30 Day Meditation Challenge - Day 30

Well, I did it. I have mediated for 10 minutes every day for the last 30 days. I feel great - calm, peaceful, more loving, energized, and capable.

I have been able to see where I am impatient and where I want to it corners. I have also seen where I am honest and when I am accountable.

All-in-all, it has been a great 30 days and I look forward to the next round.

Namasté

30 Day Meditation Challenge - Day 29

Day 29. Today I went through my regular meditation routine: Alarm. Sit-up. Wrap up in a blanket. Sit. Listen for second alarm. Get up and do my thing for the day.

It has really started to feel natural now. That's the thing that is exciting to me. That's the thing that gives me courage to believe I can keep doing this. That's the thing that brings me peace because when things feel tough I know that all I have to do is sit. All I have to do is sit and things will be better.

That's how meditating is changing my life.

Namasté

30 Day Meditation Challenge - Day 28

Today someone asked me how meditation has changed my life. The answer was quite profound when I said it out loud.

It has made me calmer. It has kept me steady. I have more energy. I am getting to work earlier and bring more productive when I am there. Traffic doesn't bother me like it used to. And here's the big one: with the people I don't like particularly much I am able to make the decision to love them.

That's pretty wild stuff. Not so bad for a 10 minute per day investment.

Namasté

30 Day Meditation Challenge - Day 27

Well, I didn't meditate lying down today; I actually sat up and did the deal. One thing I notice as the 30 days draws to a close is that I am much more forgiving when I catch myself thinking.

It's bound to happen, you know. I just do it. I'm sitting there all blissed out and all of a sudden I realize that I have been thinking about work for the last who knows how long. The difference now is that I just go with it. Ok, I'm doing that. Back to bliss now...

And it works during the day, also. When I am at work and I catch myself thinking about not work, I just say ok, I'm doing that. Back to business now...

It's neat not to beat myself up over stuff I don't really control.

Namasté

30 Day Meditation Challenge - Day 26

This morning I kind of cheated. That's not entirely true but hear me out...

I did my 10 minute meditation supine (yes, as in lying down) this morning. To my credit, I stayed awake and present the whole time but chanting my favorite mantra (see the footnote if you'd like to know what it is) but I was still lying down...with my eyes closed...at 5am...in the dark. That's kind of close to sleeping and sort of cheating on my part. And I only say that because it is this place in setting a routine where I have historically fallen off the beam. I've been doing this for 25 days - I got this thing... I'll make it up tonight... Skipping one day won't hurt... Oh, but it does hurt because it sets the precedent to stop and that precedent is known to spread like wildfire. For me, anyway...

On the other hand, today was soooo not cheating because it is Monday and I have my meditation group and so I do another sit for 15 minutes and I was fully upright for this one - in ardha padmanasana (half lotus pose) if anyone is curious about what pose I use when I sit. That meditation was quite lovely. From a physical standpoint, my body is used to sitting for 10 minutes now and my foot starts to tingle at about 12 minutes instead of 5 like it used to which affords me more time to remove thought from my body and actually be in the meditation. From a mental standpoint, when I noticed myself "thinking" I was able to let those thoughts move along and become still again and remain connected to that divine universal consciousness.

In summary, if I'm doing it, it's meditation and the only "wrong" way to meditate is to not do it. That being said, I really should sit upright for my meditation...otherwise it gets a little too close to nap time...

Namasté

P. S. My favorite mantra:

Aad Guray Nameh,
Jugaad Guray Nameh,
Sat Guray Nameh,
Siri Guru dayvay Nameh

Translation:
I bow to (or call on) the primal wisdom.
I bow to (or call on) the wisdom through the ages.
I bow to (or call on) the true wisdom.
I bow to (or call on) the great transparent wisdom within.

30 Day Meditation Challenge - Day 25

This morning I sat with the breeze blowing lightly into my room and my cat walking back and forth in front of my lap. He nudged my hands with his head and, in a manner more mindful than possibly ever before, I pet him while I meditated. I pet him as my meditation.

The neat thing about meditation - to me, anyway - is that it can be anything. It can be chanting or sitting or breathing or petting a cat who loves the vibe of a mommy who is taking some time to connect.

It was really neat for me...and I think he dug it too.

