You know how baby's like being rocked to sleep? Most adults find rocking, or swaying, pretty darn soothing, too.
What’s in this episode?
"Sway to Center" meditation uses a simple swaying motion to ease into a simple internal awareness of "center" (a vertical central column this time) and find focus.
How can you use this practice?
I like starting with the sway when I already feel relaxed --too relaxed to want to sit up and meditate! And, on the flip side, I find it's a good way to ease into "calming down" your mind -- it's like preparing your brain to quiet by creating a comfortable steadiness in the body... through motion.
Give it a try the next time you just want a hug from your meditation practice.
Try it out when you're ready
Listen to "Ep 480 - Sway to Center Meditation" on Spreaker.
Be moving, be true,
photo credit anton darius on unsplash
When we say a meditation practice is "centering" what exactly does that mean? Well, there's no precise definition, but I took a stab at sharing what I think I mean when I use that phrase - which I use despite it making me crinkle my nose every time!
Why does it make my nose crinkle? Because it's both a mathematical term with a concrete definition (yay!) and also a descriptive term with what can best be thought of as an anecdotal definition. And as the latter, it's a word that is a concept, and as such is inclusive of your and all experiences of it -- once you know the concept. Of course, until you have some understanding of what you're looking for, the term can feel jargon-y and exclusive. Not welcoming, but frustrating. Ick! (There are lots of words like these --and if you can think of one that you want me to unpack, just let me know.)
What’s in this episode?
I offer a few definitions of "center" and discuss how the term rings in my head when I use it in connection with meditation. It's a bit of a follow up to the invitation to explore "center" in the Hum Sa kriya, Sat Yam kriya, and Sway to Center meditation practices I've been sharing on the podcast over the past few weeks.
Give it a listen when you like
Listen to "Ep 481 - what is "center" anyway?" on Spreaker.
Be moving, be true,
photo credit annie spratt on unsplash
The tagline for ISHTA, the style of meditation I teach, is "unbound potential" in reference to the unbound nature of our connection to the greater universe. Or perhaps the unbound nature of the universe (but whether it is really, we don't yet know). It's an apt expression for the experience we sometimes encounter in meditation -- of feeling like one with our surroundings (whether the room or the universe) or of losing a sense of our own boundaries.
What’s in this episode?
In this week's practice of sat yam kriya, I'm using the technique to encourage you to imagine or build awareness of both your center and the boundaries around it, physical or imagined, so that you can, if you want to, let your awareness move through those boundaries. Move through, across, or to dissolve them...
What do you notice after practicing?
I wouldn't ask you to look for any particular effect or "result" from your meditation practice, but perhaps after practicing, you might take a beat to acknowledge what you notice in yourself after practicing. There's no right or wrong thing to notice!
Give it a try when you're ready
Listen to "Ep 478 - Sat Yam Kriya Meditation" on Spreaker.
Be moving, be true,
photo credit andrew coelho on unsplash