 Thank you to Poppy and Someday for the great photo of this treatment.
In India at the Vasant Institute of Ayurveda, I am experiencing panchakarma (pancha means five, and there are five procedures used). This 12 day detoxifying and purification has been very interesting and at times intense - generally in a good way. One of the most unusual treatments for me was yesterday's Netra Basti. I found the treatment very pleasant, calming and intriguing. The wheat dough ring that surrounds the eye is soft, light weight and comfortable. It is gently moulded around the eye and holds the warm medicated ghee (clarified butter) which is slowly poured into the dough dam and bathes the eyes, which are at first closed. The therapists then asked me to open my eyes slowly, which was quite easy to do. Next came some eye exercises - up and down, left and right, corner to corner and then circles one way and then the other - all with eyes opened. Then the eyes were rested in a closed position. Another measured amount of warm ghee was administered while eyes were closed. The dough ring and ghee were carefully and easily removed. Each eye took about 30 minutes. Once the ghee was removed the therapist massaged specific marma points (like acupressure points) around the eye area. It all felt quite nice. The eyes are a bit foggy after the treatment and sunglasses are worn for a couple hours while the eyes are sensitive to light. Also it was recommended to not use technology for the remainder of the day. It was a good tech break for me:) Netra Basti treatment helps to reduce stress and eye strain - particularly good for these days of heavy computer and smart phone usage. It also helps with dark circles, dryness of eyes (which I have), conjunctivitis, watering of eyes, painful or swollen eyes. Sharing my latest life experiences with you and hoping they are interesting and helpful. Namaste Loving Life and Living Love, Mary
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 Now Available at Amazon Books and check out KP Khalsa excerpt from book below
A Little About Me from What's Possible? I am Mary Roberts (Padmavati). Discovering a different path at the age of 61, after a lifetime of traditional living was completely unexpected. My rather ordinary life journey became an unlikely adventure. My story begins in the same way that many of our stories do - schooling then career path, in my case as a teacher, then marriage...children...divorce...a new, work-hard-play-hard career path in marketing and eventually international trade…all part of the respected, acceptable and typical treadmill of life in our Western culture. The faster we run, the better - or so I thought. On the surface, before this adventure began, I had it all - lovely condo in one of the nicest parts of Chicago, a loving family and a wide circle of friends. I had attained work success with a nicely titled and high-paying job, had nice clothes and a nice place to live. Yet, I couldn't help but feel that something indefinable was missing. I began my exploration of the ancient sciences of Yoga and Ayurveda at my local yoga studio in downtown Chicago, and was introduced to new ways of life that fascinated me. I felt compelled to learn more. That interest led me to a week-long Ayurveda conference at the Sivananda Ashram Yoga Retreat in the Bahamas. From that one week vacation, I became a "guinea pig" for a year-long Ayurvedic - Yogic lifestyle study at the Ashram. No caffeine, no alcohol, no meat, eggs, seafood - all vegetarian diet, and I’d be living in a tent! Somehow, I created the proposal and presented it to KP Khalsa, renowned herbalist and Ayurveda specialist. He is the co author of this book and a well respected author of numerous books on Ayurveda. I wanted to see what was possible. As a typical American woman, raised on an abundance of fast, convenience foods, meats, seafood, sugary desserts, and who enjoyed strong coffee, alcohol, constant activity and late nights out with friends; this was a huge leap. Sleeping in a tent, using communal bathrooms and living a simple, yogic lifestyle seemed inconceivable. Yet I chose to have this experience. This book takes you on the year-long journey, with before and after photos, actual journal entries, milestone reports and final results. I’d be honored to share my story with you. Excerpt from the Foreword of What's Possible? by Karta Purkh Singh Khalsa “Living Ayurveda and using Ayurvedic herbalism can keep you well. With this knowledge, you can achieve balanced health, a priceless gift. Imagine a time in the near future when you’re free from sickness, when you haven’t been bothered by even a painful joint or uncomfortable bloating for a long, long time. That future can become your reality. I’ve seen thousands of patients regain vibrant health, and for my entire adult life I’ve been involved in the revolution that is transforming the health care system in America. Ayurveda