Namasté

30 Day Meditation Challenge - Day 24

Today was a busy day with lots of errands and cooking and some laundry. I also slept in hours past my usual wake-up time. The other thing done differently was that I did my meditation in the evening instead of first thing in the morning.

One isn't particularly better than the other but I do find that when I meditate in the morning my day feels different from when I do it at night. I like the way the day flows when I sit before heading out into the world. When I don't do it before leaving the house, sometimes things tend to run together a little bit more.

That's all. I just noticed that's how I feel. It's just a little more information about myself. Maybe tomorrow I'll sit before I leave the house. We'll see.

Have a nice evening.

Namasté

30 Day Meditation Challenge - Day 23

Today I set the intention to relish the transitions in life. So often I find that I clomp from one thing to the next without really noticing how I get there.

Each thing I do, each action, is its own. Even when I think I am multi-tasking I am really doing one thing and then another and then maybe some of the first thing again.

If I can be mindful of each action as I come into it, perform it, and move to the next, I find myself on a much more soft and loving place.

When I teach a yoga class, I like to focus in the transitions. I feel it enriches the practice as a whole and gives me a stronger relationship with each pose. The same goes for my daily life. As I consciously do one thing and then move into the next, each action I take is part of a divine and mindful experience.

It takes some attention but I thoroughly enjoy the results. Maybe I'll try again tomorrow.

Namasté

30 Day Meditation Challenge - Day 22

As I was reflecting on my day to write tonight's entry and I realized that I feel the same right now as I did when I was meditating. I started writing at a coffee shop and then I forgot to save it before I closed the app on my phone and so now I have another opportunity to check-in with myself. What I noticed then and what I am experiencing right now is that I feel the same.

I feel like I am in a meditation right now...and when I think about it, I felt like that all day. What a gift, to feel like I am - to be - in meditation all day. And it wasn't a silent retreat on a mountain kind of day. To the contrary, it was a rich and full day out there in the world. There were people who needed things from me, deadlines that had to be met, critical thinking that had to be critically thought and all the while, my flame burned steady.

It was a ground-breaking realization to find that I could keep in that state of bliss all day. That I could remain connected and mindful and full of grace. That no matter what, I was given the chance to float easily on the water of my day and ride the current no matter what it brought me.

What a gift. I'm so grateful it's still happening.

Namasté

30 Day Meditation Challenge - Day 21

Sometimes I forget how much I like routines. It's great to get out of town or to try something new but, for me at least, it feels really nice to fall into my regularly scheduled activities.

As I was just getting ready for bed, I noticed that I haven't been taking my vitamins for the last few nights. Sitting on the edge of my bed, getting them all lined up, and then taking them with that nice big glug of water felt so comfortable I wonder how I got out of the habit in the first place.

My morning sit has become a routine. They say it takes 21 days to make or break a habit and, look at that, today is day 21. As I settle in for the night, I notice that I am setting myself up for the morning. It'll probably be chilly and so I have a sweater or robe nearby and my slippers right by the bed. When I wake up, I'll be ready to go.

The routine has been set...and I welcome it with delight. How is your routine treating you?

Namasté

30 Day Meditation Challenge - Day 20

I did snooze this morning - I must admit. And I did my sit right after.

Nothing groundbreaking happened during my meditation but as I reflect on my day, I realize that something happened to me during the day: I remained calm. I have been having very full days at my job recently and days like I have been having lately used to freak me out. I'd panic or cry...or worse.

 But these days (since a very palpable spiritual shift has come over me) I am fine. I remain calm and effective in the office and I come home and have a life. Tonight I went to the market and did the dishes and cooked. A hundred and eighty degrees difference. I attribute this change to my practice of meditation.

It really has been an amazing process and I so look forward to watching it as it grows.

Namasté

30 Day Meditation Challenge - Day 19

Today is my birthday. My first thought - at 4:55 am - was that I should skip my meditation and my meditation group. That I should sleep in and be late to work. That was the first idea of my birthday present to myself.

Then I shook it off and sat. Then I got up, showered, dressed, and headed to my meditation group for another sit. A stop at the chiropractor on my way to work and I was ready for business.

My day at work was busy but productive. I helped people and got some work done. Traffic was a breeze coming home and my salmon and zucchini dinner with a movie date was sublime. That was my birthday present to myself.

I have been at this long enough to in my body that a day with meditation feels better than a day without. Now I am starting to remember in my head. That is a gift to myself. And that gift is proving to be priceless.

