Welcome to this moment!

Yogis,

Stop whatever you are doing.  Simply stop. 

Notice how you are sitting and feel where your sit bones are making contact with the chair.  Plant your feet on the floor beneath you.  Feel the texture of the floor.  Imagine roots growing out through the feet and the sit bones.  Get settled.

Begin to  feel the space you are occupying.  No rush.  Now slowly look at all that surrounds you.  Look as if you have never seen it before.  See all of the colors and textures. 

Start to notice the sounds around you….first those that are close…..and slowly expanding out to those in the distance.  Take your time. 

Draw your awareness back now and shift it into the body.  What sensations are you having right now?    Feel them fully. 

Begin to notice your breath.  The inhale as it traces the line through the center of the body from the pelvic floor to the open crown of the head.  Filling.  Expanding.  Lifting.  Then the exhale as it traces the line back down, leaving the body and taking with it anything you no longer need.  Emptying.  Draining.  Heavy.  Take 3 more breaths in this manner.

So now here you are…..at the present moment.  Welcome!

 

It is only in the present moment that life happens.  Not tomorrow, and not last week.  Only right here, right now.  Notice how the word for right now is present……it is a gift.  Every single one of them a gift waiting to be opened. 

So often we find ourselves waiting for some future moment.  As soon as this project is done.  As soon as I retire.  Once the kids are gone.   Next year, later……  But once we get to that perceived future moment, things are no different than they are at this moment, yet we raced through thousands of others without fully embracing them.

Or we replay past moments, often years later, wishing things were like they were then.  Attached to a memory while life happens around us, without us noticing. 

Or we fill up our days so completely that all of the moments blur.  Getting a lot “done” but with nothing that takes your breath away. 

Every day is comprised of thousands of moments.  Each one as completely unique as a snowflake.  Each one a chance for something amazing……but you have to be present to win. 

So how can I be “here” more?  By letting go.  Letting go.  Letting go.    And the best teacher, which you carry with you wherever you go, is your breath.  Your breath is your connection to now. 

So stop again.   Simply stop.   Take a slow mindful breath and on the exhale relax your muscles.  Now imagine you have many layers…like an onion…and on the next breath relax one layer deeper.  And again.  And again.  Until you are relaxing your muscles all the way to your center.   As if you are melting.   Take 5 more breaths in this completely relaxed state. 

So now here you are…..at the present moment again.  But so different than the last one.  Welcome!

 

 

This is mindfulness practice.  And it does take practice!  But it is so worth it. 

This week try putting several “present moment” appointments on your calendar or in your phone.   When the reminder pops up – stop…....simply stop.    Breathe, notice and open your gift.  Over and over and over. 

Aaaaahhhhhhhhh………………

Amazed by life,

SARAH