Day 13

Today’s meditation was about moving for balance and that exercise is good for our bodies and our minds. I couldn’t agree more, sometimes when I am feeling overwhelmed from a busy day, just that little 10 minute walk home clears my mind. I walk my dog three times a day and go to yoga and guided meditation classes. I recently completed a 30 day Moksha challenge. I used to spend hours sweating at the gym but I have come to realize what works for my body. I love to be active and still take time for golfing, boxing, hockey, soccer and other sports when time allows. I try to have fun with it, and to me walking or running on a treadmill gets boring, I like to do exercise that I enjoy. Oprah said at the beginning of the meditation that our body is the vehicle for our beautiful souls and moving our bodies brings balance into our lives.

Yoga originated in India about 5 thousand years ago - it is a science, a philosophy and a way of life. Yoga means union - the union of mind, body and spirit and the connection between individual and universal consciousness. Yoga includes movement, meditation and an overall perspective on the world that emphasizes love, generosity, honesty and compassion. In the west however, the most commonly recognized way yoga is practiced is through a series of poses or asanas. Asana in Sanskrit means seat, and the steady practice of asanas not only enables us to develop balance, strength and flexibility but it ultimately offers a good “seat” for the soul within the vehicle of the human body. From this prime position, we are then better poised for spiritual growth.

Beyond asana practice, today’s yoga can encompass any activity that helps bring that sense of peace and union into our lives: dancing, swimming, cycling and walking in nature. All can be moving meditations which allow us to experience the richness of the outer world, strengthen our cardiovascular systems, release endorphins and clear our minds. The ultimate purpose of yoga, in all its forms is to enliven awareness and expand our understanding of the true self. Regular practice offers us opportunities to experience every part of ourselves, with compassion and awareness. When all aspects of our humanity – physical, intellectual and spiritual work in union with one another, our lives become balanced vital and whole.

Centering Thought:

"I am flexible, powerful, and balanced."

Sanskrit mantra:

Om Varunam Namah. My life is in harmony with cosmic law.

Mindful Moment:

Moving our bodies in ways that help us feel peaceful and connected with everything around us—whether it’s a brisk walk, a focused run, or an hour of yoga—can shift our awareness. Exercise can help us feel open and alive, rebalance our perspective, improve our physiology, and help us experience all aspects of ourselves, in harmony. Create a schedule so that you engage in the exercise you enjoy the most on a regular basis. Commit to keeping with your schedule and journal how you feel each time you practice that activity.

Interesting Links:

3 small shifts to feel good all day long

4 exercise moves that will help you de-stress

Consciousness is only possible through change; change is only possible through movement.” - Aldous Huxley

Day 12

Today was a déjà vu of Wednesday. I woke up to a storm, the office was delayed until 10:30, then closed for the day. Instantly the weather cleared up so I went into the office. Everything about the day felt like a repeat. Today’s meditation was about connecting for balance, we need to keep connected with others in order to thrive. Connection opens the doors for us to share our vulnerability, our unique thoughts, and our gifts. Connecting with others in its many forms is essential for our overall well-being.

To maintain optimal health we need to connect with one another, in general when we socialize we are doing great things for our brains and cardiovascular systems. In the past this type of face-to-face socialization dominated our daily existence. But the world has changed, because of time and geographic constraints, occasions when we would visit in person with family and friends are increasingly being replaced by digital forms of staying in touch. Social Networking represents a new kind of shared mind - a global brain with activity that connects 100s of millions of people. When we tweet our thoughts, there is an immediate and real sense of connection of belonging to something bigger than ourselves. 

Clearly through these meditations we are benefiting from a form of social networking, virtually tapping into the collective consciousness from the comforts of our own spaces – yet we are together. In such ways SN can play an important role in improving our world. As we embrace these technologies, remember that while they are a wonderful enhancement of our lives they cannot completely replace physical contact. As humans we need and enjoy connecting the old fashioned way. Regardless of how we stay in touch what matters most is that we cherish our loved ones offering them appreciation, affection and a helping hand when they need it. Through isolation we wither, but in community we collectively experience a deep sense of belonging, purpose and joy.

Centering Thought:

I cherish my every connection.

Sanskrit mantra:

Tat Tvam Asi. - I see the other in myself and myself in others.

