5am Meditation Day 9- Kripalu's January Healthy Living "Time for Self Care"

This morning as I was meditating, I listened to my mind wander from one subject to the next. I was aware of my thoughts and kept trying to come back to the present and ground myself in the NOW. However, my mind kept wandering. After my meditation I came across Kripalu's January healthy living e-newsletter, and it included an article about meditation (pasted below). It reminded me to focus on my breath. Whenever my mind wanders, I need to bring it back to my breath. I had forgotten to use this technique, so the timing was perfect. I will try to remember this tomorrow when I start mentally planning my day instead of calming my racing thoughts. I have been considering recording myself saying "Breathing in, I am aware that I am breathing in. Breathing out, I am aware that I am breathing out" repeatedly, or something along those lines (Thich Nhat Hanh has some great books on this subject), so that I can have a soundtrack for my meditation that will help me focus on my breath until it becomes second nature.

yoga practice going within to let go

By Janna Delgado, Yoga Teacher and Personal Trainer

Anxious? Tense? Worried? Try meditation. This simple tool for self-care can be done anywhere and anytime to de-stress, and with practice, you can reboot and find inner calm in just a few minutes. A main component of any meditation practice is focusing your attention. By creating a single point of focus, such as the breath, the multitude of distractions that overload your mind and cause stress can be cleared away. Meditation allows your mind to settle and your body to relax, creating a balanced state that benefits overall health and well-being.

Ready to try it? Find a quiet place to practice where you are free of distractions. Get comfortable, whether you’re sitting, lying down, or walking. Begin to breathe deeply through your nostrils, taking slow and even breaths. Focus all of your attention on the flow of your breath. Bring your awareness to the feelings, sensations, and sounds that occur as you inhale and exhale. Continue to breathe deeply and slowly. When your attention wanders, gently return your focus to your breath. Remember, meditation takes practice, so be kind to yourself. It’s natural for your attention to wander. When this happens, simply refocus your awareness on your breath.

http://www.kripalu.org/KripaluOnline/hlenews.html

Happy meditating!