Meditate, Breathe, and Remember you are part of nature
Meditation
Meditation is sometimes misunderstood as being connected in some way to a religious activity. All it really is is a form of gentle relaxation that can lead to amazing spiritual experiences for experienced meditators but for us mere mortals it is simply a way of maintaining good mental hygiene and keeping us as free of unhealthy stress as possible. Meditation doesn't really require a particular seated posture. It just requires an intention to spend some time being quiet and focusing on something simple like your breath going in and out or looking at a flower. I love to do a meditative dance, run or walk. In yoga dance we usually end our sessions with a dance prayer which is a beautiful and simple form of moving meditation.
Meditation is sometimes misunderstood as being connected in some way to a religious activity. All it really is is a form of gentle relaxation that can lead to amazing spiritual experiences for experienced meditators but for us mere mortals it is simply a way of maintaining good mental hygiene and keeping us as free of unhealthy stress as possible. Meditation doesn't really require a particular seated posture. It just requires an intention to spend some time being quiet and focusing on something simple like your breath going in and out or looking at a flower. I love to do a meditative dance, run or walk. In yoga dance we usually end our sessions with a dance prayer which is a beautiful and simple form of moving meditation.
Be with nature
Nature is all around us even when we live in an urban setting-there is the sky, the earth, trees, flowers, creatures, the rain and wind. We are part of nature even though we sometimes feel very separate from it. Making a journey into nature can help to heal our busy minds and allow us not only to tap into the wonderful energy that is all around us when we are immersed in a forest, beach or open fields but also allows us to connect with each other in an unhurried and fun place.
Why not take a trip today? If you have a garden then simply removing your shoes and socks and venturing outside walking on the cool wet grass can be a very powerful reminder of our true and beautiful connection with this earth.
And remember..... you can always be in nature within your imagination. So just close your eyes and visit that beautiful sandy beach with the relaxing sound of waves lapping at the shore; walk through that tropical rainforest-vital and lush with vegetation and the sound of tropical birds; stroll across the Yorkshire moors on an autumnal morning and breathe in the smell of freshness, heather and earthiness; stand at the edge of Lake Tahoe or Derwent water and watch the breeze making patterns of ripples on the surface of the water.
You have your own internal travel agent inside your imagination so take you pick and go on a brief vacation looking deeply at the wonder and beauty of nature-breathe it in-you are a part of nature.
Be with nature
Nature is all around us even when we live in an urban setting-there is the sky, the earth, trees, flowers, creatures, the rain and wind. We are part of nature even though we sometimes feel very separate from it. Making a journey into nature can help to heal our busy minds and allow us not only to tap into the wonderful energy that is all around us when we are immersed in a forest, beach or open fields but also allows us to connect with each other in an unhurried and fun place.
Why not take a trip today? If you have a garden then simply removing your shoes and socks and venturing outside walking on the cool wet grass can be a very powerful reminder of our true and beautiful connection with this earth.
And remember..... you can always be in nature within your imagination. So just close your eyes and visit that beautiful sandy beach with the relaxing sound of waves lapping at the shore; walk through that tropical rainforest-vital and lush with vegetation and the sound of tropical birds; stroll across the Yorkshire moors on an autumnal morning and breathe in the smell of freshness, heather and earthiness; stand at the edge of Lake Tahoe or Derwent water and watch the breeze making patterns of ripples on the surface of the water.
You have your own internal travel agent inside your imagination so take you pick and go on a brief vacation looking deeply at the wonder and beauty of nature-breathe it in-you are a part of nature.
Breathing-theres more to it than you might think!
Learning how to breathe properly can really help you to feel relaxed and is one of the first steps in learning how to meditate. A nice thing that I use to help me to breathe deeply and in a relaxed way is to say to myself:
"I slowly breathe in a healing breath through my nose and I feel peace filling my whole body and mind.
I let go and feel a calming breath leaving my body. I feel relaxed." Then it starts again with the next breath... Try this if you like-its very simple. An even simpler breath meditation is this:
"I breathe in peacefulness/kindness/love/forgiveness."
"I breath out peacefulness/kindness/love/forgiveness etc."
