~Meditation~

A new found friend asked me how to meditate. (Thank you Suzanne!) It's a great subject that so many people either don't know much about or struggle to practice. Being a big subject, it seems good to hit this one head on yet as simply as possible.

There are many different forms of meditation. Lots of books written that could help you find the type that works best.

My favorite is prayer meditation. This form works best for me to be able to open my crown chakra and receive inspiration needed. I've worked with it for years and have been given beautiful and "to the point" messages. I don't seek things in my meditation that are unnecessary or destructive in any way. I say this because meditation is a powerful principle and I have talked with people who have been in error in their intentions and it only produced painful results. Be wise.

1. All you need is a good, quiet place, your journal, a pen... and you. Where you meditate is important. It needs to be a place that won't distract your mind. Somewhere peaceful to the eyes and ears. If it's warm outside, nature can be the best place as it naturally makes us feel closer to God. Bring something to write on, and write with.

2. Before you begin, write down your intention with the specific meditation. Something you are thinking about, a problem you are trying to solve, an emotion you want to resolve or express, a principle you wish to understand better, etc..

These are very basic examples. Be specific. Be genuine.

3. Find a comfortable seated position on the ground, or in a chair... (preferably a harder chair that you can sit upright and will support a straight back). Place your paper with the written intention in front of you or in your lap. Read it.

4. Close your eyes and start by letting God know of your thankful heart... the things that you recognize God has done for you, or given you that have blessed your life. Then bring your written intention to your mind, and before God. Ask for what it is you are wanting to come from this meditation.

5. Now just allow that subject to be the only thing in your mind. Don't try too hard, but just let it be there... listen. If any chatter or static comes into your mind, look at the written intention and bring it back to the forefront of your thinking. Keep thinking on this written intention until what you are needing comes to you... then write down any new thoughts coming. Don't forget to thank God for the inspiration. You have had a successful meditation!

If nothing comes in your meditation, don't be discouraged. Just try again later and keep on till you do. If you can only do it for a short amount of time, don't worry... you'll be able to go longer as you work at it.

Remember that meditation is like anything you have ever done... it takes practice. It takes discipline which is a gradual process. The more you do it, the better you will get. As you do it, you will be able to take the things that come, and increase your life.

If prayer meditation doesn't seem to be working for you, then follow the same steps... without the written intention. Keep your mind free of ALL things. Imagine that you are opening your mind for inspiration to enter. Keep all chatter out and focus on just being. This takes practice also.

I have seen that it can be easier for "B" type personalities to get into the meditation groove. They come out with sensitive yet creative inspiration. "A" type personalities typically have to work a little harder at it because they can be so busy in mind and body. It's hard for them to slow down and just listen... just "BE". However, as they practice, it creates a beautiful balance to their typical push in life.

Happy Meditating!

Courtney

Have a great day!

Taking my emotions to the "MAT"

Today I hit the point where I needed an extra good stretch to loosen up from the past week.

My emotions were tying my muscles up in knots.

Here are the top six poses from my practice.

The poses that felt best.

This one would have felt fine without bending backwards, but I was taking each pose as far as I could. I allowed my emotions to tell me where to go and how far to push... yet I was aware enough to not overdo it.

Ahhhhh!

With wheel, I love to start in Downward Facing Dog and roll till I am grounded here. The stretch during the roll hit the spot!

Because this is a deeper stretch I could feel it tapping through my frustrations. It released the "Grrrrr!" I was feeling.

This was my top twist. "Turn, turn, turn!"

Release!!!

Afterwards... I felt great.

Yes, I still have to deal with the struggles that have caused my bundle of emotions, but with the physical pain gone... I feel like I can handle it.

Courtney

Bennys, Butterflies and Blogs

Twas a good day today.

Got a lot done.

This is me muli-tasking.... eating lunch, taking phone calls, responding to emails, sipping latte, researching my camera, and hanging with my boy. (He asked me to watch Scooby Doo with him.)

It only lasted a bit till big kids got home from school.

Saw this today.

I love blue butterflies.

It looks like I am in worship, but I'm not. I would worship the one who makes blue butterflies.

The last few days, I have been thinking about blogging my past. It's a doozy. I feel like I am at this cross road...

...but I'm not for sure if I cross the tracks that the train won't smash me at some point. I feel I could cross with caution, but there are so many factors to take into account.

So I'll just park myself here... before the crossing, and wait to see if, and how, I can do this without having to get hit. The hard thing is that... It's My past. My history.

So someday hopefully.

Big brother found these funny looking plants today and wanted to get a closer look.

So we pulled over and captured the moment. Glad I did. He is such a sweetie!

Ahh the Breath of Words...

Listening to this song this morning.

A song I love.

When I checked the words... I fell in love with them all over again.

By: Christopher Cross -

ALIBI

It's a calm wind blowing on my skin,

And I've been dreaming again.

Now that we're all here,

We can share these notes and all this madness.

We can talk of innocence,

And of all the things we believe in.

Is it an alibi?

Is it the reason why?

Is it the way we really feel inside?

Set it free.

The magic of those nights brings me closer to that light,

That helps me see the path ahead of me.

I can feel that something.

A hint of mystery.

A trace of dare.

To live the truth I hide somewhere.

Daybreak,

In a place I've known before.

Will I find me behind that final door?

I can hear the footsteps of the past.

I can feel the thunder and it's coming fast.

I'm gonna spend some time with the moon.

Pour myself a glass of midnight.

Keep myself in tune.

Is it an alibi?

Is it the tears I cry?

Is it the way I see it through your eyes?

Yoga Girl

This is Susan... my star student.

She's 62 and has osteoporosis.

For the past year and a half, we have worked religiously twice a week to help her regain range of motion, loosen painful muscles, restore balance and focus.

It's working.

We thought that today we would take some pictures of her favorite poses...

or the poses in which she feels she has made the most progress.

She is an amazing artist... (thus the mats and frames).

Tension in her shoulders makes some poses challenging. We always take time to focus on her shoulders and found that the yoga ball is the greatest shoulder opener... for her that is.

Dancer is her fave. She loves how graceful it looks.

When I first started working with her, there seemed to be a stiffness in her body...

and emotions.

I have used lots of spine openers to find that "flow and bend" we are looking for.

I would normally have her looking over her left shoulder in this twist, but she looked so pretty like this... so I left it.

When we first started doing Upward facing dog, she had virtually no bend in her back.

It was a year into our practice together that I suggested the "Head Stand". She had never given it a thought before because she just didn't think she could do it. Well... she could, and she giggled the whole time at how much easier it was than she expected.

In "Pigeon", she insists on her back leg being straight instead of knee bent to the side. She likes the challenge and has made great progress with it.

In the beginning she couldn't hold her upper body up like this. We always went as far up as we could and then straight into forward fold. Today she can hold this pose for quite a while.

I've had so many older women say they can't do yoga. It just isn't the truth. ANYONE can do yoga. I would challenge anyone who thinks they can't do it to take at least 2 yoga classes.... then they can decide.

Courtney

Baby Bronson's day

Great news on baby Bronson today! See his link to the side. Thanks for the prayers and meditations for him. One day at a time. One step at a time.