We had the Sunday Introduction to Meditation Class at Yoga Bliss yesterday: a formal sitting meditation and a period of mindful walking and a Metta Meditation or loving kindness practice.  Our inner silence seemed to magnify the external noises around us:  cars, sirens, walking, talking from the street and neighboring businesses, whirling blades of the fan, floors creaking and even the subtle rustling of material as we adjusted our posture.

Time seemed suspended as we slowly paced the room during walking meditation.  One student later reported that for the first time in her life she fully appreciated the preciousness of the tree growing on the very busy street outside our window.  It withstands the harsh environment of air and noise pollution as it reaches for the light and does its best to be part of the very planet’s lungs:  taking in carbon dioxide and releasing oxygen.

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We had the Sunday Introduction to Meditation Class at Yoga Bliss yesterday: a formal sitting meditation and a period of mindful walking and a Metta Meditation or loving kindness practice. Students shared about their difficulties in trying to adhere to my instructions, the physical pain of sitting still for so long, the difficult states of mind including agitation, racing thoughts, lethargy and sleepiness.  Many of us approach meditation as yet another task to be done in order to achieve a benefit or goal.   We believe we have to work hard in order to succeed. Continue reading →

We had the Sunday Introduction to Meditation Class at Yoga Bliss yesterday: a formal sitting meditation and a period of mindful walking. We’ve been adding a Metta Meditation or loving kindness practice after walking. We are all beginners.  Some students  have been coming for nearly a year and half and others come for the very first time. Continue reading →

We had the Sunday Introduction to Meditation Class at Yoga Bliss yesterday: two segments of formal sitting meditation and a period of mindful walking. After walking we practiced a beautiful loving kindness meditation inspired by the teachings of Dr. Sylvia Boorstein, author and founding teacher of Spirit Rock Meditation Center.

I invited students to either sit on the floor, a chair or lie down for the last meditation.  We talked about approaching meditation in a struggle-free way.  This means letting go of trying to achieve or attain whatever goal or ideal that may have drawn us into practice in the first place.  Yes – another paradox!  How can we use our motivation to stop striving?

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