Try something new!

This blog is not the normal meditation blog, but instead I am challenging my readers to try something new! First let’s think about the word ‘new’ this word can bring a feeling of worry or uncertainty, but it can also bring the feeling of excitement and curiosity. In the dictionary the word ‘new’ means “produced, introduced, or discovered recently or now for the first time; not existing before.” What does this word mean to you? Is there anything new happening in your life right now? Due to the current situation there may be a lot of changes in your life, in my life I am experiencing a new style of teaching, teaching online rather than in a studio. I see this, as a blessing, I am still able to share my knowledge and passion, only in a new way. Please share your new experience, I would love to hear them. This can be done alone or with family/ friends, challenge them to try something new with you, but remember what is new to you may be not be new to others.

Your challenge this week is to try something new, this could be anything. Here are some examples;

  • Food- try a new style of food, bake a cake, make bread
  • Style- try a new hair style or style of clothing
  • Activity- try a new activity such as joining a Yoga class
  • Book- read a new book maybe something you would not normally read
  • Meditation- try a new style of meditation
  • Online party- host a party for friends and family theme it ‘New’ and share you experiences together
  • Create- create something new with a fresh Canvas

“Try something new each day. After all, we’re giving life to find it out. Doesn’t last forever”

Ruth Gordon

Chakra Meditation

Chakra meditation is a very personal practice that will help you to connect with your Chakra energy, bringing balance and a sense of inner peace. If our Chakras are blocked or unbalanced it can affect the body, mind and spirt. This meditation is one of my personal favourites as it keeps the body and mind healthy. Every Chakra has different benefits, some of these will be explained in this blog.

What is a Chakra? Chakra is a Sanskrit word meaning ‘wheel’ or ‘vortex’ of energy. In traditional Yogic teachings our body has 7 points of energy. These 7 chakras are shown in the picture bellow;

Chakra Meditation; Start by sitting in a comfortable upright position, you need to be able to sit in stillness for around 15 minuets. When you are ready, close your eyes and bring your awareness to your Root Charka, feel your tail bone connecting you with the earth, grounding you. Allow you breath to flow naturally and visualise inhaling the colour red and taking that colour down to your Root Chakra. After about 10 breaths visualise that red colour as a lotus flower with 4 petals. The lotus flower begins to spin creating a wheel of healing warm energy. Once balanced the Root Chakra can bring emotional stability, contentment, inner peace and a sense of being able to cope with whatever the universe throws your way. When you feel a sense of comfort, this chakra has enough energy, move on to the Sacral Chakra.

The Sacral Chakra. Allow your breath to flow naturally and visualise inhaling the colour orange, taking that colour down to your Sacral Chakra. After about 10 breaths visualise that orange colour as a lotus flower with 6 petals. The lotus flower begins to spin creating a wheel of warm healing energy. Once balanced the Sacral Chakra brings you passion, creativity, the ability to move on and let go. When you feel a sense of comfort, this chakra has enough energy, move on to the Solar Plexus Chakra.

The Solar Plexus Chakra. Allow your breath to flow naturally and visualise inhaling the colour yellow, taking that colour down to your Solar Plexus Chakra. After about 10 breaths visualise that yellow colour as a lotus flower with 10 petals. The lotus flower begins to spin creating a wheel of warm healing energy. Once balanced the Solar Plexus Chakra will bring you self-confidents, inner strength and spontaneity. When you feel a sense of comfort, this chakra has enough energy, move on to the Heart Chakra.

The Heart Chakra. Allow your breath to flow naturally and visualise inhaling the colour green, taking that colour down to your Heart Chakra. After about 10 breaths visualise that green colour as a lotus flower with 12 petals. The lotus flower begins to spin creating a wheel of warm healing energy. Once balanced the Heart Chakra will bring you the feeling of compassion, love and sympathy. When you feel a sense of comfort, this chakra has enough energy, move on to the Throat Chakra.

The Throat Chakra. Allow your breath to flow naturally and visualise inhaling the colour blue, taking that colour to your Throat Chakra. After about 10 breaths visualise that blue colour as a lotus flower with 16 petals. The lotus flower begins to spin creating a wheel of warm healing energy. Once balanced the Throat Chakra will help you to communicate your thoughts and feelings, clearly and freely. When you feel a sense of comfort, this chakra has enough energy, move on to the Third Eye Chakra.

The Third Eye Chakra. Allow your breath to flow naturally and visualise inhaling the colour indigo, taking that colour up to your Third Eye Chakra. After about 10 breaths visualise that indigo colour as a lotus flower with 2 petals. The lotus flower begins to spin creating a wheel of warm healing energy. Once balanced the Third Eye Chakra is known as our spiritual centre and will bring you wisdom, insight and self-knowledge. When you feel fulfilled, this chakra has enough energy, move on to the last one, the Crown Chakra.

The Crown Chakra. Allow your breath to flow naturally and visualise inhaling the colour violet, taking that colour up to your Crown Chakra. After about 10 breaths visualise that Violet colour as a lotus flower with 1000 petals. The lotus flower begins to spin creating a wheel of warm healing energy. Once balanced the Crown Chakra will bring you positive thinking, where you connect with your spirituality and humanity. Stop when you feel balanced and calm. Visualise a silver light, shining down on you, this will keep you connected with the universe even after you have finished this meditation practice.

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