and yoga play a big part in that. I am sure you, like other Americans, want to know what you can do to protect yourself from the degeneration, aging and daily irritations that undermine the quality of our lives. If you have relied on conventional treatments and they are failing you, learn yoga and incorporate Ayurveda in your life, starting today. In this book, you will read about the success story of an admittedly typical American woman who did just that. Committing to the historically potent herbal traditions of India, fused with a modern slant, she found transformation. This could be you. I hope you take to heart what she says about her experience. Admittedly, she spent the year in a concentrated yoga and Ayurveda environment, but there is so much you could do in your own kitchen.” My evolution of self was life changing in a very positive way, but that transformation did not come without many challenges, lessons and a few humorous experiences that served to humble me throughout the year. Read more.... Namaste Loving Life and Living Love, Mary  Check it out at https://www.lotuspress.com/what-s-possible.html
3 1/2 years in the making, this story sheds light on one mainstream American woman's experience as layers of life are peeled away and truths exposed. Many of you have followed along since the beginning of this unlikely journey. I hope you will do me the honor of reading the book that KP Khalsa and I have written about the yearlong study of me as a 'guinea pig', living an Ayurvedic-Yogic lifestyle at the Sivananda Ashram Yoga Retreat in the Bahamas. There are before and after photos, milestone reports, journal entries and many lessons learned along the way. I welcome your feedback and hope that you will find the book informative, interesting and helpful. Namaste Loving Life and Living Love, Mary  Namaste
Loving Life and Living Love, Mary If you haven't signed up for the blog posts, please do. I welcome you to leave a comment below or post one on my BestYOU Facebook page. Sharing your thoughts is a gift to all of us! What an amazing experience I have to share with you! Two years in the making, this press release announces the book about my year long study of Ayurveda and Yoga at the Sivananda Ashram Yoga Retreat in the Bahamas. Online ordering information will be available soon.  Namaste
Loving Life and Living Love, Mary  Namaste
Loving Life and Living Love, Mary If you haven't signed up for the blog posts, please do. I welcome you to leave a comment below or post one on my BestYOU Facebook page. Sharing your thoughts is a gift to all of us!  In the Bahamas, at the Sivananda Ashram Yoga Retreat, where I currently am, we celebrated the International Day of Yoga with a special puja (ceremony) conducted by the Ashram priest and also had a special advanced yoga class. Our sister Sivananda ashram and center in New York, as well as Sivananda centers around the world also had celebrations.
This photo from New York and the largess of it all was pretty amazing. I thought it was worth sharing with all of you. It's also fascinating to me that prior to three years ago, I had never heard of Sivananda yoga. It's a wonderful practice, and I'm happy that it is upfront and center for the International Day of Yoga celebrations. In New York, the celebration began at the United Nations Headquarters in Manhattan for "Yoga Sessions with Yoga Masters" program sponsored by the Permanent Mission of India. Swami Paramananda, from the Sivananda Yoga Ranch led a 20-minute asana class, and Sivananda teachers and TTCs (teacher training course students) acted as demonstrators and assistants for the class, which was attended by close to 1000 participants who filled the North Lawn of the United Nations Headquarters. At the UN, the "Yoga for Peace" panel discussion held on Thursday afternoon included Sivananda NY Ashram director, Srinivasan among six panelists for the discussion, which was attended by 200-300 people. The panel was moderated by Mitchell Rabin, who has been a long-time friend of the ashram, and Lila Lolling was also among the panelists. On Thursday evening in Times Square, Swami Paramananda led a 75-minute asana class as part of the Times Square Alliance's Summer Solstice celebration. Again Sivananda teachers and TTCs acted as demonstrators and assistants for the class, which was attended by 1500 people. (photo above) Namaste Loving Life and Living Love, Mary If you haven't signed up for the blog posts, please do. I welcome you to leave a comment below or post one on my BestYOU Facebook page. Sharing your thoughts is a gift to all of us!  As I look back over the past three years, I marvel at the experiences I've had since I took 'the leap' to stay at the Sivananda Bahamas Ashram and Yoga Retreat. Starting with a year long study of living an Ayurvedic-Yogic lifestyle, under the guidance of Ayurveda doctor and expert herbalist, KP Khalsa, my life has changed radically.
