Meditation

I remember when I first learned about meditation. I was in a 7th grade class, and the teacher had us all close our eyes and find imagery. I remember thinking "this is weird", of course, because when you're 13, anything like that is odd. Now that I look back on it, I can tell that it planted a seed for 'future me'.

Over the past few years, I have been very irregular about my meditation practice. I would have random spurts of a week or two, and then I would stop for a month or two, and so on. I remember venting about some insignificant things to one of my friends, and she then asked me, "have you been meditating?" I smiled awkwardly, and said, "sortaaaa".

Do you get that?

Yes...that was me for a long time. Angry, frustrated, control freak, anxious, etc. Lots can go on in my delicate yet vast mind; just like everyone else. 

It wasn't until my teacher training began, that I actually starting making more efforts to developing a meditation practice. I took away tools that could help me through my day, even if I couldn't literally just sit for 5 minutes. I quickly learned that mantra (not necessarily chanting Hindu or Buddhist chants - but can be) are very helpful in stilling the mind--for instance, I have the tendency to be in a mental state of lack, therefor the mantra I found to be most helpful was "I am abundant" on the inhale, and "I am at peace" on the exhale. After repeating that to myself for at least a couple of minutes, I feel much more at ease and relaxed. I feel a whole lot more open to the universe as well.

I found that I can take mantra with me anywhere. I don't have to say it out loud, but I can if I want to...so it's very accessible. I've found myself in touchy situations, and have had to go to the restroom and say, "I am calm. Om Shanti, Shanti, Shanti" :) When I do that, I tend to handle myself and other people much more gracefully. 

Along with mantra, I have been able to take breathing (Pranayama) everywhere. Simple techniques like Ujayii and Nadhi Shodhana can be done anywhere--I often do it in my car, although be careful with the NS one, as people might think you are picking your nose XD haha...

Moving along, I became more aware of how I was spending my time; how much have I been wasting, and how much has been used wisely? I realized that a lot of time, I waste worrying, and/or being focused on things that really are not important. I began to prioritize. I really longed to have a seated practice, because I feel it is important for me to have and maintain; therefore, I began to make some changes...

What has helped me, is that I will set my alarm 10-15 minutes early, and will sit in my meditation room, and have a 5-15 min seated practice (Pranayama, Mantra, and Meditation). If it so happens I slept poorly or not enough, and I have to hit snooze, I hit snooze...but that means I will have less time to get ready. With that, I make sure I leave the house 5 minutes earlier than usual. I do breath control and recite my mantra in my car (maybe I will even throw in a little tune to it). I will (hopefully) make it to work early, and thus will turn off my car, set my timer, and close my eyes to meditate for 5 minutes - to just sit in silence and feel myself be just as I am, there in that moment. 

No matter where I go, I can take these tools with me...some days may be more hectic than others, but there is always time. Even if we have to sacrifice morning jams on our way to work in order to breathe and recite mantra, then so be it...as long as I am practicing, I feel my best. I feel in control of myself. I feel more connected with others around me. I feel freer, lighter, and stronger.

I used to loathe seated practice; but now I crave it...that must be a good thing.

Namaste.