Practices for you
I hope these free (and short) practices help you find peace throughout your whole being. If you are new to meditation, don’t worry, consider using props like a chair, blankets or even a chair to find a comfortable seat. Many of these meditations can also be done lying down.
Setting An Intention
Ask yourself… What do you intend to create or cultivate in your life, for today and even for the coming week? Your intention should be closely tied to your personal thoughts, values, and perspective on life. An intention is a quality or an attribute you want to embody in your life: with every breath, you take or move you make. Enjoy this guided meditation built to inspire, uplift, and bring clarity into your day, week, month, or possibly the year.
Neck and Shoulders Yoga Break
Take a break, a yoga break! Enjoy this free 17-minute practice that focuses on the shoulders and neck. A simple practice that can be done in any seated position, like on a couch or chair or seated on your mat. Attempt to practice this once or twice a day, taking time for your body and wellbeing.
Three Part Breath - Dirgha Pranayama (Dīrghá Praa·nuh·yaa·muh)
This technique is a simple and powerful practice that activates the relaxation response, as well as decreases heart rate, lowers blood pressure and cortisol (stress hormone” levels, and increases concentration. The Three-Part (belly, ribs, and upper chest) Breath feels like a gentle wave of motion allowing for a thorough emptying of the breath on the exhale.
Sleep Mantra - A Restful Sleep - Om Agasthi Shahina (Ōm Ah-gah´-stee Shah-ee´-nah)
This Japa mantra meditation is less than five minutes in length but can set you up for a restful night's sleep. Follow this mantra as you are settling into bed for the evening. Find stillness in the body and also work towards eliminating any unnecessary noise or lighting.
Finding Your Inner Light
If it has been particularly challenging to find small things to celebrate, perhaps finding your inner light may help. Consider exploring this meditation at the end of a simple yoga practice or movement session.
Helpful Hints: I like to have my journal nearby so that after I have finished my meditation I can record how I am feeling and any inspiration that may be waiting to express itself at that moment.
Love and Kindness Meditation (Part 1)
The Love and Kindness Meditation is a very powerful tool to use through out your day and beyond. It is designed to cultivate positive energy that will certainly change your mindset but know it is a practice and at times it can be difficult to cultivate such feelings towards ourselves. We have to start with ourselves! The work you do on your mat is the starting point, whether it's movement or sitting in stillness let it begin with you.
Love and Kindness Meditation (Part 2)
Once you have established yourself as center of love and kindness AND as it radiates through your being KNOW you can also take this practice further. You can let loving kindness radiate outwardly and direct it wherever you like. Whoever it is hold them in your mind’s eye and in your heart, visualizing their essential selves, wishing them well, that they not suffer.