This is my FAVORITE meditation technique, especially if the idea of "doing nothing" has kept you from trying to meditate. Its called Open Monitoring and can be an amazing gateway into deeper relaxation and presence. Listen to my audio meditation below to learn how!
Remember, meditation is about training your mind to focus on what you want it to focus on instead of wandering from thought to thought - what we call the "monkey mind". Your focal point can be anything including but not limited to your breath, background music, mantra, candle flame or a guided visualization.
Sometimes it might feel like all you do in your meditation is notice that you're making to do lists or remembering your last vacation. Show yourself compassionate awareness by acknowledging that your mind wandered off on its own, forgive yourself for that without judgment and come back...as many times as it takes to either finish your session or until you feel like your session is over. As long as you notice it and TRY to redirect your mind back to your focal point - you're meditating.
Over time, these micro changes create new pathways in the brain and can even increase grey matter in areas of the brain that control your emotional response. If nothing else, meditation can give you a few moments of reprieve from the chaos. Totally worth a try!
Photo Credit: Brent Elrod, photographer ; Kacy Elrod, model in Love Your Asana Long Tank
Plus, check out a few awesome meditation benefits that you may or may not know about. Besides reducing stress and helping manage migraines, consistent meditation can improve your immunity (meditators have shown to have more antibodies than those who don't meditate), slow down the aging process (improved telomerese activity) and improve your quality of sleep.
Need some props to get comfy in meditation? Check out my favorite partners for cushions, bolsters and more!
Blankets from YogaOutlet (click image below to shop)
Hugger Mugger Meditation Cushion (click image to shop)
Half Moon Bolster (click image to shop)
*The above are affiliate links, which means you can still support my small business while shopping these other brands. Thank you in advance!
About the Author:
Tiffany Lord is a corporate yoga coach and founder of Love + Asana, a virtual studio launched in 2016 offering workplace wellness sessions, workshops and program design. Her sessions incorporate movement and mindfulness focusing on benefits for stress relief and chronic pain. Tiffany’s fun, approachable style makes classes feel like you’re hanging out with friends while also improving your mental and physical health.
She is an E-RYT with the Yoga Alliance and received her 500-hour certification from Yoga Medicine focusing on yoga applications for common range of motion issues. Continuing education in meditation, breathing techniques, myofascial release, yoga for COVID-19 recovery and training as a massage therapist help make her sessions relevant and beneficial to clients who want simple movement and mindfulness techniques that improve their quality of life. Her articles on wellness through yoga have been featured in online and print publications, such as fyi50+ and CO Yoga + Life magazine.
Questions? Contact Tiffany at loveandasana@gmail.com