The Mighty Powers of Spiritual Meditation

Spiritual Meditation Avi Om
It isn’t easy in today’s fast-paced world to find a quiet place to simply sit, let alone sit in silence. We’ve become a frenzied society, afraid to pause our daily routine and reflect about life. We don’t like slowing down because we’re afraid of falling behind, or failing altogether. It’s become a race to see who can cross the competitive landscape the fastest, chasing after money, power, and success at over-the-top speeds. Fast at any cost is the mantra of a stressed society. The longer we lead this fast-paced life filled to the brim with overstimulation, the more we start to experience behavioral, mood, and attention disorders. It’s not long before mental and physical stress set in, which wreaks havoc on our bodies.

We’re seeing a rise in people of all ages struggling with depression, anxiety, and attention disorders. But the real problem is that we don’t see what we’re doing to ourselves. We think that this is normal, that this is how life is supposed to be. We feel the need to constantly act, to try harder and go faster—because if we don’t, then there must be something wrong with us. All across our society, we’re losing our inner peace, but it’s time we start getting it back. Finding her inner peace is exactly what Avianna Castro did. She’s a Meditation & Mindfulness Teacher and owner of Avi Om Studio, and now she’s on a mission to help others do the same thing. Not only did she find peace and guidance through meditation, she also took the plunge and quit the corporate world. She has yet to look back. “Stressful jobs, situations, and experiences wreak havoc on our emotional and mental well-being. I was exhausted from working for someone else, and my heart’s desire was grander than what I could offer in a corporate setting,” Castro explains. “Everyone seems to be on auto-pilot these days. They are unaware of what is going on around them, or they are stuck in the same situation, not knowing how to get out of it. I’ve overcome my fears and trauma, and now I’m able to share what I’ve learned with those who are ready for change.”

Castro’s road to an authentic life began after she suffered a traumatic accident that left her with a broken knee and femur. Since then, Castro has undergone over seven surgeries with complications that caused her to lose two years of study while attending college. “I was in continuous pain, and I was told I was likely going to need a knee and hip replacement by the age of 40.
It was told that my lifestyle was going to drastically change, and
I was advised not to run any longer,” says Castro. The best route seemed to be to lay low in life and embrace the pain—nothing close to the life she’d envisioned for herself.

It wasn’t until 2012 that Castro decided she was not going to give her pain the power any longer. “Through the words of Deepak Chopra and Dr. Wayne Dyer, I learned  that I needed to meditate and redirect my mindset  in a positive manner.” After doing intensive research and practicing meditation, her health began to drastically improve, both physically and mentally. In fact, six years ago, she finished her first 5k race. Now in her 40s, she has had no more surgeries and is pain-free.

The popularity of meditation is increasing as more people across the globe discover its benefits. Reducing anxiety and stress, increasing energy, lowering cholesterol and blood pressure, improving immunity, relieving muscle tension, and reducing feelings of depression and anger are just a few ways meditation can lead to a healthy life.

Training your mind to focus and redirect your thoughts is the heart and soul of meditation. It’s not something you do once or twice and call it good. It is a habitual process. Castro says, “It only works if you do it. It’s just as if you’re building a spiritual muscle. Meditation needs to be consistent and repetitive for it to be effective.”

Since taking control of her life, Castro has become a Certified Meditation and Mindfulness Teacher with the McLean Meditation Academy in Sedona, Arizona as well as a Chopra Center Certified Instructor in Primordial Sound Meditation. She is also a member of the online faculty at the Southwest Institute of Healing Arts, teaching mindfulness and guided imagery courses. But her most passionate endeavor is the opening of her meditation studio, Avi Om Studio, in Flushing with her husband Christopher and Certified Therapy Dog, Gracie. “It’s an absolute dream come true,” Castro says. “We hold weekly meditations and have many people travel from out of state to visit us. It’s such a beautiful experience in a beautiful environment.”

Avi Om Studio is open to the community, offering classes, workshops, and special events aimed at making a positive impact on one’s daily life. There’s even a cozy meditation room where visitors can enjoy the stillness. “It’s important to practice stillness, especially with all the mental health issues arising today,” Christopher Castro says. “Things are speeding up so much, it’s important for us to remember to slow down and breathe.”

So how can one find inner peace and live an authentic life? The answer may surprise you. “Pause,” Castro explains. “It starts with becoming mindful and creating space in order for our inner wisdom to be accessed. Quieting the mind can be challenging with the thoughts we have throughout the day. When a thought starts to arise, become aware of that thought and anchor your awareness back to your breath. This repetitive practice is meditation.”

Since the successful opening of the studio this past January, this dynamic duo has launched their own podcast called the Avi Om Experience, and they also host an annual spiritual development and meditation retreat in Maui, with the next one coming up in November 2019.

They are also currently recording a six-week meditation study class with out-of-state physicians. “A group of physicians are conducting a case study on mental health and meditation,” says Castro. “I was contacted to record the guided meditations for the mental health staff so they can monitor their progress along with benefits they receive from meditation.”

With all this taking place, it’s hard to believe they’re just getting started. In the coming year we can expect to see inspirational videos and workshops available through their website, new programs, and memberships offered at the studio, and additional classes and speaking engagements. It’s going to be an exciting year!
When asked what we can do in moments where we find ourselves about to lose control, Castro offers this important life lesson: “Find a place to be still, even if it’s in the restroom. Bring your awareness to your breath. Make time and space for the soul to remember your beautiful existence and the magnificence of life. The odds of being human are 400 trillion to one. The blessing of being here is an opportunity to learn, grow, and flourish.”

Our universe is an infinitely beautiful place, and we attract what we cast out. Whatever can be imagined and captured in the mind’s eye is achievable as long as we take action to get to where we want to be. Your future, in its entirety, is yours to create. “We co-create with the universe and energy,” Castro adds with a smile.  “The more we show up, the more the universe delivers.”

Link to the podcast:
itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/avi-om-experience/id1442172323

www.aviannacastro.com

From Kudos Magazine 4.4. -
Mind Body Soul
By: Wendi Fournier
#meditation #peacefulliving #findingcalm #cupofkudos #aviannacastro #ChristopherCastro #AviOm