Guided Meditation

 Enjoy this guided meditation with Deepak Chopra!  It's only 4 minutes!
http://youtu.be/D56tUOdpgts

Week 5

Principle #5
Let Go and Be Patient

    Most of us have become really used to holding onto the layers of our experience.  We have work, family, relationships, bills, dramas, and these things become our reality.  But they aren't. When you strip away all of these layers, there is just you.  The exercise of letting go is not an easy one, but necessary to avoid losing the true essence of who we are in the wilderness of daily life.  When you are finally able to let go of the layers that bind you,  you have gained the opportunity to only add back the ones that enrich your life, and let the ones that detract from your life slide away.

    Be patient with yourself as you learn to let go.  Meditation is fluid and changing.  Some days you will be able to sit easily other days it will be a struggle.  Some days your mind may be quiet, other days it may jump from thought to thought.  You can't be "bad" at meditation.  Even on the days when your mind wanders, that is a step on the path towards letting go.

The Breath
This week we will practice rhythmic breathing.  This technique purifies the lungs, blood and cells of the body.  It helps to strengthen the heart and regulate the heart beat.  It also aids in creating internal balance and harmony.
1. Sit comfortably and close your eyes
2. Breathe in through the nostrils 2 breaths in, then 2 breaths out.
3.Continue this pattern of 2 breaths in and 2 breaths out, maintaining a steady rhythm, like a metronome, for 2-3 minutes.
4. Stop the rhythmic breathing, and sit quietly, breathing naturally for a few moments.

Meditation
We will continue to meditate twice per day for 5 to 10 minutes.  In the spirit of letting go, we will work through a visualization where we will begin to let go of our layers.
1.Sit comfortably and set your alarm
2.Relax!
3.Begin to let go.  Visualize work, stress, chores, drama, those that caused the drama and anything else that does not serve you.  Visualize these things as bubbles.  In your mind's eye, see your finger popping these bubbles, and the stressors falling away.  Continue going from bubble to bubble, until each one is gone.  Release this visualization, and let go.  Let go of your body, life, and all the physical trappings of life.  If it helps, keeping your eyes closed, bring your focus to the third eye, or the space behind the forehead. Keep your focus here until your alarm sounds.

Deepak Chopra- Part three of Introduction to Meditation

 I'm really loving this Introduction to Meditation series!  Enjoy:-)
http://youtu.be/CuRl9O8Itbw

60 Day Meditation~ Week 3

60 Day Meditation Challenge

Week 3

I hope everyone has been enjoying their meditations!  Hopefully you’ve been able to carve out some time at least a few times per week for your meditation sessions!  Remember, you can join us at Asana Yoga + Dance in Middletown, NJ for 30 minute meditation on Mondays at 6:45.

Principle of Mediation #3: Relax Your Body

                Meditating is more than just relaxing the muscles and bones.  You’re allowing a whole process to happen in the nervous system and emotional body.  This week, before meditating, we will do a part by part scan of the body to help relax, and identify and areas that are holding onto tension.  Sit quietly with the eyes closed, and take a moment to notice the body as it is.  Notice if you feel tension anywhere in the body.  Now, starting with the head and the face, we’ll work through each area of the body, bringing our attention and breath to each in turn.  It might help to envision each body part melting away before moving on to the next.  From the head and face, move your awareness to the shoulders and arms, then to the upper back.  Continue this way until you reach the feet.  Then bring your awareness beneath the skin, envisioning the muscles relaxing to the bones.  Now move on to the breathing technique.

Breathing

“Always first draw fresh breath after outbursts of vanity and complacency.”

Franz Kafka

                This week we will practice “The Complete Breath”.  It is simply fully expanding and filling the lungs as you inhale and completely emptying them when you exhale.  This technique relaxes the mind and body and prepares the mind for mediation.

-Begin by sitting tall, taking a few deep breaths and relaxing.

-Slowly inhale through the nostrils allowing oxygen into the three chambers of the lungs.  Expand the belly.  Expand the ribcage. Expand the upper chest and shoulders.

-Slowly exhale, completely emptying the lungs.

-Continue breathing like this for 2-3 minutes.

Meditation

“One realizes through meditation that one is a necessary, intimate and important part of the universe.  One starts to relate deeply to everything that exists.  There are no longer separate entities.  You are THAT.  This is a mystical state of meditation.” 

Swami Satyananda Saraswati

                This week we will continue to meditate once per day for ten minutes, or twice per day for 5 minutes.  For this week’s meditation, you will choose a visualization of something or someone that supports you, or helps you to feel grounded and balanced.  It can be anything!  A favorite place, cherished friend or family member, an object with sentimental value.  Prior to mediation, gaze at a picture, or other representation of your visualization.  To begin meditating, bring your awareness to the third eye, or the space behind the forehead. (Your eyes are closed for this)  Breathe naturally and begin visualizing the image you’ve chosen.  Continue this for 5-10 minutes.