KP and I co-authored a book about the year long study that will soon be published and available for purchase. Together, we wanted to find out what is possible for an American born woman, raised in Western culture on the work hard/play hard treadmill of life path. Was there anything other than the usual 'take a pill' quick solution to our health issues? Would the rest of my life be a downward struggle of decreased health and mobility? The book takes you on a year long journey with before and after photos, actual journal entries, milestone reports and final results. Stay Tuned for more about the book and details of how to order. It is a story I'd be honored to share with you. Namaste Loving Life and Living Love, Mary If you haven't signed up for the blog posts, please do. I welcome you to leave a comment below or post one on my BestYOU Facebook page. Sharing your thoughts is a gift to all of us!  Photo courtesy of medicalxpress.com
Qualia and Kirtan - Talk about Diversity! Last week the Sivananda Ashram Yoga Retreat, where I am currently residing, has provided some really unique and diverse presenters. The beginning of the week was all about kirtan (call and response chanting/singing). Gaura Vani is renown in the yogi world and has been singing kirtan since the age of 6. He and his ensemble are Bhaktis - devotional kirtan singers. Gaura Vani brings his entire family, and they are all musically talented - from his children to his mother and extended family. Each night was filled with joyous devotional music. I think back to my first night at the Ashram and how freaked out I was with the chants mentioning Hari Krishna. Now, chants of all kinds are second nature to me, and I really enjoy chanting. The remainder of the week was all about Qualia and the Science of Consciousness. Menas Kafatos PhD, Neil Theise MD, Debashish Banerjee PhD, and Swami Brahmananda dialogued during a smposium about the qualities of consciousness, or qualia. The symposium expanded the conversation that began last year at the ashram with Deepak Chopra and Menas Kafatos presenting “You are the Universe: Discovering Your Cosmic Self and Why it Matters.” They co-authored a book by the same title. In the description of the symposium, “These qualities of consciousness, or qualia, when closely observed, allow us to be “alchemists” who create both our internal and external worlds. For thousands of years, our spiritual traditions have taught that the path to health and enlightenment lies in our perceptions. Now science is validating and deepening this assertion.” I really enjoyed Neil Theise's and Debashish Banerjee's talks. These two presenters were new to me, and I found them each to be fascinating. It is quite amazing, the level of presenters that the ashram provides and the vast diversity. I have been enriched and am grateful for the nightly satsang experiences. Namaste Loving Life and Living Love, Mary If you haven't signed up for the blog posts, please do. I welcome you to leave a comment below or post one on my BestYOU Facebook page. Sharing your thoughts is a gift to all of us!  Namaste
Loving Life and Living Love, Mary If you haven't signed up for the blog posts, please do. I welcome you to leave a comment below or post one on my BestYOU Facebook page. Sharing your thoughts is a gift to all of us!  I have the blessings of meeting many people while teaching yoga at the Sivananda Ashram Yoga Retreat in the Bahamas. After most of my classes, at least one and often more of the attendees will come up to ask questions about soreness in their muscles that is causing them pain and inability to move with ease.
