How to enhance your space with Feng Shui

A clear and calm mind can be strongly influenced by our living space. If you are wanting to work on yourself, release things, or invite a sense of freedom into your life, read the article below on feng shui in the home. You may find that even small changes can make a big difference to your day -to-day life.

What is feng shui?

Feng shui is the Chinese practice that focuses on balancing and harmonising the energies in your home, office, and life to reflect your emotional self. Aligning the energy of your environment with your own is easier than you think, take it step by step and it is believed that this will unlock the flow of energy to help you lead a more balanced life.

The feng shui elements

Create balance and vibrancy in your life by consciously channelling the energies of the five feng shui elements.

1. Water

2. Metal

3. Fire

4. Wood

5. Earth

Bagau

Bagau (also called ba-gua or pakua) is the feng shui energy map, it helps you identify areas in your home and how they are connected to specific areas of your life, but also is a guide on the appropriate shapes and colours for each room. The Chinese translation is “8 areas” which it is believed amount to one’s health and happiness.

The eight areas of the feng shui bagau are:

• Health & Family

• Wealth & Abundance

• Fame & Reputation

• Love & Marriage

• Creativity & Children

• Helpful People & Blessings

• Career & Path in Life

• Spiritual Growth & Cultivation

The rules of feng shui for home placement

• Slopes can create negative chi, so avoid homes on a slope of 45 degrees or more.

• Avoid building near power stations as they generate energy and can create energy chaos resulting in negative chi.

• A home with views over a cemetery is considered bad energy as a cemetery is a place of death.

• Don't buy or build a home close to a junk-dumping site as the clutter can have a negative effect on chi.

• The layout of the street in relationship to your home can either carry positive or negative chi to you.

How to use feng shui in your home

When it comes to your home the “feng shui trinity” – your bedroom, bathroom, and kitchen – has the utmost importance for your health and wellbeing.

1. The entry to your home should be inviting and clear of clutter. Feng shui experts concur that your whole house should be clutter-free and contain only the essentials. This will help declutter your mind and allow you to focus.

2. Keep the garden well maintained and tidy.

3. Create “chi” in your backyard by using curves – straight lines are rarely present in nature.

4. Put away coats and shoes in your entry hallway so that energy can circulate.

5. Airflow is key to creating positive energy in the home. Open your windows often and use an air purifier to keep your home fresh.

6. Bring wealth into your home by placing a plant and a light either side of the front door.

7. For uplifting positive energy, place a mirror above a table with fresh flowers.

8. Choose your art carefully, as images carry strong energy. Choose images that are happy and beautiful. Avoid using images that feature lonely or solo people or items.

9. Keep your space clear of clutter. It will keep the energy in your home light and harmonious.

10. Allow as much natural light into your home as possible. During the day use candles and lamps to illuminate dark spaces which represent areas of neglect in certain aspects of your life.

11. Create clutter-free benchtops. Like most other spaces, clutter is a no-go in the kitchen. Use simple storage solutions to help save space so you will have larger workspaces to utilise.

12. Herb gardens add a sense of calm and beauty to a kitchen.

13. It is bad feng shui to have the bathroom and kitchen doors facing each other. When two doors are opposite each other it is said that the energies flow faster in and out – the same goes for your front and back door.

14. Your sofa, coffee table, and entertainment units should not be disproportionally large in your living room. All of the furniture should work in harmony. When it comes to the arrangement there is no right or wrong answer, but your sofa should be pushed up against a wall.

15. A mix of shapes in your living room is important. Opt for a circular coffee table with a rectangular lounge and add in other round, oval and square items to help balance out the room.

16. To encourage the flow of wealth, place a lamp in the corner of your room diagonally opposite the room’s entry.

17. In public (yang) spaces, bring energy to the room through the calculated use of colour. Deep blue and eggplant are energising colours and red is invigorating.

