If you’ve been following this blog, you know that for some time now I have had a low-key morning meditation practice that helps me get through the day without leaving my keys in random places or driving into the garage door, and that sometimes doing it helps me locate a clearer channel inside when I am about to write.
Without trying too hard, and definitely without knowing I had embarked on a spiritual path, I found myself committed to this daily ritual.
I had a method that had worked for me for nine years. I wrote about it on Day Two: Meditation for Skeptics, Slouchers, Neurotic Planners, Caffeine Addicts, and People who Think they are Too busy to Meditate, but Want to, Kind of.
But for these past three weeks, I have been taking a lovely meditation class by Rebecca Rivers at her yoga studio, Northern Light Yoga, and I’ve been challenged to try new techniques.
First off, I’ve moved from the chair to the floor. In this picture on the left, you can see I’m still cheating, because I have a blanket as a bolster behind me, which I used for starters because my neck was not happy, but I’ve been trying to sit upright now, without anything against my back, letting my core muscles keep me in a modified lotus position, and now that I have gotten used to it, I feel more energetic in this position. (Both of these photos were taken on my camera by Tara Freeman.)
Then I go back to my chair and write.
I’m still working on the sitting still part. It's getting easier now, and I can sit for twenty minutes, even half an hour, but I don’t know that I will ever be able to match my dog’s remarkable stillness as she meditates at the river’s edge.
Last night in meditation class I felt a force like a river moving up my legs and my spine. As it surged upward I understood that this calmness and power is like a geographical place I can go to any time as a refuge. It's not unlike having a river in one's back yard.
Namaste, gentle readers, namaste.
Namaste, gentle readers, namaste.
Namaste, Natalia!
ReplyDeleteNamaste, Brenda! I'm going to catch up on your blog later as a reward for making my page goal for the day.
DeleteI meditate sitting on the floor of my clothes closet. The darkness helps. I bring in my cell phone and set the timer on it for 20 minutes. I find that's usually just the right amount of time.
ReplyDeleteIt's funny how we humans have to work so hard to do what other animals do naturally.
peace, peace, peace.
ReplyDeleteI also keep my back periodically resting on a chest.
ReplyDeleteHi Natalia. My suggestion to you is that if you want to get into deep meditation: try doing a full body self-massage first, and then a full body stretching after that. It takes the noise out of the body, which enables your mind to become still. Sit on a rug that is half an inch thick and rest your back on a chest, or keep it straight without the support. Soft surfaces keep the balance center of the brain active and that leaches your mental energy, which is why the base, where you sit on, has to be a bit hard. I will post the link of my article that I am writing about this subject here soon :) - Martin Marsi - Author of the Wisdom Faculty book series.
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