It can start with the breath
It's fairly common knowledge that deep breathing is calming. Unfortunately, deep breathing as a practice that everyone knows well enough to call on every time it's needed is not yet standard. Which means it's always worth a friendly reminder that your breathing is a powerful avenue for shifting nervous system behavior. And with that shift comes an opening to changing your mood, how you feel, and how easily you can focus.
When you sit for meditation, allowing yourself the time to come to a place of breathing comfortably is so valuable! You can use this notion both before you start the episode or enter a class and to make yourself comfortable during the practice if a breathing technique or meditation practice sets you off balance in some way. More on that in the opening of the episode, with the basic take away being to embrace whatever you need to do to be comfortable in your breathing throughout!
Enjoy!
Listen to "Ep 512 - Breathe Comfortably + Sat Yam Bubble Meditation"
What’s in this episode of Everyday Meditation?
- Welcome + getting situated, with a few thoughts on breathing comfortably in meditation
- A little lead-in movement: Arm lift
- Breathing practice: Padadirsasana
- Meditation technique (awareness kriya): Sat Yam Bubble
- A little re-grounding movement: Cat / Cow
As always, I encourage you to make yourself at home in this practice: substitute, modify, do as you need to feel safe and present, including taking breaks!
Integration suggestion
After listening to the episode, perhaps check in: did you notice something that you want to carry with you? If yes, maybe jot it down in a notebook or record a voice memo to help you remember!
Be moving, be true, be you
photo credit rowan heuvel, found on unsplash
Going deep without process
A few episodes back, I shared my image of noticing layers of yourself (physical and otherwise). Which I kept paying attention to in my own practice, especially as one day I observed myself going straight for the center. I was feeling my innermost depths!
Sort of. Not really.
What I was really doing was rushing my way into meditation, looking for a sensation that signaled "now I'm meditating" rather than going through a process. Because of course it's the process --and practicing it with patience-- that is really where the meditation is, and where the magic happens.
Do you ever find yourself going straight for the result you expect rather than staying with the experience of the practice? Maybe today, see what it takes to go for the process.
Enjoy!
Listen to "Ep 503 - Practicing Patience + a Humming Meditation" on Spreaker.
What’s in this episode of Everyday Meditation?
- Welcome + getting situated, with a few thoughts on rushing experience
- A little lead-in movement: Arm reach/lift + lower
- Breathing practice: Long exhale breathing
- Meditation technique (awareness kriya): Humming sounds (bija mantra)
- A little re-grounding movement: Seated twist
As always, I encourage you to make yourself at home in this practice: substitute, modify, do as you need to feel safe and present, including taking breaks!
Integration suggestion
After listening to the episode, perhaps check in: did you notice something that you want to carry with you? If yes, maybe jot it down in a notebook or record a voice memo to help you remember!
You can give it a try when you're ready
Listen to "Ep 503 - Practicing Patience + a Humming Meditation" on Spreaker.
Be moving, be true, be you
photo credit max bohme, found on unsplash