She Thrives | meaningful conversations on women's health

Some people meditate in order to achieve a certain altered state of mind, others – to have no thoughts. There are also those who just want to prove something.  In mindfulness practice we train a skill of noticing and being. We learn to notice what is around us, and within us. Then we learn to be with all of these things patiently and compassionately. In essence, it is very simple.  In this episode...

We prefer some emotions, and we avoid others.  In any case, we like to talk about how we feel, and we rarely fund time to simply feel. In this practice we will give it a try. What it feels like to feel without trying to change or improve anything?  It can be scary. It may also be liberating.  Give it a try. 

When we begin practicing any type of meditation, it inevitably starts with one thing: training attention. Regardless weather you focus on your breath, body, sound, or mantra – first thing you need to do is to tame and train your attention. In this episode I will quickly share how we train attention. Then we will have a simple 3 minutes practice.  Enjoy! 

This is a 5 minute practice - pause to train your capacity to notice thoughts or emotions that are not useful right now. 

The Guest House This being human is a guest house. Every morning a new arrival. A joy, a depression, a meanness, some momentary awareness comes as an unexpected visitor. Welcome and entertain them all! Even if they are a crowd of sorrows, who violently sweep your house empty of its furniture, still, treat each guest honoraubly. He may be clearing you out for some new delight. The dark thought, the...

Usually body scan practices are long. And this is good. Find time to do those as well.  This 5 minute practice will allow you to tune in and feel your body as a whole, from toes to the crown of your head.  They say that our mind is a time traveller. Our body –is always present ;) 

This is a simple tool to slow down and shift gears. Be it at the end of your working day or between your meetings. A quick scan of mental, emotional and physical layers of being will inform your next choice – what to do next.  Once you remember the script,  you can do this practice any time, anywhere in 1 minute. 

We tend to routinely rush forward toward the next good thing. We tend to focus too much on things that we believe are wrong. Finding time to notice current good things, letting them sink in, will strengthen your ability to notice more of them as the day goes on. 

Emotions are inevitable.  When we worry about future, we feel anxious.  When we ruminate about the past – we may feel sad or angry.  Emotions have right to exist. They make us human. Nevertheless, we believe that there are good and bad emotions. We don't like to feel sad, scared or angry. We prefer to feel joyful, in love and happy.  The more we suppress certain 'bad' emotions, the...

Our exhale is meant to give us a sense of relaxation. Our heart slows down on exhale, our muscles relax, our belly softens. Knowing this we can enhance the power of exhalation,  rest our mind, and let go of thoughts that are not useful right now.  "We need to learn to exhale, then inhale will take care of itself."

I love this quote:  “The notes I handle no better than many pianists. But the pauses between the notes - ah, that is where the art resides.” ― Artur Schnabel Isn't it exactly what we are trying to do when we find 5 min of silence, alone? I invite you to create and master these little pauses in our day in order to tune into the melody of  the life you play. 

Noticing simple things you have and being grateful for them can strengthen your sense of contentment and peace.  Little effort – huge benefit.  “The miracle of gratitude is that it shifts your perception to such an extent that it changes the world you see” – Robert Holden.

A simple guided meditation with a focus on showing compassion for yourself, your loved ones, and even those who are difficult. Take 5 minutes for yourself today. You deserve it. " Anger and hatred are signs of weakness, while compassion is a sure sign of strength." -Dalai Lama

A simple guided meditation with a focus on finding your balance. What goes up must come down. Are you aware and present in these moments? Take 5 minutes for yourself today. You deserve it. 'Breathing in, I calm body and mind. Breathing out, I smile. Dwelling in the present moment I know this is the only moment.' -Thich Nhat Hanh

A simple guided meditation with a focus on navigating life's difficulties. We can't stop the waves, but we can learn how to surf ;)  Take 5 minutes for yourself today. You deserve it. “Pain is inevitable. Suffering is optional.”  - Dalai Lama

A simple guided meditation with a focus on creating awareness of the moment, both pleasant and unpleasant. Appreciate the good ones. The bad ones... well, this too will pass. Take 5 minutes for yourself today. You deserve it. “There is a crack, a crack in everything. That's how the light gets in.”  - Leonard Cohen

A simple guided meditation with a focus on being your best self.  Take 5 minutes for yourself today. You deserve it. “Everyone thinks of changing the world, but no one thinks of changing himself.”  - Leo Tolstoy

A simple guided meditation for those who don't know where to start.  Take 5 minutes for yourself today. You deserve it. "Almost everything will work again if you unplug it for a few minutes, including you"  - Anne Lamotte