Daily Excerpt: 108 Yoga and Self-Care Practices for Busy Mamas (Gentile): Meditate, Breathe, Repeat

 


Today's daily excerpt comes from 108 Yoga and Self-Care Practices for Busy Mamas by Julie Gentile:

Meditate. Breathe. Repeat. 

Meditation is magical. At first, I was hesitant to sit with scattered thoughts, but after attending many classes and workshops, meditation began to grow on me until it blossomed into a beautiful practice. It isn’t about completely clearing your mind of your thoughts. Meditation is sitting with your thoughts, without judging them, and noticing what feelings and sensations arise. Although traditionally practiced seated, you can meditate anywhere, any time. The more you meditate, the more you benefit. Reduced stress and anxiety, better concentration, and a better sense of clarity are just a few perks of a regular meditation practice. Where does the magic come in? Meditation helps uncover your true self—your genuine wants, needs, hopes, and desires. If there is an important decision you need to make, meditate. If you’re looking to find you’re true calling in life, meditate. When you meditate, you create space for your spirit to speak. As with yoga, there are many forms of meditation. I cover some of them in this book, so have fun exploring the different styles! 

 Write about it: Your mind on meditation Record your thoughts about meditation—anything that comes to mind—and whether you think you can commit to a few minutes of meditation every day. Once you develop a regular practice, journal for a few minutes after each meditation about the themes and thoughts that came up during your session. 

Practice it: The one-minute meditation for modern mamas Practice this at home, at work, or anywhere you can. Set a timer with a gentle sound on your phone if you’d like. • Begin in a comfortable seated position. Allow your spine to be tall and long. Relax your shoulders, and rest your hands on your knees or press your palms together at your heart. Gently close your eyes. • Imagine a thin string lifting the crown of your head toward the sky. • Bring your attention to your breath. Watch your inhales and exhales come and go. As thoughts enter your mind, acknowledge them and then watch them fade. • Stay present. When the timer goes off, open your eyes.  




For more posts about Julie and her books, click HERE.


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