Grounding, unGrasping/letting Go, Guidance, Gratitude, Grace

Cultivating the potential of the mind, heart, & body through the practice of stillness does not need to be a mysterious journey. May this meditation map empower you to develop your own path to presence.

In this post: The Wing of Compassion in Mindfulness, The Qualities of Self-Compassion, Self-Compassion in Practice, Tips & Inspiration, Video of Guided Self-Compassion Meditation Practice

In this post: Meditation goes mainstream for a reason, The person is more important than the practice, Benefits of Meditation, Working with the ‘uncomfortable’, The 2 Wings of Mindfulness plus the Body, Are we supposed to stop thinking during meditation?, The Nuts & Bolts of Getting Started, Let’s Meditate! (step by step guidance included), Video of 25 Minute Guided Meditation featuring a Body Scan

Maybe we have been curious or wanting to start a meditation practice, but have not been able to find a point of entry that feels like it fits. My intention with this series is to explain what meditation is, what it can be, and how it can be customised to fit our needs & lifestyle.

Nose breathing lets us breathe slower, allowing us to access our body’s natural destressing system. We can also take in more oxygen, which reduces inflammation and improves all of our body’s internal systems. These are no small things, in a time when we can be stressed & fatigued from a challenging year.

It’s kind of ironic that the fastest way to calm the nervous system, and the mind along with it, is to slow down the breath. Focusing on the physicality of breathing allows for even more relaxation & tonification.

While we may have bid 2020 a firm ‘adieu’, we have not been able to say goodbye to all that it has brought us. BUT, instead of focusing on what we can’t do, can we focus on what we can actually do better NOW?

Please enjoy this simple relaxation practice designed to reduce stress and increase connection to our inner resources of resilience, refuge, and self-compassion.

While the heart’s sweeter qualities tend to be focused on in movies and love songs, now is a good time to remember & cultivate its more fierce aspects. While we cannot control many of our outer circumstances, we can control our relationship with our own hearts.

When we feel good - meaning safe, nurtured, belonging - we are able to see reality more clearly, make better decisions, respond to what’s happening in the world around us from a place of insight, instead of reacting from fear. 

Connecting with each other is more important than ever in these challenging times. With mindfulness, we can better learn how to ‘use our words’, increase our attunement to our dear ones, and bring these skills with us into the future.

Courage is many things, including the ability to meet intensity with honesty, compassion, & spaciousness. Now is a good time to remind our hearts, minds & bodies of their natural capacity to stay spacious in all circumstances.