Meditating in a cultural environment is good for you

Rediscovering mental well-being through meditation and our cultural heritage stands in stark contrast to the sensory overload defining modern life. We live in a world where we get bombarded with information around every corner. Electronic devices command our immediate, focused attention, and people and work put great demands on our time and energy. This constant ‘forced’ awareness can make our surroundings feel threatening and in turn trigger a perpetual fight-flight-freeze response.

The unfortunate outcome is chronic stress and no room for daydreaming, which is essential for our mental wellness. And in a world where a mental health crisis is lurking, finding calm and balance has become more crucial than ever.

But is it possible to unlearn busyness, make time for wonder, and relearn the art of calmness for a healthier, happier you?

According to Dr Kirti Ranchod, neurologist and founder of Memorability, an organisation that aims to cultivate brain health, calmness is a trainable brain skill as opposed to a fleeting feeling. “And much like any other skill, it requires practice and nurturing to develop and flourish.

“We need a healthy brain to think better, feel better, solve problems, make decisions, and enjoy life. But before dealing with more advanced cognitive abilities like memory or problem-solving, it is necessary to lay a foundation of calmness. By creating spaces and allocating time for reflection and relaxation, we give our brain a chance to reset.”

While there are many tools available online to help with self-guided meditation and mindfulness, for many they are difficult to implement and practise consistently.

According to Dr Ranchod, our cultural heritage provides resources to improve our mental health. “Our traditions and heritage offer a wealth of wisdom to boost brain health and foster mental wellness. For example, in everyday practices like traditional ways of preparing meals together, learning from each other, familiar flavours and smells, or practising our creative skills through art and in the spirituality found in our traditions.

“Studies in neural synchrony – the correlation of brain activity over time among a group of people sharing a particular context – have shown that, in a group, our brain waves influence one another. This synchronisation makes a task like walking around a museum silently and focussing our full attention on artwork for a couple of minutes not only more accessible but also deeply enriching.”

One of the techniques that Dr Ranchod recommends is silence in a curated setting or environment. Drawing a parallel to fasting, she emphasises the importance of giving our brains a break from the ceaseless noise of our daily lives.

“Silence becomes a sanctuary where our attention can be wholeheartedly directed towards a specific task. It is a method to recalibrate the mind – a practice that offers a pause from the perpetual demands of the external world. I have chosen the Origins Centre at Wits University to run silence sessions as the exhibitions invite visitors to reflect on our identity and histories and to look at the shared cultural meanings of artefacts and paintings. The quiet spaces and subtle lighting of the place is not only calming but also invites deeper reflection.

“In our relentless pursuit of success and achievement, it’s easy to overlook the fundamental need for calm and balance. Yet these are the cornerstones upon which a healthy brain and robust mental well-being are built. By prioritising moments of tranquillity and embracing a balanced approach to life, we empower ourselves to navigate the challenges of the modern world with grace and resilience,” Dr Ranchod concludes.