Give yourself a gift today.

Namasté

30 Day Meditation Challenge - Day 18

Today's meditation was a simple one. Just a quiet sit in the sauna. One thing I love about meditation is that I can do it anywhere. If I have a guided meditation and a bolster and a wrap, that's great or if it's just me and 10 minutes of stillness, that works also.


That's all for today.

Namasté

30 Day Meditation Challenge - Day 17

I tried a guided mediation today. It was 13 minutes for stress relief (I don't feel particularly stressed but I think it's OK to do it anyhow) and it was quite lovely.

As a yoga instructor, I sometimes find it difficult to relax when I practice or meditate on my own and so being able to it a treat. When I practice yoga, I often catch myself teaching along with the instructor in my head - remembering things I like and re-wording things I'm not too fond of - and when I meditate, sometime I end up narrating the process as though I were teaching it as a guided meditation for others.

But today I was able to follow along and not be a teacher. I was able to enjoy the voice on the recording and relax into the meditation. I was able to hear the sounds around me, to feel the feelings in my body, and to watch my thoughts slip by unjudged.

It was a treat and I'm grateful to have been given the respite from my own self-narration - from my own ego - for those 13 minutes and beyond.

Namasté

30 Day Meditation Challenge - Day 16

If you have never had the opportunity to meditate in the desert as the sun goes down, I highly recommend it. Also, there is nothing wrong with multitasking while we meditate. Pre-heating a grill, for example, is a great time to sit for 10 minutes and listen to the sounds of the setting sun.

I could hear a fountain, wind, cars, Spanish guitar, and the occasional bird. I could feel the warmth of the grill next to me and the kiss of the wind all around me. I wasn't too hot, nor was I too cold. For those 10 minutes, I felt perfect contentment...and it's still happening.

The salmon is cooking, the broccolini are ready to toss and grill, and I have never felt more surrounded by my meditation. It is a warm blanket that keeps me safe and quite and peaceful.

The desert is a magical place and I am loving the magic.

Namasté

30 Day Meditation Challenge - Day 15

Something interesting happened this morning: I did two rounds. I realized as my chime rang that I wanted to stay in my meditation a little while longer so I set t for another 10 - thinking that I'd do a few more minutes and that would be that.

But a few turned into 10 and I did 20. It's cool how that kind of thing can sneak up on me.

Right now I feel a little sleepy still but mentally ready to get the day going the way I am planning it, emotionally grounded for all that the day will actually hold, and spiritually fit to accept whatever comes in between.

Namasté

30 Day Meditation Challenge - Day 14

"I meditate for an hour each morning. when I have an exceptionally busy day, I meditate for 2 hours."

A friend of mine quotes that often and today it applies. I stayed up late and over slept and really wanted to do my meditation before bed. I mean I really wanted to.

But I didn't. I set my timer and I sat up and I did it. I breathed in "sat" and a exhaled "nam" and I felt myself settle and prepare for the day as I connected to the Universal source.

I'm glad I did.

Namasté

30 Day Meditation Challenge - Day 13

I'm realizing that meditation can be more than what I thought. Today as I was sitting, one of my cats came and sat next to me (he's very spiritual).

Petting a cat, when done in a present and mindful manner, is a fully acceptable meditation practice. In my humble opinion, anyway.

I took a meditation class years ago at the Newport Beach Zen Center and we drank tea. We took the mindfulness of an alien who had never before seen tea and we felt the mug; we felt its warmth and weight. We looked at the liquid inside, noting color and consistency. And we tasted the tea, noting temperature, favor, and our reaction to it.

Anything done in a present and mindful manner can be meditation. What are some of your favorite "non-traditional" meditations?

Namasté

30 Day Meditation Challenge - Day 12

Snooze schmooze. Mondays are hard to get up; 4:50 is early. Today I really wanted to snooze once and then do my meditation. Ultimately got myself up and sat right off the bat. I'd like to report that I feel better than I do when I was a snooze-er.

Meditating really does give me more energy. It's neat.

Namasté

30 Day Meditation Challenge - Day 11

Today it was a challenge. I was running late in the morning and stopped 2 minutes short. Eight minutes is still something and it set me up well for the day but my commitment is 10 and so ten before bed I shall do.

I just can't lie to myself that 8 is 10 today. More proof that something is happening, I suppose.

Off I go...

Namasté