I have a slight problem with my own meditation practice. I’m just too damn relaxed! I’m now late for all of my appointments whereas in the past, I was always super early because being late gave me anxiety. Now I’m taking my time, smelling the roses on the way past, chatting with the neighbours, patting their dogs- this is not good. I’m gonna have to reign it in a bit (maybe 5 mins instead?)
The issues that I had 15 minutes ago were so important that they couldn’t wait. Fast forward 10 minutes of quiet meditation and looking back at said issues: Meh. It’s alright, it can wait.
It most certainly cannot wait! I have things to do, people to see, a business to run! I’ve changed my Deep Stretch class to an Absolute Beginners class and I need to redesign the posters! The flyers, the adverts! 10 minutes of quiet reflection and my brain says “Naaaaaaaaah. It’ll be fine.” Then shrugs and shops for more books online.
I read a book years ago by the Master of Enlightenment, Ekhart Tolle. He is most famous for The Power of Now, a book equipped with tools on how to live in the present moment and to stop living in the past and future (depression and anxiety, respectively). The part of it that’s stuck with me over the years is an instruction on how to stop your thoughts; or rather, how to become aware of your thoughts. Because you can’t stop them, really.
He advises to pretend your thoughts are a mouse. And you’re a cat waiting near the mouse hole. And every time a mouse/thought comes out, you simply catch it without engaging it. Just notice it, observe and don’t interact. (Which doesn’t make sense really as cats eat mice? I don't think they observe them? I'll have a word with Ekhart about this.) Anyway, this stuck with me and it really works. It’s taken me quite some time to get the knack of it. Back at the beginning, about 4 years ago, I couldn’t sit still and could only manage 2 minutes at a time. We all have to start somewhere though, right?
So fast forward to the present day. The good thing about being a yoga teacher now is that it doesn’t take me too long to get back into the swing of meditation. There’s a cell or muscle memory inside that enables me to retrace the old pattern and go straight back to a 10 - 15 minute meditation after not implementing it for a while.
But it’s working too well! This is not good, I need to get stuff done!
Word of warning dear reader; if you attempt to practice meditation, just be prepared for too much relaxation. The ‘problems’ that appeared enormous a moment ago might suddenly become little ‘problems’ and then where will you be? Not a care in the world? Eh? You have been warned.
Meditation hints, tips and guides and a Free eBook! Available at www.livingjivawell.com
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