Besides some guidance on their movements in the yoga postures, I often recommend Mahanarayan Oil (my preferred brand is Banyan Botanicals). It is a highly effective oil, especially used at night, for relieving muscle and joint pain. I have used it quite a bit and found it to really work. A word of caution - this oil can stain if not rubbed in well. The questions about muscles have had me thinking quite a bit about the Yin Yoga training I did last summer with Swara Yoga teachers, Sofia and Emily. Emily enthusiastically shared her vast knowledge of anatomy and provided us with much information to help us better understand what was going on when we have tightened and sore muscles. Two quotes that I found particularly interesting follow: “A tight muscle will resist the circulation of these vital fluids - picture a fist gripping a hose and how that would effect the flow of water running through that hose. Put another way, tight muscles work against the flow of your cardiovascular system (blood) and your immune system (which your lymphatic system supports). The result is increased blood pressure, decreased metabolism, waste accumulation in your tissues, and increased risk of cardiovascular disease. If optimal health in our body is important to us, bringing suppleness and circulation back to our tight muscles must be a priority . Had you ever thought about your muscles from this bigger picture, whole body health perspective?” “Muscles don’t lengthen beyond the stabilizers ability to support them, or the strength and flexibility of the antagonists involved (antagonist muscles are those that oppose the action of another - biceps and triceps are antagonists). If they are forced to stretch, they are damaged at a microscopic level and weakened, and always feel tight and sore.” Ahimsa is major principle of yoga. It means ‘do no harm’ or non violence. This includes doing no harm to ourselves too. Taking care to rest and relax muscles when they are sore, rather than further stressing them with too much activity, is important for us all to remember. Be kind to yourself. Namaste Loving Life and Living Love, Mary If you haven't signed up for the blog posts, please do. I welcome you to leave a comment below or post one on my BestYOU Facebook page. Sharing your thoughts is a gift to all of us!  Namaste
Loving Life and Living Love, Mary If you haven't signed up for the blog posts, please do. I welcome you to leave a comment below or post one on my BestYOU Facebook page. Sharing your thoughts is a gift to all of us!  The article below was published in the Sivananda Ashram Yoga Retreat newsletter "Connecting with Sivananda Yoga Postures" series. Padmavati is my spiritual name here at the Ashram. Now, half way through my 64th year of life, I still daily do headstands and am very grateful for the practice. Conquering Headstand at Age 61: Sivananda Yoga Posture Stories https://www.sivanandabahamas.org/conquering-headstand-age-61-sivananda-yoga-posture-stories/ By Padmavati Over time, our experience of yoga asanas evolves beyond the physical — the postures become our teachers and companions, showing us our relationship with ourselves and the world. Enjoy this collection of stories submitted by Sivananda Yoga practitioners from around the world, sharing their in-depth connections with each asana of the Sivananda sequence. I remember asking James, my first yoga teacher at a yoga studio in Chicago, “’Why would I ever want to learn a headstand?’ In my prior yoga experiences at Bikram and Core Power studios, headstands were not part of the practices they taught … and besides, I was 60 years old. During my year practicing at the Chicago studio, I started working on my headstand — but only with the assistance of a wall. There was still fear wrapped around the headstand in my mind, like it was an elusive posture I’d never master. And truthfully, I didn’t care if I did or not. In 2015, I visited the Sivananda Ashram Yoga Retreat in the Bahamas for my first ever yoga vacation. Practicing yoga outdoors while listening to the rush of the ocean inspired me to progress. I practiced yoga twice daily for the week. In the classes, headstands were referred to as “the king of asanas” and one of the best postures for allowing blood to flow through the body. They were done on the mat with no wall support. Even with the touted benefits, I was afraid to try it. One of the first days I was at the ashram, there was a headstand workshop. I was doubtful but I had practiced yoga the day before with Ambika Katie, who was leading the workshop, and I thought she was a great teacher. So I gave it a try. There were about 10 to 12 people in the workshop, and we were each at different stages of the headstand. Once there, I felt even more doubtful that I would