18. To optimise energy in the dining room place a large mirror reflecting the table as it is said to bring good fortune and abundance. Although make sure you hang it high enough so guests aren’t looking at themselves.

19. Don’t let your dining table become a place of neglect as they often become the household “dumping ground.” Clear the clutter and create an appealing environment you don’t forget about.

20. People don’t like sitting with their backs to open doorways and windows, position your dining table so people have their back to a wall. This will help them feel safe and comfortable.

21. You should always keep something on the dining table – fruit is a great choice. Apples help develop friendship, pears attract positive energy, peaches represent good health, and oranges symbolise richness and prosperity.

22. Crystals are a huge part of feng shui which is why chandeliers make a great addition. The reflective metals in the chandeliers will help the space feel calmer.

23. When it comes to the bedroom layout, place your bed against a solid wall where you can view your main door.

24. Importantly, avoid placing mirrors opposite the bed, as arguments will be amplified.

25. Try and avoid having electricals running behind your bed, look for a battery-operated alarm clock – keeping your phone out of your bedroom is a non-negotiable!

26. If you have a painting above your bed, hang it high and choose something that will elevate your mood. Think calm colours and soft shapes.

27. Keep all bedroom doors closed at night, including wardrobe doors.

28. Avoid clutter and storage under the bed, as you'll absorb the energy whilst sleeping.

29. Clear your bedroom of the TV, computer or exercise equipment. These items introduce the energy of work and stress into a space that should be relaxing and harmonious.

30. Make your space warm and inviting with soft and cosy textures. Add symmetry with table lamps and matching bedside tables to create a bookended effect, then your bed will feel like a room within a room.

31. Don’t use red in your room – it is very yang and can affect your quality of sleep, or ability to actually get to sleep.

32. Don’t place plants in your bedroom unless it’s a large space, and keep them as far away from the bed as possible.

33. Keep your bathroom clean. We’re not saying you need to squeegee your bathroom from top to bottom each day, but keeping it clutter-free will help. Select the bare necessities, look for earth-friendly products and keep it orderly and neat.

34. When it comes to bathrooms, the colour white and other light colours are great choices as they are fresh and body-friendly. The colour white also helps cut through confusion, slowness and delays which helps purify and cleanse. Avoid the colours blue and black (water element colours) and images of water as these will strengthen the energy you want to control.

35. To avoid draining wealth energy in the bathroom, keep toilet lids down and keep the door shut. Plants can help improve the feng shui.

36. Always position your desk or working spaces with a view rather than a solid wall. This hinders creativity.

37. Improve the quality of air in the home or office by introducing plants, foliage, and flora. Plants will improve concentration and increase positive energy, concentration, and innovative thinking while reducing stress.

38. Crystals will break electrical waves transmitted by computers, software, phones, and technical devices. Neutralise negative energy by positioning them next to water throughout the office or the home.

39. Colour plays an important role when it comes to feng shui: gold promotes prosperity, silver represents security, and red is for wealth. Attract desired outcomes by introducing suitable colours into your space.  

40. Retain the essence of abundance by placing a small water fountain near the main entry door.’

Author: Lottie Dalziel
Original source: https://www.bhg.com.au/how-to-feng-shui

---

FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM FOR HOW TO VIDEOS, TIP AND TRICKS, YOGA INSPO AND MUCH MORE!

Tidying your to-do list for mental clarity

Marie Kondo is well known for her life changing methods of tidying and reducing the amount of clutter we have. Whilst decluttering tangible items can have a significant impact on our well-being and modd, so to can decluttering intangible items, such as a to-do list. The article below walks you through the process of managing your to-do list, following the Marie Kondo method. From this, we can hopefully live with more metal clarity and less weight on our minds. Check it out!

Your to-do list should spark joy, not dread.

Your to-do list is an extension of your mind. It’s the spare room where you keep tomorrow’s work tucked away so you can focus on what’s in front of you today.

