Introduction to Breath Awareness
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Breath Awareness Introduction
We will begin our experience by working with breath awareness - a meditation you can use anytime, anywhere for any length of time to focus, calm, gain perspective, and reset mind and body. Becoming aware of our breath, sensing it, regulating it, exploring it can have profound effects on our everyday lives - helping us manage stress better as well as bring greater oxygenation to our entire body!
Practice this meditation every day, exploring your breath and noticing how your awareness of your breath moves into your every day living and helps you become more aware of how you breath throughout your day.
If you feel comfortable, journal whatever comes up during this meditation or what you notice about using it. You can journal in any way you want - art, dance, writing, video. Allow yourself to express yourself in any way you feel most comfortable.
Keep paper nearby - no matter how you plan to journal - in case ideas come up that you would like to capture immediately after meditation is over.
Meditation Tip of the Week
NOW is the best time to meditate...
When it comes to meditation - lots of procrastination seems to just happen. I will start meditating when this project is done or this week ends or when I get back from vacation. There isn't a better time to start than now. Procrastination happens even more during the day when we say I will meditate after breakfast, before lunch, before I go to sleep.
This is why it is often suggested that we meditate first thing in the morning when we roll out of bed. I find that the moment I check my email or get distracted by breakfast is when meditation is going to be put off indefinitely. Make it part of your morning routine and be clear with your family that this is a special time (they can join you too!). Keep foremost in your mind who and what benefits from your meditation and that will keep you focused!
Extra Reading
This is a great article on what mindful and aware breathing can do for you in your daily living. It does a great breakdown of the 3 part breath and how to figure out what kind of breather you are right now. Enjoy!
http://www.artofwellbeing.com/2016/06/14/breath-awareness/
I get a lot of questions on why we sit in meditation rather than lie down. There are some meditations where we are lying down but generally, it is better to learn how to meditate sitting up. Andy from Headspace does a great job on explaining the reasons we sit for meditation.