Welcome to opentotheflow - meditation and wellbeing for everyone.
I'm Becs and I'm a certified Modern Meditation teacher. Here to share meditation and wellbeing guidance with individuals and organisations.
I found meditation and yoga when I was suffering with my mental health (panic attacks and anxiety). Now I want to share meditation with everyone. I became a certified 100 hour Modern Meditation teacher in 2020; trained with Mick Timpson, Accredited and Approved Yoga Alliance Professionals Coach. opentotheflow was born out of the idea of accepting what is and being in the flow of things. Whatever you resist, persists... (More on that in future blogs!)
As the first blog I'd like us to get stuck straight in and you will find a free 15 minute Modern Meditation to practice whenever suits you. It is 'Modern Meditation' because we have adapted the 5000 year old practice of yoga and meditation for the modern world. (We're not sat on a rock in the Himalayas, it's more likely we are sat at our desk in an office or sat on the sofa at home!)
15 Minute 'Pause for Presence' Modern Meditation
All you need is a comfortable and quiet space
If you’re new to meditation, don’t worry about not knowing what to do. The best thing about meditation is you don’t have to do anything. All you need is a quiet space and a chair or cushion to sit on. No fancy yoga outfit required. We simply bring our attention to the present moment. Know there is no such thing as a good or bad meditation, it's all just practice. So if you notice you spend most of the practice thinking about your next meal, or feeling like you have other things to do - well done for noticing!
Meditation is not about stopping thoughts
It's very common to think meditation "isn't for me" because you think too much... Does this sound like you? Well the truth is we can't stop thoughts. Just like our body breathes for us, the mind thinks for us. We can practice observing our thoughts. It's this shift of perspective that changes our relationship to our thoughts. We will always have thoughts (sorry to say), but we can change how we respond.
Bring your attention to the present moment
Most of the time we go through life unconsciously. We're creatures of habit, our minds already know what to do! So often our attention is elsewhere. Thinking about something that has already happened or thinking about something that may or may not happen next. Modern Meditation is the practice of purposely focusing your attention on the present moment, wherever you are and whatever you are doing. (That actually means everything you do can be a meditation... but more on that another time.)
Practice (and it is just practice!) the 'Pause for Presence' meditation free to you on this page. Our body is always in the present moment, so we can use the body as an anchor. Not like our mind where often our attention is elsewhere. Dedicate 15 minutes for just you - to find some stillness, quietness and self awareness. A pause to slow down, relax and turn your attention inwards....
Bring your attention to the present moment, including noticing thoughts happening in the mind and feelings happening in the body – whatever is happening right now. We are learning to activate our conscious body mind. When we're conscious we can experience the moment in its fullest. We connect to what is real, not all the stuff we've created in our heads. We can experience presence, grounding and calmness. When we're conscious we start to question 'why' and we can make positive change.
If you found this stuff interesting please subscribe, comment and share with your family and friends. Each month I'll explore a different theme on meditation and wellbeing topics. Get in touch if you have any questions or if you would like us to work together.
"Meditation... it's the bliss that comes with experiencing not mere happiness but complete satisfaction with the way things are. These are the moments of supreme quiet, total acceptance, and non judgement. The wondrous intervals when we know we are in the right place and doing precisely what we're supposed to be doing."
- Jack Hawley (Essential Wisdom of the Bhagvad Gita)
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