Meditation During Covid Is Booming. Married at First Sight Star Tells Benefits

What are the benefits of meditation? It's seen a rise during Covid-19. The practice increased 2,900% globally between March and September last year, according to Fitbit user data. Equinox Media says they've seen an “incredible uptick in meditation since the beginning of the pandemic.”

One man who’s on a mission to make a positive change through meditation is Hong Kong-based Dino Hira. He's taught mindfulness in Australian prisons, launched a wellness brand and starred in the hit reality TV series, Married at First Sight Australia.

Dino says meditation is a joyful feeling.

“Meditation is all about going inwards because most of our day we spend it going outwards at work with family, with children, with friends. So meditation is all about me time and it's not selfish at all. It's actually very amazing for your wellness and mental health as well.”

The practice helped Dino overcome depression.

“Personally, I started meditation when I was 8 years old. My parents, thankful to them that they put me through meditation classes once a week. It came back in my life at such a crucial time when I was questioning everything. I was working as an engineer in the mines, really robotic, mundane. But meditation came into my life when I hit rock bottom, when I was going through depression. And as a man, it feels so great to actually talk about this because I feel that my speech will be light for others who are going through the same situation. So firstly, I overcame depression by investing my time and energy in meditation. And today it brings me great joy to preach this and whether it's maximum security prisons, drug and alcohol rehab centers, teaching teachers to children wherever in schools. The more people that meditate the more peaceful the world will become.”

Dino says paying attention to the breath can help combat stress and anxiety, especially in this time of uncertainty with Covid-19.

“We can take a look at how we’re breathing and how we breathe makes a huge impact in how we react to situations. So, you see nowadays we hear all about Covid. We hear a lot of fearful stories. But the ones that meditate know that it's only a phase. So, when you live in the mind, you get caught up in your thoughts. But when you're living in your heart, you know how to observe, how to witness, but never become your thought as well.”

Meditation also helped Dino keep his cool during the filming of Married at First Sight Australia.

“I am so thankful that I had meditation behind me going into a national TV show, which is now international as well. There were some parts in filming where we called the dinner parties and there is just chaos. There’s arguments. There’s people. Just a lot of noise. And to me, bringing that zen, bringing that mentality and bringing that lifestyle into that dinner party didn't make me react. There were so many opportunities where I could have raised my voice, where I could have changed my body language. Hell, even flipped a table. But I didn't do all of that. I just stayed in my zone, focused on my breath as well because my breath didn't change in that moment. But I really thank meditation to bring out the softer side in me.”

Meditation comes in many forms too, says Dino.

“I had a client in the drug and alcohol rehab center that went through one of my mindfulness programs and he just couldn't sit still. So we said, OK, meditation doesn't mean you become a monk and sit in the Himalayas with your eyes closed. Anyone can do it. And so it was my great opportunity to show how meditation could really make a difference. We went through walking meditation, we went through mantra, chanting as well. So, those sort of techniques allow one's mind to be calm and in the moment itself. Enjoying what's happening right there, right now, not tomorrow or not yesterday.”

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