Day 9: 30 Day Meditation Challenge

Technique to Try: Who Am I?

• Sit with you spine straight or lie flat. Close your eyes and take a few moments to become quiet. Observe the natural flow of your breath.
• Then put aside everything you think you know about who you are and ask yourself this question: "Who am I?" Ask the question, but don't answer it. Instead feel the answer. Feel who you are. Feel the energy of you. Answer in direct experience of the energy that you are, not words.
• When you attention wonders from this personal self-experiencing, ask yourself, "Who is thinking this?" or "Who is experiencing this sensation or sound?" The ask again, "But who am I?"
• Find out who you are through direct experience. Keep bringing your conscious awareness back into the conscious experience of you in the now.

This exercise is from Yoga: The Spirit and Practice of Moving into Stillness by Erich Schiffmann

Day 8: 30 Day Meditation Challenge

A simple and profound practice. Non-dual mediation video with Sally Kempton on yogaglo.com

Photograph by Michael Chichi

Day 3: 30 Day Mediation Challenge

Technique to Try: Coming Back to Center Motionless sitting is probably the easiest way to learning to be centered, but being centering doesn't require  physical motionlessness. The more you practice, the more you can become familiar with the energetic feeling-tone of stillness. Throughout the day today, back to center as many times as you can. Relax into where you are, breathe, and consciously be present in the moment. Do this in the midst of anything/everything - all day long, and let the joy you feel permeate everything you do.

How did it go? Share your experience with the group here.

Day 1: 30 Day Meditation Challenge

Our 30 Day Meditation Challenge is underway (There is still time to sign up). We have a lovely and large group of meditators so there is lots of support on this journey. Here are some considerations as we get started:

Mediation is a way of developing stillness and peace of mind. You can start by sitting absolutely still - "practicing conscious physical immobility can teach you how to be in the conflict-free, higher-energy, "stillness" state for more of your daily life. You can learn what it feels like to have all your energy perfectly aligned and in harmony." Sounds good, right?

A Technique to Try: Counting Backward*

• Begin by counting backward from fifty to zero, synchronizing the counting with your breathing.
• Count the odd numbers as you inhale and the even numbers as you exhale.
• Sit with your back straight and eyes closed.
• When you reach 0, stop counting, but stay aware of the natural flow of breath.
• Sit absolutely still, but don't hold yourself still. Simply be so relaxed that no movement occurs.
• Be very aware of how you feel: how peaceful, energized, calm, alert, serene, fearless, at ease. Familiarize yourself with this feeling, the feeling-tone of being centered and at peace, and rest here for another few minutes.
• You are learning not to be in control. You are learning how to get out of the way.

The more familiar you are with the feeling-tone of your own centered being when you are "home" and alone, the more obvious it will be when you move away from it, and the easier it will be to find your way back to center in the midst of your (busy) life." -Erich Schiffman

After today's session, write for a few minutes with no agenda other that to see what is revealed. If you want, share what you discovered with the group.

*from Yoga: The Spirit and Practice of Moving into Stillness, by Erich Schiffman (YSPMIS ES)

Why would you do a 30 Day Meditation Challenge?

Why would you consider a 30 day meditation challenge? A few reasons:

• According to one study, it takes between 18 and 254 days to form a habit and the folks at Google say it takes about 21 days. It is different for everyone. The point is, it takes time to create the neuro-pathways for change.
• It's not easy. So there lies dormant as sense of accomplishment. Setting goals + meeting goals = positive feeling.
• Other people are doing it too. You are not alone. You can connect with, support and be supported by other 30-day challengers.
• Meditation is one big key to unlocking 'higher' levels of consciousness and evolution. Does that seem weird or un-relatable to you? Well, here's some science. We have the limbic brain, the "reptilian" brain - responsible for flight/fight and circadian rhythm - your auto-pilot and we have the pre-frontal cortex responsible for conscious thought - human beings' most incredible gift. Meditation helps to get you off auto-pilot and become fully engaged - which allows for your big brain to serve the highest good.
• It's peaceful and relaxing.
• It's physically possible for all. I'm not sure a 30 days plank or handstand challenge is, but sitting on my bottom everyday and breathing? Sounds like a vacation.

And the most convincing reason? You will find out on day 31!