Meditation and Visualization

After my last post I have received a couple of emails asking me about meditation. Does it really work? How does it work? What are the benefits?

Think about how powerful our imaginations are and how we can conjure up thoughts and feelings whether real or imagined. We can transport ourselves to a sun filled beach or we can make ourselves laugh and cry just by thinking of a situation.

If we can do that just by thinking it, it only stands to reason that we can convince our minds to bring us health, joy and harmony.

I love to meditate while utilizing visualization. It just works for me. Often you will hear a yoga instructor tell you to clear your mind. Do you know how freaking hard that is?  I have only ever consciously cleared my mind once in my life. Absolute silence, no thoughts and no concept of time or my surroundings. It was while I was studying to become a yoga instructor. We were learning meditation cueing and I was out like a light. Not sleeping just completely 100% out.  The instructor and ladies in my class continued on as I just sat there, eyes open, peaceful as could be. I was like that for 30 minutes. A bomb could have dropped and I would have had no clue!

I mentioned meditation in my previous blog HERE and how I used it to stop harbouring negativity and anger. While there are countless ways to meditate I love to use visualization. I am not very good at trying to clear my mind. If I use visualization I am more apt to pay attention to what it IS that I am thinking about rather than what I am NOT supposed to be thinking about…like laundry or the grocery list.🥴

The next time you are feeling stressed or anxious try this visualization meditation that I used. I hope it helps you in some way.

Meditation

Pillows, candles, yoga blocks

I found a perfectly comfortable little spot in my room with no distractions…aka Steve and Tank! I specifically chose to meditate right after Tank had his breakfast and morning walk knowing that he would settle on the couch in a fitful little snooze. Steve would be out doing errands. The house would be quiet. It’s important to give thought to distractions and work around them.

Light a candle and place it about 1-2 feet in front of you.

Sit on yoga blocks (you can use a rolled blanket/towel)  so that your hips are slightly higher than your knees to avoid any knee strain. Place a pillow under each knee for added support.

Lightly close your eyes. Lightly means that your lids are almost entirely closed but you can see just a titch.

Start with a few cleansing breaths (deep inhales and exhales)  I love to smile while I am meditating…you cannot help but feel happier and  more open to the goodness around you.

With every inhale through your nose visualize a cleansing breath nourishing every cell in your body. Hold the breath for a few seconds. When you release your breath open your mouth and exhale while slightly pushing the air out with an audible ahh sound. Wait a few seconds before inhaling. I watched as my breath hit the flame of the candle and made it flicker. The movement of the flame was my visualization of the anger being released from my mind.

Continue on this way until you feel you are done or until your alarm sounds if you set a timer.

Visualization

Inhale – think of a cleansing breath, a joyful breath, a healing breath.

Exhale – think release anger, ridding yourself of illness, releasing pain or whatever it is that isn’t serving you.

Good luck with this. I hope you give it a try. ✌️ 🙏