Mindful Moment:

We are social creatures, who thrive in community. Connecting with one another allows us to express our most heartfelt hopes and dreams and be of service to one another. Our supportive relationships enhance the positive messages we send our bodies each day and invite better health and well-being into our lives. As we prepare for meditation today, take a moment to be grateful for the many individuals who contribute to your life and in whose lives you make a difference. Make a point today of spending time with friends. Have lunch with colleagues or take a long walk with a group. Notice how you feel after sharing thoughts and laughter with others.

Interesting links: 

Life wisdom trilogy 

The five-step path to a life of love

"Each friend represents a world in us, a world possibly not born until they arrive, and it is only by this meeting that a new world is born." —Anais Nin

Day 11

Today’s meditation topic could not have been timelier. I went to Ilona Daniel’s (chef_ilona) cooking class tonight - she is truly an artist and everything she touches turns to gold. She talked a lot about the importance of choosing organic, colourful foods, and balancing our meals. She prefers whole, natural food that comes from the ground and that is locally grown where possible. She put so much TLC into the food she prepared tonight and everything was so flavourful, colourful and nutritious. We had such a beautiful meal by the end of the class, and it was amazing to learn so much about the food she was preparing and the best methods to cook it.

Food is consciousness. It is concentrated, intelligent energy that nourishes our body, mind and spirit. When we eat natural, whole foods and drink fresh water, we enhance our prana. The life giving energy, that enlivens our entire beings. In Ayurveda, a balanced diet does not revolve around fats, carbs, proteins, calories and vitamins. Many of us know these aspects of what we eat through our intellects, not through direct experience. Instead ayurvedic nutrition’s origins are in nature and doshas. 

Our body composition plays an important role. When we take our first bite of a meal, the doshas receive a great deal of information, primarily through taste. We find ourselves instinctively drawn to those foods that incorporate a mixture of 6 essential tastes; sweet sour, salt, bitter, pungent, and astringent. We favour some tastes more than others to align with and balance our doshas. We learn to follow our innate intelligence and intuitively eat a balanced diet. It is important that we appreciate and celebrate nutrition and all that it does for our bodies. Eating with awareness, taking our time and sitting at the table instead of in front of TV - habits that create an ideal a metabolic environment for both our mind and body. 

Opting for fresh, organic produce ensures we get the maximum nutrients nature has to offer. Choosing foods that offer a variety of colour, helps keep our meals balanced and phytochemical rich, while pleasing our senses of sight, smell and taste. We feel energized and alive. As we learn to eat in harmony with our bodies we begin to eat in ways that truly benefit us. Choosing foods intuitively using nature’s cues, helps prevent and heal us from illness and enables us to feel balanced, vital and whole.

Centering Thought:

I choose foods that help me thrive.

Sanskrit mantra:

Om Vardhanam Namah. - I nourish the universe and the universe nourishes me.

Mindful Moment:

While we often learn about food from external sources, Ayurveda teaches us to trust the inner wisdom of our bodies which guides us to make the correct food choices. It is important to make choices that are in tune with our bodies and eat with awareness in order to stay healthy and thrive.

Prepare one meal today that includes a full range of colors. Try to also use all six tastes. Savor each bite, eating with awareness, and witness how your body feels after your meal.

Interesting Links:

Harness your gifts and fulfill your purpose

What to eat when you are feeling blue

 

"Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food." —Hippocrates

Day 10

Happy first day of spring! PEI obviously did not get the memo - I woke up this morning to a winter whiteout of snow and the office is delayed until 1030am. Normally I don’t get a chance to write my blog until before I go to bed, so today I had a bit more time. Today’s meditation was focussed on breathing for balance. When I took my dog out for a walk this morning I tried to make a conscious effort to really focus on my breathing and reflect on the way I felt during today’s meditation. When I got back from my little walk in the peaceful snow storm, I felt so energized and refreshed. Just from that little bit of conscious breathing I seemed to have so much more mental clarity and the pressing thoughts that were on my mind seemed to just magically melt away. I do a lot of conscious breathing during yoga and meditation, but I had no idea the world of difference it could make doing it just in our day-to-day activities – being conscious of our breath. Something Oprah said at the beginning of the meditation really impacted me, she said this present moment is the only moment you can be certain of and right here right now all is well.  

All living things are enlivened by energy called prana - a force that pulses through each of us and gives us life. In sanskrit, prana simply means breath.  And while prana energizes us in the form of breath, any form of energy - light, heat and electricity is also considered prana. It catalyzes all activity, it is consciousness, the connection the true self. Cultivating prana in our lives can bring us greater energy and mental clarity. Practicing meditation, enjoying our favourite activities, and spending time in nature, enlivens our prana and makes us feel whole. There are also easy conscious breathing techniques known as pranayama that will bring greater vigour into our lives and improve our mental and physical states. Just a few minutes of conscious breathing especially when we are feeling stressed or anxious can completely shift our mood and perspective and bring us a sense of calm. The more we practice connecting with our breath, the more spontaneous we will find that we move from our current state of awareness into one that allows us a more expanded understanding of ourselves and the world around us.

