So often we get caught in the workings of time, and drag ourselves down worrying about past and future.
Of course, so much of the wisdom of yoga teaches us to be in the present moment. When we do, worries and stress melt away, for we realize that everything truly is okay when we just live one breath at a time.
Focusing on one thing at a time, choosing to live mindfully in the moment, can lead to such happiness. (And it can also help you have a much more productive day if that’s what you’re after.)
My friend John Stringer contributes the following offering to this train of thought: Read more…
Photo courtesy of my friend, photographer Toshi Kawano
Okay, you know meditation helps you de-stress, find peace of mind, feel happier, and find more balance in your health. But it’s hard! We’re not really conditioned to sit still, nor is your mind interested in emptying itself of the ten thousand thoughts it’s pondering. And where do you find the time?
The good news is that almost everyone who meditates deals with these same challenges, and you can enjoy the benefits of meditation without having to be a master of it. Here are some great tips and ideas to help you get the most out of your meditation practice:
You know the glow of bliss that comes after a good asana practice, or the peace that penetrates your whole being in meditation?
That’s bliss.
Bliss comes in many forms, from joy to deep contentment. But any way it presents itself, it’s a juicy state of goodness that takes you into the higher realms of human experience.
Feelings of freedom, happiness, peace, and so on are why we keep coming back to yoga and meditation.
These practices give you ways to not only stay centered when the world turns wildly, but also to heal on so many levels, and truly create yourself in your highest vision of who you want to be.
Meditation has been studied scientifically and proven to decrease stress and, due to lower stress levels, increase health benefits. Additionally, it shows up in most of the world’s spiritual traditions as a way to connect with your truest self. Read more…
Yoga is a moving meditation, and walking can be a wonderful way to practice it.
The idea of walking meditation, just like other meditations, is to be fully present. You can bring such awareness to the way you walk, your surroundings, and the moment itself, that this practice can create a heightened state of connection and peace.
My first experience with walking meditation was at a yoga teacher training in Baja, Mexico. Each morning we got up super early, did a short asana practice, then we went out to the beach for walking meditation.
I would place my feet slowly, mindfully, listening to the waves crash on the shore. I felt the subtleties of each step, and often would close my eyes or even walk backwards to shift my perspective. Read more…
One of my first teachers, Shane Perkins, is beloved in my heart for his clear embodiment of unconditional love. He taught me much simply by the way he conducts himself with kindness and integrity at all times.
When speaking on the topic of meditation, Shane summed it all up in these words:
“Show up and let go.”
Show up, as in be present, be aware, be in the here and now. Then let go, meaning release the struggle, let the thoughts float by without attachment, allow the moment to simply be.
Applying this approach to meditation and life can be an ongoing practice, to be sure, but one that is infinitely rewarding. Let’s try it now, shall we?
With all the struggle and war in the world, yoga gives us a method to live well and contribute to the upliftment of the world.
It helps us be courageous when faced with fear, find equanimity in times of struggle, and be empowered when things feel overwhelming.
I’ve posted an article which expands on Ahimsa, the first ethical guideline of yoga. This article on How To Create Peace With Yoga And Meditation and offers an educated view of war and what we can do about it.
You will also find a video of a guided meditation for peace toward the end of the article, which means you can close your eyes and listen rather than reading the words of your meditation today. Read more…
This guided mediation helps you visualize a peaceful world of light. It is beautifully powerful, and I hope you will enjoy it enough to incorporate it into your meditation practice more than once.
So often we get caught in the workings of time, and drag ourselves down worrying about past and future.
The overwhelming sense of community in the Who Dat celebration of New Orleans Saints’ victory can actually inspire a great lesson of yoga: You Belong!
You know the glow of bliss that comes after a good asana practice, or the peace that penetrates your whole being in meditation?
Yoga is a moving meditation, and walking can be a wonderful way to practice it.
One of my first teachers, Shane Perkins, is beloved in my heart for his clear embodiment of unconditional love. He taught me much simply by the way he conducts himself with kindness and integrity at all times.
With all the struggle and war in the world, yoga gives us a method to live well and contribute to the upliftment of the world.
