Gift Meditation

This is a lovely meditation that will relax the body and calm the mind. Gift meditation can help to encourage a good night’s sleep, bring about positive energy, de-stress and improve emotional health. You may find your mind wonders in this practice, if it does acknowledge the thoughts that come in, before allowing them to pass and bringing the awareness back into this meditation/moment.

Begin by sitting in a comfortable position, you may sit on a chair or pillow, lift and lengthen through your spine, relax your shoulders, take a moment to connect with your breath and body. How are you feeling physically? Make any needed adjustments to your position, then try to bring yourself into stillness. Close your eyes and allow yourself to be in this moment, letting go of anything else that’s going on. Take a deep inhale and as you exhale let go of any tension and anything that’s no longer serving you. Take as long as you need, before allowing your breath flow naturally. Follow the beauty of each breath, flowing in through your nose and out through your nose, every breath represents new life. Listen and notice what you can hear, imagine you can hear quiet footsteps getting closer and closer. Start to visualise a figure, getting closer, someone you recognise, someone you love or admire, they are holding a gift for you. When they reach you, they place the gift in front of you. Notice the size and shape of this gift, how it is wrapped and the colour of the wrapping. When you are ready visualise opening the gift and the sounds you hear as you do so. What is inside? It may be a material object, maybe a photo or maybe a blessing. The gift is something you feel holds relevance to you, in this moment. Once opened, accept this gift with gratitude and love. Visualise this person now leaving you, so that you can enjoy the gift they left. Cherish this gift and knowing you can revisit this gift whenever you need to. Take a few deeper breaths, before opening your eyes ready for the day ahead or stay longer in this meditation.

I have added a poem, read. Enjoy and take a moment to think about what the words mean to you.

“The Gift of Life,”

Celebrate the joy of living
by choosing to believe
that each day is a blessing
through the gifts you receive.

Live life to its fullest.
Reap all the joy that you can take.
Make each moment count 
from the minute you’re awake.

There’s so very little
that’s sure or guaranteed,
but to make the most of life,
you have everything you need.

Start by tossing out doubt
and the voice of defeat.
This will go a long way
to make your life complete.

Let go of the past and
all the tears you’ve cried.
Let optimism lead the way
as you take each forward stride.

Never dwell on the shores
where you have not prevailed.
If you grew from your errors,
then you never really failed.

And worry is a useless weight
that you’ll do best without,
for in the end we always find
that everything worked out.

Make the most of every minute
that you have to really live,
by laughing and loving,
and reaching out to give.

Do the things you yearn to do,
and say the things you need to say
to squeeze all of the sunshine
that you can from life each day.

Even should trouble
arrive with clouds of sorrow,
cling to rainbows of hope  
as you contemplate tomorrow.

Give the very best gift
that you can to yourself
by unwrapping a dear dream
that you stored high on a shelf.

And remember as you strive
to reach each precious goal,
that each bridge of success 
is worth more than its toll.

Make the most of your time
before each day is done,
because the gift of life is short
and you only get one.

Written by Bobette Bryan

Meditation Walk

In these unusual times, it’s important to go outside for some fresh air. This may be a walk, run or even some Yoga in the garden if you have the space. It’s recommended to walk/ exercise for an hour a day, so whilst on your walk why not try this meditation. This practice is perfect if you have been inside or sitting still most of the day or if you have that ‘couch potato feeling’. Walking meditation is all about mindfulness, noticing our body, connecting with our senses and observing the world around us. A meditation walk is very calming and can help boost creativity. Before you do this practice please make sure you are warm enough if it’s cold outside or protected from the sun, with sun cream and sunglasses. Make sure you have comfortable shoes and water to keep hydrated. If possible, leave your phone at home or put it on silent and place it in a bag or pocket where it won’t distract you. You can walk anywhere, but if you have the option to walk in a country park or somewhere away from traffic this will be best.

When you are ready to start, walk slowly noticing every step, notice the movement in every step, the shift of body weight, how the foot leaves the ground and then connects back with the ground and how your arms move as you walk? Then notice your natural breath, does the pattern change as you walk? Notice how you feel, notice the temperature of your skin and the feeling of your clothes as you move. Start to become aware of your surroundings, if you have been there before is there anything you haven’t previously noticed, that you noticing now? Be aware of the colours around you, maybe there are trees and flowers or maybe there are buildings, notice the architecture, the colour of bricks, building materials/textures and the refections in the windows. Notice any movement around you, there might be wildlife or trees blowing in the breeze. Now listen, what can you hear, birds singing, flowing water or other people? Listen to the ground, as you take each step. What can you smell? Maybe blossom on the trees, freshly mowed grass or wood burning. As you continue your walk notice any changes to the light, shadows and how your physical body is feeling.

Once you finish your walk, again notice how you are feeling. You may want to reflect or capture this experience/ meditation, retrace your steps and observations, you may want to share this with family and friends. You can do this by writing in a diary or on social media, by drawing or painting, by movement/ dance or by sharing photographs. Remember there is no right or wrong. You may simply wish to cherish your experience in your mind.

“There’s a difference between knowing the path and walking the path”

Morpheus

Bubble Meditation

This mediation is about gratitude, love, peace and support. Letting go of energy you no longer need and being positive in this moment. I am starting this blog slightly different to normal. As we all know COVID-19 has spread across the world and most of us are fearful of catching it and worried about the financial implications to our lives. I am self-employed and went from working/teaching every day to nothing in the space of a week! This was a huge shock, suddenly in lockdown, I am no longer see my boyfriend who is a key worker, risking his life to keep people safe, I can no longer see my friends (I am a very social person), my holiday to Thailand has been cancelled (I had been planning and saving for this for over 2 years).  There are so many negatives overwhelming our minds. I know we should not think like this, if we need to be positive, if we are going to get through this.

Take a moment to ask yourself what are you grateful for? Personally, I am grateful to have food on our table, I’m grateful I live with my family, I’m grateful for the outdoor space, we are very fortunate to have a beautiful garden. I am also very grateful to be teaching 3 online classes a week, giving me a small income, just about enough to pay the essential bills (these have not stopped due to C-19).

I now have time ‘for me’ to improve my Yoga practice and enjoying a break from running around every day from class to class, venue to venue.

We can feel a sense of purpose by helping others with a phone call to those who live alone or need help to get through this time and especially those who may have lost a loved one. Now more than ever we need to communicate, share love and stay positivity.

Bubble Meditation: For this meditation sit in a comfortable position, you may sit on a chair or pillow, lift and lengthen through your spine, relax your shoulders, take a moment to connect with your breath and body.  How are you feeling? Know it’s okay to feel scared or lost. Take a deep inhale and as you exhale let go of negativity and allow yourself to be in this moment. Notice any thoughts or emotions that come up. Inhale and as you exhale imagine you are creating bubbles, every bubble is something you need to let go of, something that is no longer serving you. Create as many as you need to then exhale blow those bubbles away, watch them float away and disappear. When you feel ready allow your breath flow naturally. Follow the beauty of your breath flowing in through your nose and out through your nose, every breath is unique. Think back to everything you are grateful for. Visualise a clear bubble surrounding you, keeping you safe, blessing you with love and peace. On your next exhalation, visualise the bubble getting bigger and bigger starting to surround all the people you love, blessing them with love, good health and peace. Stay here for a moment, for as long as you feel you need to, then, when you are ready, on your inhalation start to draw that bubble and it’s blessings back into you and know you can make a another bubble whenever you need to.

“Today I place a bubble of happiness around myself and nothing negative can get in!”

Sana Saxena