Meditation is the practice of training our attention to be in the present moment. It begins with setting our bodies up in a balanced and grounded way. Typically this looks like sitting on a yoga block or chair so that your hips can be neutral and grounded. The spine is long and I like to imagine a little string gently drawing the crown of my head straight up toward the heavens. Ideally, the chest is relaxed, open and your breathing is smooth and steady with even inhales and exhales.
In meditation, we are working on strengthening our focus and concentration. With deeper concentration comes more insight. Often, we use the breath as our object of attention. We are practicing being willing to unhook from thoughts and return to feeling our breath when the mind wanders off. Each time we notice this and return our attention to our breath, that is a celebration!
I have personally found meditation, overtime, to be a slow surrender to the exact moment I am in. My willingness to let go, settle in, and experience the vastness of life right here, right now becomes stronger.
As a recovering achiever, meditation did not come naturally to me. It felt awkward, unfamiliar and pointless when I first started practicing in 2015. My mind didn’t like the idea of not doing anything, and mentally, it felt a lot like paddling upstream in a raging river.
I would not have been able to begin and sustain a meditation practice if I did not see the benefits of it. I wanted to become someone who felt more grounded in and connected to her body. I wanted to slow down my monkey mind and feel more peaceful and clear in my daily living. Essentially, I no longer wanted to feel like a chicken running around with my head cut off! I knew there must be a better way to operating and practicing meditation seemed like a decent bridge to get there.
What I have discovered is that the more often I take the time to sit, breathe, recenter, and soften into the present moment, the more I feel content with myself and my life. I can find and access gratitude and appreciation more easily, and I feel less anxiety and overwhelm.
If you’re looking to begin a meditation practice or need support on your path, please don’t hesitate to reach out for additional guidance and encouragement. You can set up a 30-minute session here!