Centering Thought:

I am one with the breath of life.

Sanskrit mantra:

So hum. - I am.

Mindful Moment:

Most of our breathing is regulated automatically, whereas conscious breathing can completely shift our perception. When we close our eyes and simply witness the breath we invite peace and balance into our lives, bathing our brains and every cell of our bodies in energy and vitality. Spend some time practicing conscious breathing. Get comfortable and close your eyes. Begin to imagine the breath as it flows in and out of the body. After a few rounds of inhalations and exhalations, count to five on the inhale, hold the breath for five, and then exhale for a count of five. Do this several times for just a few minutes. After you've completed the exercise, rest for a minute or two, and then return to activity.

Interesting links:

Evolve your Practice

Deep Breathing Methods to Improve your Well-being

"Feelings come and go like clouds in a windy sky. Conscious breathing is my anchor." —Thich Nhat Hanh

Day 9

Today’s meditation was about creating balance, and how what we surround ourselves with affects our internal wellbeing. I recently purged 80% of my possessions - things I could do without, things I did not love and things that were just cluttering up my space. I now try to lead the life of a semi-minimalist and I collect memories, not things. Now the things I have in my life I use, love or need. It will be a year this June without “my stuff” and I can honestly say I don’t miss one item of it. Instead I feel renewed and have a better sense of balance with my surroundings and my life is now so easy to manage and take care of.  I even have a room dedicated to yoga and meditation where I have it decorated with beautiful chakra and ganesha prints, cozy pillows and meditation mats, a Himalayan salt lamp, a few rock crystals and stones, and a hibiscus hand carved Buddha. The room is very Zen and it is my little physical, mental and spiritual oasis - a place I can go when I need to centre myself and bring things back to focus after a busy day.

Deepak says that in many healing traditions the perfect medicine for us is often right outside our front door - every day nature offers us its healing properties. With that in mind we can begin to explore ways to create balance in our lives using simple things already available in our environments to bring us feelings of comfort and ease. If you think about it we are already attracted to particular experiences that make us happy. We are all unique and we respond to different environmental offerings: scents, spices, music, paintings which can bring peace and comfort to us throughout our day.

Living and working in such a nurturing environment nourishes the brain which in turn takes care of us so that we can better take care of our bodies. A positive outer environment plays an important role in a positive lifestyle, allowing us to make choices that are natural. This fosters the best inner environment for the brain, which processes every experience we have, and must function well for the mind to make its best intentions known. It is important that we be good to ourselves and create an environment that brings us peace, joy and closer to perfect health. It is not selfish to want a happy harmonious life as it is the true foundation for optimal, mental, physical and spiritual wellbeing.

Centering Thought:

My outer world reflects my inner world.

Sanskrit mantra:

Sat Chit Ananda. - Existence, Consciousness, Bliss

Mindful Moment:

Consider those things that you enjoy—the scents, sights, sounds—that bring calm to your mind and spirit, and warm your heart. With just a little bit of thought and effort, we can create environments that support our success and enable us to feel positive and alive. In your home and work space,  make small, simple changes that will allow your environment to enhance your life. Remind yourself that your outer world is a reflection of your inner world and invite those elements into your environment that truly make you feel good inside.

Interesting Links:

Clear Clutter and Enhance your Environment

10 Easy Things You Can Do to Improve Your Life by Next Week

"Music in the soul can be heard by the universe." —Lao Tzu

Day 8

Yesterday I was having a tea date with some of my friends, and one of them showed me an iphone app called “Lift”. It is a free app that keeps track of your healthy habits (eg. exercise, drink more water, floss, meditate, take vitamins, inbox zero etc). You just check off daily that you did the item, and then over time it will show you a graph of how often you followed through. It seems like it would be a really easy way to develop a healthy habit once you get started. And for those of you that are like me, you would feel like you let yourself down if you didn't “check off that box” for the day, so that would keep me going :) I think I will give it a try, thanks Zoey for sharing!