Introduction to Meditation 2

For everyone participating in the 60 Day Meditation Challenge, and even for those who are not.  Here is video number two in Deepak Chopra's Introduction to Meditation series.  Enjoy!
http://youtu.be/fZFhTw9Qze4

60 Day Meditation Challenge-Week 2

60 Day Meditation Challenge

Week 2

Principle of Meditation #2: Get Comfortable

                Traditionally, the vision we have of someone deep in meditation is the meditator sitting in lotus position, with a super straight spine and a serene look on their face.  In reality, this position is very hard to maintain for any length of time, and almost impossible to relax in.  You can sit anywhere, in any position you’d like, so long as you’re comfortable.  If, during meditation you become uncomfortable, it’s okay to move.  We’re meditating, not playing statue!  Some things you may want to have to make meditation more comfortable are: blankets, pillows, or a rolled up yoga mat or towel.  You can use any of these props as necessary to support your position.  If you’re sitting on the floor, support the spine by sitting up against a wall or piece of furniture and sitting on the blanket or roll up mat or towel.  Your legs can be straight, but if you are sitting cross legged, you can place the pillows under your knees.  If sitting in a chair or sofa, make sure your feet are supported by placing blocks or books underneath them.  You can also sit criss cross, with your legs up, however you need to sit to be comfortable.  Finally, you can also lie down to meditate.  I would avoid your bed, but laying on the floor with your legs up a wall is a nice restorative position.

Breathing

A human being is only breath and shadow.

~Sophocles

This week we will focus on lengthening and deepening the breath.  For one to two minutes, count each inhale and each exhale.  Fully inhale until you can no longer inhale counting the length of the inhale slowly and evenly.  Don’t aim for a specific number, just see what happens naturally.  Then do the same for the exhale.  So with each inhale, you are fully saturating the lungs with oxygen, and with each exhale you are completely emptying the lungs.  Maybe you can start to carry this deep breathing into your daily life.  As you deepen the breath, you are building the energy to create change and growth.

Meditation

“Meditation brings wisdom; lack of mediation leaves ignorance. Know well what leads you forward and what holds you back, and choose the path that leads to wisdom.”

~ Buddha

                To begin your meditation, let your breathing return to normal.  This week we will meditate on a mantra.  A mantra is a sound or phrase designed to help the mind focus.  Our mantra this week is “So Hum Namah”.  In Sanskrit, “So” means true, “Hum” means self, and “Namah” means turning back to.  So this phrase roughly translates to “Turning back to my true self.”  During your meditations this week, repeat to yourself, “So Hum Namah”.  If you find the mind chatter and life noise creeping in, just return to the repetition of your mantra.

Our goal this week will be to add a second 5 minute meditation session to the day, or continue to meditate once per day for 10 minutes, which ever fits into your schedule better.

Enjoy, and let me know if you have any comments or questions.  Also, our in studio meditation will begin on Monday, November 7^th at 6:45pm at Asana Yoga + Dance in Middletown, NJ.  If you’d like to join us in person, all are welcome!

Introduction to Meditation

For those of you doing the 60 Day Mediation Challenge, and even for those of you who are not, here is a video by Deepak Chopra.  He provides a brief discussion of what meditation is.  Enjoy!
http://youtu.be/2PF3ngl7fuY.

60 Day Meditation Challenge-Week 1

Week 1

                What is meditation?  It is the practice of relaxing and turning inward.  By working to “tune out” the mind chatter, to do lists and worries, meditation offers the unique opportunity to focus completely on yourself and what YOU need.  The benefits are numerous, but some of them include stress reduction, calm mind, and an open heart.  As we progress through the 60 days, you may find that you have more energy, patience and compassion.  That’s meditation!  Helping you to live your life rather than muddle through it.

 The first principle of meditation is “Be kind to yourself.”  Meditation doesn’t have to be hard, boring or serious!  You are engaging in an activity (or non-activity as it were) designed to be nurturing.  When you sit for meditation, do so with the spirit of taking care of yourself.  Don’t try to control the situation or outcome, and don’t become angry with yourself for doing it wrong.  I’ve got news for you!  You can’t mess up meditation.  As long as you’re sitting and breathing, you’re doing it right!

The Breath

                Each week we will practice a new breathing technique that can be used prior to meditation.  Breathing before meditation can help to quiet and balance the mind, thereby making your meditation practice more seamless.  For week one, we are simply going to observe the breath.  For a minute or two before meditation, just sit, close your eyes and breathe naturally.  Don’t try to change or control the breath, just observe it!

Meditation Challenge

                For week one, our goal is to meditate for at least 5 minutes per day.  If you’d like to sit for longer, go for it!  But really, all you need to experience the benefits of meditation is five minutes.  Remember principle #1:  Be kind to yourself!  Don’t push too hard or turn this in to a chore.

                To begin:  Find a comfortable place to sit, where you will be warm, and can be undisturbed.  Set your alarm for 7 minutes (2 for breathing and 5 for meditation).  I recommend using your phone’s alarm clock feature and choosing a soothing ring tone.  Once you are comfortable, rest your hands in your lap, close your eyes and begin to observe your breath.  Don’t worry if you do this for the full two minutes or not, just until you feel your mind quiet down a bit.  Now you’re ready to meditate.  Our meditation this week will also focus on the breath.  For the next five minutes or so, you will sit and breathe.  As you breathe in, think to yourself “I am breathing in.”  as you exhale, think “I am breathing out.”  The repetition of these phrases helps to train the mind to shut out the mind chatter and noise and bring the focus inward.  Continue the repetition of these phrases until your alarm sounds.  Then take a few moments to sit quietly before gently opening the eyes.

Summary of Week 1

1.       Sit and observe the breath for one to two minutes

2.       Meditate for five minutes repeating phrases, “I am breathing in,” I am breathing out”.

3.       Try to do this once per day this week.