With bushfires and now the threat of COVID-19, it has been a pretty crazy start to 2020.
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Add to that the ongoing drought conditions, financial uncertainty and the issues of access to health facilities in rural communities, it's no surprise many of us find ourselves a little stressed.
Unfortunately living in rural communities puts us on the back foot for health.
According to research by the National Rural Health Alliance, "people living in rural areas have shorter lives and higher levels of illness and disease risk factors than those in major cities."
When we look at all the findings, it's obvious that the more we're able to support ourselves in our health care, the better.
That being said, a free meditation program, hosted by Cowra's Robyn Lynch, will begin later this month.
Robyn Lynch, Meditation Teacher and founder of The Perfect Health Centre, is a strong advocate for meditation as a tool for improving and maintaining good health.
Robyn has been teaching meditation for over a decade and says that rural people take up meditation really easily.
"Rural people have a no-nonsense, get in and fix-it attitude," she said.
"Growing up on a farm it used to be that there's not much you can't fix with a bit of wire, piece of twine and initiative.
"It's this have-a-go nature that makes rural people perfectly suited to meditation."
Research into meditation has shown clearly that it contributes positively to mental health, treating and reducing diseases, healthy relationships and longevity.
"We see this reflected through changes to blood pressure and cholesterol levels, sleep habits, admissions to hospital for heart related illnesses and more," Robyn said.
In a recent interview with a long-term meditating farmer, Ross Thompson, he told Robyn that he thought it was all "BS to start with and went because his wife was worried about his health".
Ross said "he felt the effects immediately and uses meditation to keep himself calm, especially around the time of his yearly bull sales".
He shared that although he doesn't meditate every day, he would like to eventually as it gives him clarity and he has much better relationships with his family.
The Meditation For Rural Communities program runs over four weeks and is funded by Cowra Information and Neighbourhood Centre (CINC) and Cowra Council.
Week 1 - Meditation - The Antidote To Stress In Rural Communities
What's meditation, why it works and how do I do it?
Week 2: Ok, I've Started, Please Explain...
What are the effects of meditation on digestion, blood pressure, sleep and anything else? AND how do I know if I'm doing it right?
Week 3: Feeling Happier, Calmer and Clearer
Meditation and mental health. How does it help?
Week 4: Meditating For Life
The what, how and why of creating an ongoing practice.
At the moment the program is scheduled to kick off 7pm, Wednesday, March 25, in the Cowra Civic Centre Theatrette and will run on Wednesday nights until April 15.
The program may be postponed due to issues with the coronavirus.
Robyn recommends that you still register and you'll be emailed with any changes as they arise.
Register on Eventbrite by searching "Bringing Meditation Down To Earth" https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/meditation-for-rural-communities-bringing-meditation-down-to-earth-tickets-97240532049