get enough help to be able to do the posture. Ambika Katie broke down each of the eight steps for doing the headstand, demonstrating each one. She recommended that we get really comfortable and steady at each step before moving to the next step. This was the first key for me. I usually kicked up with straight legs, but now I practiced step-by-step, bending my knees and bringing my feet in toward my hips, holding my feet off the ground. I practiced just these steps quite a few times. Once I was solid in this position, she explained that I could lift my knees upward first by guiding my heels back, before extending my legs. This was the second key. I focused on my heels and my knees automatically lifted up, forming a straight line from my head up to my knees. Again, I practiced this quite a few times before I was steady. The last step was simple because I was solid in the other steps. I lifted my feet — and that was all it took to be in a steady headstand! Now I’ve got it for life. The most interesting part to me was that I was steady, not shaky. That first time, I held the position for 30 to 45 seconds before I came down. And it was only when I started worrying about how long I could hold the pose that I felt the need to come down. I tried it a few more times in the workshop and each time I gained confidence. I even felt brave enough to try the headstand in yoga class after a couple days of practicing on my own. By the end of the week, I felt confident and comfortable holding the headstand for a couple of minutes. I now do headstands as a regular part of my practice. I teach others to do headstands too — and I’ve even led a headstand workshop at the ashram. I’m now 63 years old, soon to be 64. It’s never too late to learn something new. Namaste Loving Life and Living Love, Mary If you haven't signed up for the blog posts, please do. I welcome you to leave a comment below or post one on my BestYOU Facebook page. Sharing your thoughts is a gift to all of us!  Namaste
Loving Life and Living Love, Mary If you haven't signed up for the blog posts, please do. I welcome you to leave a comment below or post one on my BestYOU Facebook page. Sharing your thoughts is a gift to all of us!  Thank you to Rukmini Ali Shevlin for this great recipe!
Carrot ginger soup with roasted chickpeas This warming, spicy soup is perfect for this time of year, when we're all likely to be feeling a bit weighed down and sluggish at the end of the winter. Be as generous with the ginger as you like! The roasted chickpeas make a lovely crunchy garnish (and any that are leftover make a great salad topper or snack). The soup serves 4. For the soup: 4 cups water 2tsp coriander powder 1lb carrots, peeled and coarsely chopped 2-3 inches fresh ginger root , peeled and chopped 2tsp ghee, olive oil, or sunflower oil dash each of salt and pepper Roasted chickpeas and fresh coriander, to serve In a medium saucepan, melt the ghee or oil, and add the fresh ginger and coriander to infuse for a couple of minutes. Add the chopped carrots, and sauté until coated in the oil and spices. Add the water, bring to a slow boil, and simmer for 20-30 minutes, until the carrots are tender. Remove from the heat, allow to cool for a few minutes, and then blend until smooth (a hand blender works just fine here, or you can use a carafe blender). Add salt and pepper to taste, before serving with roasted chickpeas, plenty of rest coriander, and bread if desired. For the roasted chickpeas: 2 cups cooked chickpeas 1tsp cumin powder 1tsp coriander powder 1tsp turmeric Dash of salt 2tsp sunflower or olive oil Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Rinse and rain the chickpeas well. Place in a large bowl, and add the spices and oil. Mix together with your hands, rubbing the spices well into the chickpeas. Spread the chickpeas on a baking sheet and bake for 40-50 minutes, stirring every so often to prevent sticking and burning. Use as a garnish for soup, a topper for salad, or as a simple snack straight from the oven. For more from Ali Shevlin, check out her website http://purepranaayurveda.com. Namaste Loving Life and Living Love, Mary If you haven't signed up for the blog posts, please do. I welcome you to leave a comment below or post one on my BestYOU Facebook page. Sharing your thoughts is a gift to all of us!  Namaste
Loving Life and Living Love, Mary If you haven't signed up for the blog posts, please do. I welcome you to leave a comment below or post one on my BestYOU Facebook page. Sharing your thoughts is a gift to all of us!  Namaste