But just like a spare room, if you don’t regularly tidy up your list, things get cluttered. Instead of being a reliable source of to-dos, it becomes a task in itself to sort through the mess and figure out what to work on next. A tidy task list does more than just improve productivity — it benefits your mental clarity, decision-making, and even your mood.

Taking a cue from Marie Kondo’s excellent The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up, you can declutter your task list in the same way she tidies physical belongings: by establishing a few simple, organisational habits.

1. Before you start, visualise your destination

How can you know which tasks are worth doing if you don’t know where you want to go? How will you find the motivation to keep your to-do list clutter-free if you don’t know why you’re decluttering in the first place?

Before touching any clutter, Marie first asks her clients to envision the life they want to achieve by tidying up.

Think in concrete terms so that you can vividly picture what it would be like to live in a clutter-free space.

Or in our case, a clutter-free to-do list. Before you even start looking at your tasks, write down what having a neatly organised and prioritised to-do list would mean for your life. Maybe you want to run a successful business, get in shape, be more present with your family, have closer relationships with friends, or lead a more adventurous life.

Find a medium that lets you truly envision the details. You can describe it in words, mind map it, draw it out, create a Pinterest board, collect Youtube videos, or brainstorm in whatever form suits you.

But don’t stop there. “to prevent rebound you need to move ahead properly, step by step, as you launch into this once-in-a-lifetime event,” Marie says. “Your next step is to identify why you want to live like that.”

Why do you want to get in shape? The answer might be “to have more energy and feel more confident.”  Why do you want to have more energy and feel more confident? Maybe the answer is “to be more fully yourself and stop worrying about what other people think of you.” Ask yourself “why” 3-5 times for every item in your vision. Marie explains the importance of this step to prevent a relapse into messiness:

As you continue to explore the reasons behind your ideal lifestyle, you will come to a simple realisation. The whole point in both discarding and keeping things is to be happy. It may seem obvious, but it is important to experience this realisation for yourself and let it sink into your heart. Before you start tidying, look at the lifestyle you aspire to and ask yourself, “Why do I want to tidy?”

Keep your “why” top-of-mind as you tidy and after by creating a task in your To-do list that represents your final vision. If you have an accompanying document or image, link to it from your task or attach it to your task comments. This is your True North that will help you determine whether a task is worth doing. If you’ve written out an all-encompassing vision, break it down into several goals for each area of your life, and create a task for each.

Use your final goal to keep your tasks aimed in the right direction.

You may want to give your task a recurring due date to review the vision you set out for yourself at the start of each day.

Once you’re clear on why you’re tidying, you’re ready to start tackling the hard decisions of what to keep on your to-do list and what to let go of.

2. Finish discarding first

Think of your task list like a physical space: when it’s crammed with random stuff, it becomes too hard to find the things that you actually need.

Right now, your to-do list may be stuffed with half-baked ideas, empty projects, and tasks you forgot to check off:

Discard first, organise second.

Following Marie’s system, it’s time to do a task inventory.

It’s not just Marie. David Allen, the author of Getting Things Done, believes that organising our life is actually a search for mental space: GTD is “more of a space management system.”

Do a complete task inventory

When Marie Kondo arrives at a house to tidy it up, she begins by kneeling on the floor in the centre of the living room to show respect for all of its belongings. From there, she helps her client begin the journey, considering each and every item in turn.

Take the same approach (kneeling optional) and do a full inventory of all the tasks and projects in your To do list. Depending how cluttered your to-do list is, you may want to dedicate a full day or even a weekend to this endeavour. As Marie says, “Tidy a little bit each day and you’ll be tidying forever.”

Remember, this exercise isn’t just about decluttering your to-do list — it’s about cutting away the nonessential so that the only tasks you have left are the ones that bring you closer to the life you want to live. Marie’s famous standard is “does it spark joy?” If the answer is yes, keep it. If not, get rid of it.

For your to-do list, we recommend a slightly different criterion:

As you do your inventory, ask yourself: Does this task bring me closer to the life I want to live?

