My Journey back to Meditation
one week in
Last week I did a post about using the Lenten season as a catalyst to jump back into my meditation practice. It fell by the wayside with my husband’s shoulder surgery and all of the wintry weather we’ve had here in Central NY. The energy of the Lenten season seemed like something I should tap into to help me, along with getting back to meditating at least once a day for 20 minutes minimum. It’s been a week, and so far, so good. I even added journaling afterward on Sunday. It's something I haven’t done in a long time, actually. But since we’re doing this, might as well do all of it. It took until after my meditation on Saturday to decide to add the journal afterward. It’s something I tell everyone when they start meditating because you often do not know what you will feel, think, etc, when meditating. I’ve told countless people over the years that if it’s ugly, put it on its own piece of paper and then burn it afterward. You’ve made it concrete, and because it is, you can then, in turn, destroy it.
How do I feel about my first week’s journey? More peaceful again. Less chaotic. As an Ayurvedic Practitioner, I know this is helpful for the Vata imbalance in my body. The chaos caused by the vitiation of the air and space elements in my body is forever a struggle for me. I tell everyone I compare it to someone constantly shaking a snow globe. Meditation is a grounding practice and helps with reining that in. I’ve learned it takes me at least 10 minutes to settle and get into a meditative state. And I have had to budget extra time before even trying to meditate so that my beagles will settle I can. I am averaging 20 minutes of meditation practice but need time before just sitting and being so they will settle and let me meditate. However, I think today we turned a bit of a corner. I told them it was time to go out in the living room and meditate. When I walked into the living room, they had sat on the chairs waiting for me. I may be getting to the point where when it's time for me to teach yoga from home, I yell, “It’s yoga time,” and they come running into my studio space. I may be able to say, “It's meditation time soon,” and they’ll find their own spots. Noelle wanted to sit with me to start like she has since Sunday but moved over to the other chair about at the 10-minute mark. The other day, Apollo, the almost 9-month-old beagle, got into trouble right at the 10-minute mark, but as soon as I reprimanded him and took away what he stole, he settled right down. So there’s something to 10 minutes.
This was today:
They stayed this way even after I finished journaling and then working on the part of my Doctor of Ayurveda course. At this rate, I may have true Dogis on my hands, which is not a bad thing.
I’ve been more productive or late, more responsive, and less reactive to things, which is also a “side effect” of meditation. Clearer thinking for sure.
Can’t wait to see what the next week brings.