Loving Life and Living Love, Mary If you haven't signed up for the blog posts, please do. I welcome you to leave a comment below or post one on my BestYOU Facebook page. Sharing your thoughts is a gift to all of us!  This past week has been a challenging one for me personally. Tuesday evening, atypically, I felt very cold and chilled despite the mild Bahamas weather. I went to bed with a warm blanket on top of me. The cool cotton sheets seemed too cold and so I slept on top of my comforter. I put on wool socks, a long sleeve shirt with my nightgown and winter leg warmers on my legs. I spent a feverish night alternating between chills and sweats, and my body, suddenly ached horribly. Likely you’ve had this experience before. It is common with the flu. I had to alert members of my team that I would not lead the early morning meeting. Looking at my cell phone screen was quite painful, as my eyes hurt from the light. Still, I sent the necessary messages and then crawled back under my covers. I stayed in the dark for two days. Earplugs were put in to block sounds. I missed some knocks on the door of people concerned and checking on me. I slept right through the day and by late afternoon, the fever seemed better but now my head and eyes were extremely painful, and I was in agony. I drank lots of water but ate no food until Thursday dinner when I ate a small bowl of plain white rice. It tasted fine going down, but my stomach was all jumpy and emitting gases for a good portion of the night. By Thursday evening, my headache had subsided after lots of sleep and applying a cold pack and taking ibuprofen. I was able to read for about an hour and used my cell phone a little. I wasn’t sure how it was possible, but I was still so tired and slept pretty well until 4am! Then an hour long bout of diarrhea, which was not fun, left me further exhausted. Luckily my living accommodations are right near the restroom. I didn’t wake until 8AM, but I felt so much better-not much body ache, no fever and only a mild headache. Compared to the prior two days, I felt good. Due to diarrhea, I knew I was still confined to my room for a day. So after brushing my teeth, what did I do? Start up my computer and proceeded to do work for what turned out to be close to 6 hours. The only time my eyes left the computer was when I went for a nature call. I had one more diarrhea episode after drinking a cup of ginger tea that a friend brought me, but I continued to work on the computer. I ate no more that day, letting my digestive tract rest. Then, by 3:00 in the afternoon my headache got progressively worse, but not as bad as it had been. Also, the fever and chills returned. I found myself needing to go back to bed, wrapped in blankets and feeling miserable. My eyes hurt again. This time though, sleep was a struggle. My mind was just not cooperating, no matter how many times I did my mantra or breathing exercises. I had a long and miserable night and another diarrhea attack at midnight. Finally, falling asleep sometime after 3:30am, I was awakened by a visit from Isvari who is a friend and also an Ayurveda practitioner on our team! She wondered why I hadn’t asked her for help the past couple of days and inquired about how I was doing. She confirmed that the computer work before complete recovery probably set me on a backtrack with symptoms raging back at me. Her guidance for Saturday (day 4) was no computer or work, minimal use of cell phone - only to ask for something I needed - and Cumin, Coriander, & Fennel Tea (1 Tsp each of these seeds steeped in hot water for 20 minutes or so). She brought me plain white rice and almond milk yogurt which I was instructed to mix together and eat very slowly. These two taken together are binding and would help alleviate the diarrhea. She insisted that I rest. I can't even say to you, "what did I learn?" as each of these lessons are not new to me. Somehow I still need more practice with them. I hope to say I've learned the lessons someday. I'm sure I'll be tested again. Lesson 1 Do Not push the body back to work before it’s fully healed and well. Lesson 2 Do Not use much technology while recuperating from the flu. Blue light screens cause disturbance to the nervous system, especially with prolonged use. Lesson 3 Do Not ignore type of symptoms. Flu symptoms of fever and diarrhea indicate imbalances in pitta - the fire and digestive system of our body being upset. Prolonged work also aggravates pitta, and results in more heat and inflammation - thus fever and increased headache and eye pain from pressure pushed by overuse of computer, which aggravated the nervous system. Much of this I know from my own training in Ayurveda and other life experiences. Yet, I figured I knew how to handle being sick and didn’t reach out to others for help. Lesson 4 Do Not be your own doctor. When I am sick I do not think clearly. Over the years I have frequently erred on the side of too little recuperation time and a too rushed return to