If the answer is yes, keep it. It not, delete it from your task list.

You’re going to run into tasks that you want to delete, but let’s face it, grunt work is necessary for any significant achievement. Try reframing the tasks that don’t excite you. While “run every day” may feel like a chore, “try to run a 10-minute mile today” may be a more specific and motivating challenge.

Re-frame tasks in ways that make you remember why you want to do them in the first place.

Even Marie concedes that there are items you have to keep even if they don’t spark joy — like important documents.  For work like taking out the trash or doing your taxes, create a separate project called “responsibilities” and pare it down to the things that, while they don’t bring you joy, you just have to do anyway.

This is a good exercise to check in on and see how much of your to-do list are things you get to do vs things you have to do.

Let things go

You may have a tough time letting go of long-standing tasks on your list. Maybe you always envisioned yourself finishing that home renovation project yourself. Or maybe you don’t want to let go of your novel that hasn’t made it past the first chapter (or page). It can feel like giving up on the version of yourself you wanted to be when you added that task or project in the first place.

Marie explains that even unfinished tasks served a purpose. You’ve clarified what you actually care about and why:

Not every person you meet in life will become a close friend or lover. Some you will find hard to get along with or impossible to like. But these people, too, teach you the precious lesson of who you do like, so that you will appreciate those.

Letting go of old tasks and projects teaches you how to create space for what’s important to you now. As you go through your old tasks, acknowledge that there was a purpose when you added it, but it’s no longer relevant to the life you’re striving for today.

Don’t be afraid to delete tasks that are no longer relevant to the life you want to live.

If you just can’t bring yourself to hit delete on a task and banish it from your life forever, you have the option to save it in a temporary project in to-do list. (Marie would strongly disapprove: “Storage is nothing but a cosmetic solution. You must begin by discarding!” But you should do what works best for you.)

If you’re intent on saving tasks, create a project named “Maybe later” and hide it from view by archiving it. You can always come back and unarchive it later.

3. Give every task a place

Ok, you’ve got the right tasks — now it’s time to sort and organise. Similar to Marie’s rule that every physical item should have its place, every task on your to-do list should have its project. Group your tasks together in ways that are intuitive to you.

For instance, if your goal is to get in shape, you could begin with the “fitness” category and create a project with that name. Find every task related to your goal and move those tasks to the project.

Think of each project as a “room” in the life you want to build.

Repeat this for every category until your to-do list is organised into projects. For tasks that don’t fit into any of the categories you’ve identified as important, ask yourself if it still belongs on your to-do list.

Keep your projects visible

At this point, it’s tempting to start creating a bunch of sub-projects that you can hide from view (like seasonal storage), but Marie advises her clients to keep everything visible all year round. Just as seeing every physical object you own keeps you from accumulating too much stuff, seeing every project you’ve committed to can be a helpful reminder to stay focused on what’s important and not let new tasks and projects clutter up your list.

Sequence your tasks

A great way to stay in the flow of a project is to finish one task and immediately move on to the next. Take the time to sequence your tasks in a logical order before you get to work.

Rearrange tasks by dragging the handlebar to the left of each task (Web, Mac, Windows) or tapping, holding, and dragging (iOS, Android) to the right place on the list. You can do the same thing daily while planning your Today view so that all your tasks due today are in the right order.

Drag and drop your tasks into an order that makes sense for you.

Add priorities

There are some tasks that are more essential to your goal than others. Set task priorities to keep track of which is which. Here’s an example of how to evaluate a task’s priority level:

P1 — Must finish.

P2 — Nice to have.

P3 — Finish if there is time available.

P4 — Unnecessary. These may have snuck in through your task inventory. Delete them now.

Use priority levels to automatically order tasks from most to least important.

Give each task a due date

Finally, set a date to complete each task. A handy tip is to make an estimate for how long a task will take to complete, and then double it. It’s be better to overestimate and finish early than to underestimate and finish late. Give each task a due date and schedule repeating tasks with a recurring due date.

