Mindful Moments

Practice mindful meditation techniques with me on Insight Timer, for free!

 

All you need is a few minutes! Here we practice awareness techniques that stem from ancient Buddhist traditions. We tune into your breath, your body, the sensations you experience, the emotions and thoughts that come up throughout each moment. Here is where it gets interesting...

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These simple techniques may sound easy, boring even! That is until you try, and feel bombarded by sounds, thoughts, emotions, images...

 

'I just can't do it'...​

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What if you took direction from what bombards your thoughts, emotions, body, mind—ultimately, what may be interrupting your experience living. What if you used those moments AS your meditation?​

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Establish: What is IT, that arises?

Investigate

As if you were listening to a dear friend open up to you in a vulnerable way,

find compassion for yourself.

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How long has this experience been true?

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Can you question if it belong to you, or possibly another?

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Where do you feel this experience in your body?

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Be aware of what is present,

Release what is no longer needed.

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Awareness means focus, like to investigate or understand.

How deeply can you become aware...

The physical sensations of your breath?

The subtle changes within your body?

The type of thoughts that call your attention?

The emotions that are present the most?

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Being aware means not reacting or changing in any way, but thoughtfully to sit with and understand. Start with the area of focus that feels right for you.

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Important to Note: 

 

Take notice of all the topics of mindful meditation, and NOTE, even if it's subtle, if you feel an aversion to a specific area. It is possible that the aversion may mean that something deeper is waiting to be acknowledged. 

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Before you begin practicing meditation, in general, ask yourself how trauma relates to you, if at all. If trauma is a sensitive topic for you, it is important to be aware of where your boundaries are within your practice to continue feeling safe and supported. 

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Not all of us experience trauma in our lifetimes, however a great deal of us do and some from a young age. Unfortunately, trauma is more common now that you may think. Some of us even suffering, unknowingly. Currently, SAMHSA is conducting studies on the negative impact of being exposed to more than one potentially traumatic events in a lifetime.​​​​​​​​

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The SAMHSA describes trauma as "an event or circumstance resulting in physical harm, emotional harm, and/or life-threatening harm". It is also common to experience shock or denial after the event occurs, *queue avoidance*..​..​

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In my personal experience, what I had waiting for me when I learned to teach meditation was unresolved trauma. With each practice, I witnessed these events replay as I saw how they were still very present in my life.

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Being a trauma informed teacher, I noticed these moments of discomfort without being attached to them. By being curious, I investigated my discomfort, rather than let it consumer my practice. ​

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I bring this up because being present with what causes you discomfort allows you to chose to find the path away from what causes the most suffering. Mindfulness only illuminates suffering if there is suffering happening.​

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The National Sexual Violence Resource Center reports:

1) One out of five women will experience sexual assault in the US, 

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2) 70% of us encounter a traumatic event in our lifetime.

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3) Traumatic stress can also come from compounding events, meaning occurrences that happen one after another, often without much time to integrate the experience. Which is why awareness through these small moments is so important - to love our ourselves, others and our community. Everyone is going through something at one point. ​

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Interested? Read my blog on how to start incorporating meditation into your daily routine and pick a meditation technique for the best outcome. 

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