Meditating on Meditation

Meditation can be an intimidating concept, especially if it's a practice you haven't gotten into yet. I'll start by saying meditation is an extremely personal experience, there are no rules or grades given, you don't win or lose a meditation. The whole point is to shut down all your senses and external stimulus. It's a time where there's nothing to do, see, taste, touch, smell or hear - this stillness allows you to focus on who you are underneath it all.

Humans have busy brains with constant thoughts flying through our minds - "What's on my schedule today?" "What's my plan for dinner?" "Is the Earth going to burn and will the generations after me suffer?" "Does that co-worker think I'm lazy and bad at my job?" "Am I doing enough?"

My first tip is comfort is key - whether that's laying down, sitting in a chair with your feet on the ground or cross legged on a pillow - being uncomfortable in your body is a huge distraction. There is a theory in yoga called the Shashumna Nadi (sanskrit for very gracious, kind) - a concept that there is a column of energy running up and down your spine, through the 7 chakras of the body. Sitting with a tall spine enables this loving energy to flow with ease. Sometimes I sit upright, sometimes I lay down - bodies feel different day to day. Only you know what will be most beneficial for you. 

Conscious breathing is a meditation. Focusing your thoughts on long and slow breaths, inhales and exhales. Slow breathing calms the nervous system and makes the busy thoughts slow down. Breath work can be your entire practice, or a mechanism to settle in for another form of mindfulness. 

Mantras are also a great introduction to meditation. Similar to focusing the mind on the breath, bringing a phrase or word to the front of your mind and repeating it, also brings you into the present moment. One mantra I return to often to subside anxiety is "I am safe. I am healthy. I am alive." As my practice has developed, the still small voice that is my "soul/intuition/spirit/God" - often offers me the mantra I need for that moment in time.

Guided meditation - live in person or on the internet - is something I highly recommend trying. Teachers help us learn! Sitting still and alone with your thoughts and feelings can be UNCOMFORTABLE! Having an experienced meditator trained in teaching the practice, can take some of the intimidation out of getting started. I love being guided by my teachers or starting my day with a guided Peloton meditation. Emotion based meditations guide you to reach a particular state of being - Peace, Acceptance, Courage, etc. - I pick whatever resonates with me in the moment. 

Prayer - this can be a loaded word that is often associated with religion. I think we all have a lot of words for the same thing. Whether you benefit most from having an internal conversation with a higher power, spirits, the universe or yourself - is unique to you. You ARE unique. Meditation helps you sift through all those thoughts imposed by culture and fear, and get back to who you are in your heart and soul. Without judgements, expectations or worry. 

In adulthood, my dedication to making meditation and daily discipline, sprouted from my need to calm overwhelming and debilitating anxiety. Overtime, the seeds I plant everyday in meditation have blossomed into giving me much more than a calm and steady mind. I know my purpose. I know my passions. I'm convicted about what I'm here on this Earth to do. I'm still working towards being unapologeticaly myself at all times, and I'm making great strides. I do notice I'm unraveling the need to please and fit into the culture and desires for my life to look like someone else's. You get to know someone by spending quality time and listening to their thoughts and feelings. You get to know yourself the same way.

Morning meditation is really the thing that gets me out of bed in the morning. Before daily meditation was a habit, I would moan and groan and get up at the absolute last second, starting my day with a bad attitude and in a rush. Now, I crave my time to meditate. I make sure I have at least 45 minutes before any calendar commitments to ensure I have plenty of time to start my day by spending quite, quality time with me, myself and I. We all know habits are hard to break and building new habits feels like an uphill battle. But, eventually a new habit becomes an old habit, a natural part of how you live your life.

Nature - we know spending time in nature makes us present and gives you gratitude for life. Meditating outdoors can help bring you to a place of peace. Lately I’ve been opening my meditation by listening to the birds, breathing then moving into my prayer and mantra practice. 

One minute, 5 minute, 30 minutes - keeping track of time or not… 

It's all up to you!

Namaste, 

xoxo

maddymo