One summer day about 15 years ago, I discovered a tool that changed my life. I was a hardworking mom with a nonstop work schedule—and pregnant with my third child, Carolina. I was tired, anxious, and no stranger to spikes of adrenaline and cortisol—the typical experience of the stretched-thin modern human. Through serendipity, I met the great Transcendental Meditation master Bob Roth, who summered in Montauk. Bob had the most beatific presence I’d ever come across; you could almost see the calm field surrounding him. He took one look at me and, with a knowing smile, began telling me about the science of meditation—how it was not simply a practice of the mind, but also of the body. He explained how, by “de-exciting” the mind through the simple practice he taught, the body could follow, helping to powerfully unwind stress. I remember saying with a laugh that I lived in the beta brain 24/7—alert, anxious, unlikely to sit still, always ready to fix the world. I liked the sound of slipping into meditation’s alpha-1 state—a transcendent state of restful alertness, where the body could heal and restore, and creative thoughts naturally bubbled up from the depths. Bob explained the “bliss” one could feel in that place was real—partly a result of increased blood flow to the brain and natural support of serotonin production. I quickly signed up to learn the practice.
Transcendental Meditation opened the doorway to a whole new way of being. The world “out there” wasn’t going to tone itself down—but I could move through it infinitely more capable of adapting to unexpected events, feeling more resourced and more in touch with the bliss of my inner light instead of being governed by my stressed inner shadow. Soon, I learned other simple techniques, like nose breathing or pranayama, on the quest to become a better breather, just as renowned author James Nestor describes in this issue. Today these tools are my daily nonnegotiables. They physiologically change how stress-inducing things affect me, and give me the quiet ability to redirect myself and stay on the path.
In Bob’s bestselling book, Strength in Stillness, he describes our thoughts as a tumult of waves on the ocean, and says we are but passengers on a small boat bobbing on the surface. What a perfect analogy for late summer! When we close our eyes and meditate, we can dip below the turbulence into the peaceful depths within. Coming out of meditation, I always picture myself on my surfboard—so much more graceful at riding the ever-changing waves above.
At its essence, Purist is all about the tools and guidance to locate and amplify our inner light, connect to our own source of creativity, and expand consciousness. Just like I learned with Bob, we don’t have to do this fully on our own. As Ram Dass famously said, “We’re all just walking each other home.” So as summer’s sweet days get more golden, I’d love to know what tools you like to use on your journey. Share them with me at wellness@thepuristonline.com!