work. My natural tendency is to overrate the necessity of my personal contribution to any given situation. I underrate the value of a healthy balanced, joyful contribution in favor of pushing myself at all costs, thinking it is imperative that I am doing my work. As I look back, I realize from the time we are little, we are encouraged to push through whatever our body may be suffering as I recall how I and my classmates sought “Perfect Attendance” Awards". I received many of those awards and shared in fun days at the ballpark as reward for “Perfect Attendance.” This was a big treat when I was a child. Interesting to ponder this message, with its positive intention, perhaps fostering an unanticipated long term effect of feeling illness is unacceptable and therefore often ignored until it becomes extreme. Also, it is interesting to ponder why we can give wise advice to others while we ignore the very same advice ourselves. Knowing does not necessarily lead to doing what we know. Good thing yoga and life are about daily practice! Namaste Loving Life and Living Love, Mary If you haven't signed up for the blog posts, please do. I welcome you to leave a comment below or post one on my BestYOU Facebook page. Sharing your thoughts is a gift to all of us!  Namaste
Loving Life and Living Love, Mary If you haven't signed up for the blog posts, please do. I welcome you to leave a comment below or post one on my BestYOU Facebook page. Sharing your thoughts is a gift to all of us!  Rukmini, Ali Shevlin continues with her guest blog series on balance. Thank you, Rukmini for this honest and encouraging fourth article in the series.
I love this image from what-Buddha-said.net. Recently, I’ve felt as if I’ve been living in the middle of a whirlwind - a whirlwind of work, social engagements, sickness, drama, the demands of others, the demands of myself, emotional highs and lows of others and of myself. Trying to keep up has been exhausting, and I’ve felt, for almost two months, as if I’ve barely even had time to breathe. The result? Total imbalance. I’m much later than I wanted to be in writing this next article about the idea of balance (if you missed the others so far, you can find them here), simply because I’ve been so completely off balance myself that firstly I felt like a fraud, and secondly my head hasn’t stopped spinning long enough for me to sit down and write! And yet, I realised, sharing honest experiences is important. Part of the drama and emotion and downright craziness that’s marked the start of this year has been coming from others, and part of it has been coming from myself. Why do we do it? I don’t have the answer to that. All I can say is that, when I realised it was partly my own mind that was making itself spin, I felt much more in control. I felt much more able to call a halt, or at least to slow things down. I felt much more able to draw a line between my “junk” and other people’s “junk”, and to declare that never the two shall meet again. And the practice that helped me get to that point? Meditation - the practice of focusing and calming the mind, in order to achieve an overall sense of balance, peace, and heightened awareness. The benefits of meditation are well-documented. Studies have shown that a regular meditative practice helps to reduce stress, increases the ability to control emotions, increases happiness, improves concentration, expands self-awareness, and helps to achieve an overall sense of wellbeing and balance. More and more people are meditating regularly - around 18 million Americans at last count - and the numbers are only growing. I’ve meditated daily for over two years now. It’s become a routine, almost like brushing my teeth in the mornings and, just like if I hadn’t brushed my teeth, I don’t feel properly ready for the day if I don’t meditate. Sometimes I have a delicious half hour before anyone else is up, and sometimes it’s a quick 10 minutes before running to get ready for work, but it’s always there. Since the beginning of the year, though, meditation has been a struggle. My mind has been so busy and full of whirling thoughts that trying to sit quietly, without thinking, began to feel a little bit like torture. It’s a story that I hear from so many people - that they would like to meditate, but can’t seem to shut their minds off and so the effort just becomes frustrating. Rather than helping the mind to relax and become still, meditation becomes a battleground, and our minds are strong creatures. They invariably win. And then meditation becomes just something else that they can’t do. In my efforts not to lose my love of meditation - and to find a way of meditating that actually helped my search for a balanced mind rather than hindering it - I experimented with a few