Enjoy that spoonful of Ben & Jerry's!

I finally convinced my roommate/best friend last weekend to come to yoga. We attended a community class at the local lululemon store. We arrived to find out that class was being led by an instructor from the meditation studio: it was a guided meditation session.

Photo by Elizabeth Reed

You might have figured out by now that I love being active. I love running, hiking, handstanding, hot & hard vinyasa flow… I struggggggle with meditation. Well, with any type of yin activity. I know it'd be good for me, and I always say I'm going to take the 5 minutes before I turn the lights out at bedtime to sit in silence and breathe. Does it happen? Nope.

I knew staying for this would be good for me since I'm working on self-care right now in my life. As much as my roommate wants to try asana, she was also game to stay and get our meditation on too! Our instructor was amazing! He started out by talking to us about meditation. That it's hard, and isn't going to be perfect. Our minds are meant to wander and they will, so there's no point in getting mad or judgy, but to just bring the mind back. Bodies can start to feel stiff and hurt (hence, why thousands of years ago they created asana… Yes that's right, asana, the physical practice of yoga, was created in order to be able to sit in meditation comfortably!), but just shift when you need to. If you're too relaxed you can fall asleep, but sometimes that's what our bodies need!

Our instructor, Ryan, talked about his beginning with meditation. As a marathon runner, he started meditating during his runs. In other words, focusing on evening his breath out and making an effort at maintaining presence in the present moment. Many of us check out during runs, using the opportunity to make lists, draft emails (or the next great American novel), and think through situations. Sometimes that's super useful; I do it all the time. However, by maintaining presence, and making this a practice, you're present! Stating the obvious, I know. But think about the power of that statement. You're here, in this moment, no where else. You feel your breath and blood coursing through your running body, your attention is fully on your friend while hanging out, you taste every layer of flavor in that spoonful of Ben & Jerry's. It can help focus and memory, and calm anxiety. (Ryan has since studied meditation in a neuroscience program!) We can't control what goes on around us, but we can control the way we react to it (an important lesson my control-freak self has had to learn!). If you are aware of the increase of your breathing and the tensing of your shoulders when you start to get stressed, you can make a conscious effort to calm the breath and relax your neck to stave off the anxiety attack.

I remember one of my favorite teachers talking about building her meditation practice. She was very upfront about it being a struggle to sit in quiet for 5 minutes every evening. She pushed through, and made a point of doing it even though it was hard and she didn't want to every night. Gradually 5 minutes became not enough, and the time of her personal meditation session expanded. She began to crave it. I've gotten so that I can (sometimes) remain present during high sensation postures in classes (i.e. pigeon) and enjoy seated meditations during classes. But I haven't built that daily practice. Yet.

Photo by Elizabeth Reed

During our 45-minute meditation session, my mind wandered; I brought it back. Repeatedly. My knees and hips stiffened up; I stretched my legs out long. My breath became shallow periodically; I consciously paced it out. I became impatient towards the end when I sensed him bringing us out; I tried to be patient and enjoy the moment. The point of this is that with a practice such as meditation (and asana), you're not going to be able to jump right into…whatever you'd like to call that state: heightened awareness, blank slate mind, connection with a higher power, etc. It's a bit of a battle with yourself. You don't fight it, you accept it and come back to the attempt at calmness.

We left the store feeling calm and relaxed. You don't have to have a meditation guide, a yoga room, and little bench, though those things totally help. All it takes is practice and dedication. It takes bringing your awareness into this moment, and enjoying every second as much as you can!

Disclaimer: This post is my opinion, thoughts, and feelings, and was not sponsored.