notice a sense of presence, and stop and take stock of the present moment. He has found these moments of self observation to be invaluable in his daily life.
Sitting with others
Meditating in a group can also be very powerful. Nicholas describes a recent guided meditation group he led in which people were supported in their shared and also very unique experiences of Lyme disease. He noticed that people were able to empathize with each other, and feel supported through the ups and downs of Lyme. He has seen the positive impact that people experience when they sit together in meditation, then have the opportunity to share.
“[In group meditation] There’s a great power in being in community because you just feel held, you just feel seen, and although most of what you’re doing is just sitting, there’s an opportunity to share as well, and that can be very powerful.”
Nicholas Arsenault
Observing the mind
Sitting alone in meditation can also be a powerful experience. Nicholas describes this as getting to know your self, your essence, your mind and your self talk. He explains that people with Lyme may be able to get in touch with their body in a more accepting way through meditation.
Nicholas guides listeners through a 30 minute meditation
Through this guided meditation, Nicholas presents listeners with an experience of breath centered/mindful meditation, a body scan meditation and a metta meditation. For those who would like to listen to this meditation again, it begins at the timestamp of 8:48 and includes:
- Breath centered, mindful meditation: 9:58
- Body scan meditation: 19:42
- Metta meditation: 24:30
The power of conscious breathing
Nicholas reflects on the importance of breathing, recognizing that for some people breathing is difficult. He describes breathing as “a place to come home…that gives us life, grounds us, and is a wonderful resource that is always there.” Nicholas explains that being conscious of our breathing can be a very powerful and accessible resource. Thank you Nicholas for showing us how meditation can help people in their journey with Lyme disease and thank you for your guided meditation. Our listeners can access this whenever they need a daily dose of calm!
“Breathing is a sort of place to come home to…it gives us life, it’s always there. It is sort of this wonderful resource, this metronome for being grounded, that we can always tap into.”
Nicholas Arsenault