different ideas. My practice has always consisted of the more traditional style of meditation, and the one that most people think of when they hear the word “meditation”, in that I would sit, cross-legged, back straight and eyes closed, and mentally repeat a mantra in rhythm with my breath in order to focus my mind. The trouble lately was that whenever my body was still for any length of time, my mind seemed to take it as an invitation to run rampant. However, the goal of meditation is to focus and calm the mind, and I reasoned that there must be other ways of achieving this that were less like a red rag to a bull. I wanted to share some of these different approaches with you, in the hope that they might inspire you to try something new, or to give meditation a go even if the tradition style has never appealed to you. Moving meditation. Yes, it is possible to meditate while moving. The idea here is to get out of your head and into your body, focusing on physical sensations and feelings rather than those thoughts and emotions running through your mind. The movement shouldn’t be strenuous or too physically demanding, as you want to retain the calming element of a traditional sitting meditation, and it should be something where you can focus on the breath as a starting point of being in your body. Walking is ideal, at a quiet time of day and perhaps somewhere in nature, so that you can also use the rhythms of the Earth as a focal point for your mind. Try co-ordinating your breath with your steps, harmonising each inhale and exhale with the movement of your body. After a while it becomes almost hypnotic! I’ve also discovered dance as a way of meditating while moving, sometimes with music and sometimes without. Try it somewhere where you are alone and unlikely to be disturbed for at least a few minutes, and simply allow your body to take over. It does take a bit of practice, as we are very conditioned to worry about what we might look like! Try and allow your body to move the way it wants to, with no set steps or rhythms or style, and no over-thinking. It might surprise you! And it’s a great way of letting go of anything clogging up your mind. Meditating to music. While many people feel that meditating to music isn’t really meditation at all (believing that music is an outside distraction that prevents you from fully going inward), I’ve found it invaluable on those days when sitting in silence is just too much, or when I’m too tired even to repeat a mantra to myself. Calming, soothing music is a great “pillow” for an overworked mind, and it gives the mind something to focus on without you having to put in much effort. There are literally thousands of albums of meditation music available, and there are also countless playlists on the internet. I’ve spent many a happy hour searching for those tracks that feel just right! Another alternative now available are meditation apps such as Insight Timer, which offer selections of different styles of music of different lengths, and enable you to track your meditation progress. You can choose from soothing piano or flute music, nature sounds, singing bowls, crystal bowls, birdsong….whatever floats your meditation boat. Guided meditations. Also available in their thousands online are guided meditations, in which you are led on a meditative “journey” for a specific purpose. These can be really helpful if you are hoping to gain something tangible from your meditation practice, such as being kinder to yourself and others, or relieving physical pain, or boosting your self-confidence. Meditation clubs. Meditation does not have to be a solitary activity. Many people actually find it easier to meditate when they are surrounded and supported by other people doing the same. In meditation groups, clubs, or classes, there is no danger of you being disturbed, and far less chance that you’ll give up halfway through! Energetically, when people meditate together the vibration tends to be much higher, making it easier for everyone to concentrate. Styles and vibes vary enormously, so if this appeals to you I would recommend trying as many as you can to get a feel for what suits you and what doesn’t - and for the fellow meditators that suit you and those that don’t! Are you a regular meditator, or would you like to make meditation part of your daily routine? Which styles of meditation do you prefer? I’d love to hear your experiences! For more from Ali Shevlin, check out her website http://purepranaayurveda.com. Namaste Loving Life and Living Love, Mary If you haven't signed up for the blog posts, please do. I welcome you to leave a comment below or post one on my BestYOU Facebook page. Sharing your thoughts is a gift to all of us! |
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