Today’s meditation was all about creating healthy habits. Whenever we have an experience, the mind is in one of three states: unconscious, aware or self-aware. The mind’s two main modes of operation, "unconscious" and "aware" are highly developed. When we act in the unconscious mode, the brain is able to take care of the body without needing specific detailed instructions - processing the five senses to keep us aware of our inner and outer worlds. However, in the unconscious state, health and well-being are generally left to chance and the critical mind-body feedback loop operates automatically without any awareness.

For example, if you light your fifth cigarette of the day without thinking, you are doing something unconsciously, which is the mode of operation that underlies habits. If you see yourself lighting the cigarette then you are aware. As you light that cigarette, self-awareness can step in - in that moment you may ask, “What am I getting out of this?”

When we begin to ask ourselves questions, we reflect on our behaviours, look at the larger picture and invite the answers to come to us - we may move even more into the place of self-awareness. When we are self-aware we begin to pay attention to our true self. The true self is where values and answers come from. Self-awareness moves us beyond the pathways in the brain that support fixed unconscious habits.

Imagine a situation in which you are angry, in that moment when you recognize you are angry you are having an aware thought. But knowing where your anger comes from invites a component of self-awareness into the situation, allowing you to recognize a pattern of behavior. You realize that old habits (eg. past outbursts) likely haven’t served you well, and you begin to take steps to transcend those habitual responses. Reality shifts when self-awareness enters and we start to take control with the help of our spirit. Becoming self-aware opens the door to lasting change and empowers us to make the healthy choices in every moment.

Centering Thought:

With awareness, I create healthy habits.

Sanskrit mantra:

Om Kriyam Namah. -  My actions are aligned with cosmic law.

Mindful Moment:

Throughout our days, we tend to repeat the same activities without thinking much about them. At some point, though, we become aware of these habits and, later, we may even become self-aware, wondering why these habits are part of our lives and deciding whether they benefit us.  Our entire journey together over these three weeks is one that will lead us to greater self-understanding. Examine your habits today. Ask yourself, “Why did I begin doing this?” and “does this benefit my body, mind, and spirit?” If you find yourself habitually engaging in activities that do not support your healthy lifestyle, begin taking steps to change those habits that do not serve you.

Interesting Links:

Live a more balanced life - Watch Deepak 

Use Your Space to Create Work-Life Balance

"Your visions will become clear only when you can look into your own heart. Who looks outside, dreams; who looks inside, awakes." —C.G. Jung 

Day 7

Today Deepak congratulated us on completing day 7 of the challenge. He then went through an overview of what we explored this past week. The time went by so fast but it is very habit forming - I have already started looking forward to opening my inbox each morning and receiving the new daily meditation sound clip.

To summarize, this past week we took the time to prepare ourselves for perfect health. Getting a better understanding of the mind-body connection and the enormous role the brain plays in the body’s overall state of well-being. Deepak discussed how we play a pivotal role in maintaining our own good health and how training our brains can help us keep disease at bay. We then explored the importance of remaining balanced yet open to inviting more passion into our lives. We connected with our intuition - our inner knowingness - our true and most trustworthy guide. From there we came to realize that our bodies really take care of us, responding to feedback loops we create that are integral to health and well-being. We spent time becoming familiar with the doshas, the points at which mind and body connect. And then we journeyed through our bodies stopping along the way to express gratitude and love.

The body is a gift, a vehicle by which we can achieve deeper spiritual wisdom and connect with the higher self. Keeping the body healthy, free from discomfort and disease, enables us to focus our energies on more meaningful experiences like building rich, loving relationships, serving the world with our unique gifts and talents and exploring higher consciousness.

We need to take time to honour our body. And pay attention to the feedback loops we are creating and listen with openness to our body’s intuitive messages – all will lead us on the path to perfect health.

Centering Thought:

My body is a magnificent vehicle that connects me to Spirit.

Sanskrit mantra:

Lam, Lam, Lam. - repeating “Lam” opens the root chakra, allowing us to feel grounded.

Mindful Moment:

By keeping our bodies healthy and strong, we are better able to turn our energy toward deeply meaningful experiences, spending time with loved ones, enjoying the beauty of nature all around us, and pursuing our own spiritual paths. Because this body is the only one we have, we must treat it with great love and respect, so that it will, in turn, enable us to enjoy all those things we love.

Thank your body for all that it allows you to do and commit to making healthy choices that continue to nourish it.

Interesting Links:

What is your body telling you? Learn to listen

15 Reasons to Accept (and Love!) Exactly Who You Are

“The invariable mark of wisdom is to see the miraculous in the common.”  -Ralph Waldo Emerson