Day 4: 30 Day Mediation Challenge

Technique to Try: Heart Breathing

• Lie on your back with your eyes closed and your hands on your heart. Begin breathing and fill your chest with your breath - feel your sternum expand with each breath. Do this for a few minutes.
• Then let your breathing to flow in and out naturally, effortlessly with your doing anything - just keep your awareness in the center of your chest where you hands are -feel what you feel.
• As you practice, let each breath remind your to stay centered and present in the now. When your attention strays, notice, and bring it back to the feeling-awareness of the ever-changing sensations in your check. Don't think about the breath, simply experience what's actually there to be experienced. We are shifting from thinking mode to feeling mode.
• Do this for 10 minutes.

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!

The Cosmic Christ

I believe there is an energy that connects everything in a spirit of love; that favors forgiveness, connection, truth friendship, collaboration and peace. I am not tied to the name of that energy and I am less inclined to provide a label. I access this energy as often as I can - consciously through yoga, study, prayer, meditation, and participating in community and church. I also access it more un/sub-consciously through remembrance, my family, friends (even on Facebook), nature, housework, work-work, cooking, and even internet browsing. When I forget that it's there - I'm more likely to feel scared, angry, resentful, small, broken. My soul is a soul that calls myself to let go, open up, and be present to the Spiritual Energy I feel privileged to know.

I often think how easy it is to be submerged, immersed in a loving spirit, but then I forget and feel pain - but, then I remember. It's this constant, consistent remembering and returning that brings me an incredible feeling of Joy.

I believe in the power of this Joy. I know that this joy is what the world needs, what humanity needs, what I need.

May we all be willing to give up what we may want for what we truly need. May I.