Union

Today I learnt something very useful for my personal self development.

I learnt the mind and the brain is constantly expanding outwards to search for meaning and purpose. Through our five senses our mind allows us to experience our external world in full technicolour surround sound, which is useful for us to feel our sense of self in the world that we inhabit. This is the yang energy, that we need to constantly grow, expand and explore our worlds and environments, through socialising, networking and communication.

There is also the yin, which is the still, centred, unassuming awareness that also exists within our being. This energy is very quiet, almost silent. It is a deeper place within us that sits and waits for us to "be". This energy is calming, balancing and has a soothing effect on all of our internal systems, organs and cells. This energy can be experienced when we stop. We drop into the depth of our centre and we observe the tiniest detail of the intricate nature of who we are.

Breath Aware, Body Aware Meditation

The simplest way to feel this energy is to simply focus on nothing else other than the breath.

Notice the in-breath, feel the cool air pass through the nasal passage, continue to observe the cool breath travelling through the throat, feel the expansion of the chest cavity as the breath passes through, then deepen the inhalation to expand the ribcage and each bronchiole of the lungs and finally allow the belly to experience the breath enter it's depths and feel the navel expand fully.

Hold on to this breath, observing this space in between breaths. This space of neutrality and utter stillness.

Then begin the process of allowing this breath to be released. Starting from the belly, feeling the navel contract as the warmer breath flows out back up into the lung, as the breath leaves this area, feeling the the out-breath travel up the windpipe, skim over the throat and out through the mouth as it now feels much more rounded and warm having been around your respiratory system gathering energy.

Then again, once the breath has left the system, pause, just for a moment and observe the neutral space, this space of nothingness.

This UNION of breath and body to control the monkey mind is true YOGA.

I have found an amazing and inspiring yoga teacher, and had my first class today. I feel very centred and grateful that I have found my centre again. I lost centre for a while and this is a welcome reminder for me to remember who I am, and to focus on the "I am".

This little book was a beautiful gift that Toby's mum, Wendy gave me, and it, again is a beautiful reminder to keep the focus on the moment, and to keep the attention on myself, and my centre at all times.