Make sure your to-do list “sparks joy”

Aesthetics affect our mindset. When Marie does her inventory, she shows up dressed to the nines. She has carefully picked out every part of her appearance to suit the needs of the day. She takes the same approach to the space she’s reviewing:

“Imagine what it would be like to have a bookshelf filled only with books that you really love. Isn’t that image spellbinding? For someone who loves books, what greater happiness could there be?”

Give you to-do list a style that will to put you in a positive mindset whenever you check in. To borrow Marie’s signature phrase, make your digital task space “spark joy.” Here are a few tips:

• Write clear, specific, and motivating project and task titles. For example, instead of naming your task “go for a jog”, try “take a morning jog through the forest” or “explore a new running route today”

• Add text formatting and emojis to give them life: “take a morning jog through the forest”

• Use a colour theme that matches your style or mood

• Arrange your projects in an intuitive way

• Continually let go of the projects and tasks that don’t excite you

Your to-do list is ready for action.

4. Change your mindset, then your habits

You’ve revamped your task list to be cleaner, simpler, and more aligned with your goals. But don’t expect the work to be finished overnight.

At this point, Marie has noticed that many people, lose faith — “I’m just a messy person!” But that’s not the case. Being tidy is an acquired mindset, she says.

With your to-do list, this translates to asking that essential question for every new task coming into your list: Does it lead to your vision? If not, discard it on the spot. If the answer is yes, add it to the proper spot on your lists.

Of course, unhelpful tasks are bound to sneak in from time to time. Weed them out with a weekly review so you start each week with a clearly prioritised to-do list. Discard tasks that don’t bring you closer to your goals. Organise the spare tasks that have ended up in your inbox into the right projects. Have certain tasks or projects fallen out of line with your goal? Discard those, too.

Finally, check in on your big picture goals every few months. It’s natural for priorities to shift as you grow and learn more about what tasks and projects truly motivate you.

If your goals change, update your “life vision” task to document and do a mini-inventory to re-tidy your list. Over time, the goals that stand the test of time will be valuable to you, and now you’ll have the tools to achieve them in an organised way.

We spend a lot of time in digital spaces. Luckily, we can take a page from Marie Kondo’s ideas about physical space to keep our digital environment — and by extension, our minds and lives — tidy. It’s not just a productivity boost; in a world of constant interruptions and information overload, healthy organisational habits will help you stay balanced and carve out time for the things that bring you joy, all the while making progress towards what matters to you most.

Article author: Neil Vidyarthi
Article source: https://blog.doist.com/life-changing-magic-tidying-todoist/

---

FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM FOR HOW TO VIDEOS, TIP AND TRICKS, YOGA INSPO AND MUCH MORE!

What to expect from a silent meditation retreat

You may have heard of silent retreats, a concept which can seem pretty daunting to some! Removing all stimulus, including talking, in order to meditate for the majority of the day. So, what exactly is involved and why? Meditating even 10 minutes a day can be TOUGH so what are the benefits of an intense deep dive into meditation? Read the article below which details a students first time experience.

I decided to attend a Vipassana 10-day silent meditation retreat in a moment of quiet desperation.

I was 26 and was preparing for the Bar Exam. During that time, I was studying law somewhere around 10 to 14 hours daily although I knew deep inside that I really didn’t want to become a lawyer *let’s not talk about my decision-making process, shall we?*.

As a result, panic attacks slowly started creeping up on me, without anybody noticing. I didn’t see myself practicing Law, yet had accumulated such an amount of debt that changing my field of study at this point seemed financially impossible. I felt stuck. I was under incredible levels of stress.

I was in a bad place, was having silent anxiety attacks, had a broken heart, was left with a big apartment to pay for all by myself and somehow still had to hold everything together and continue to study all day, every day. Not my best year.

Then one day I heard about this silent meditation retreat that lasted 10 days, where man and woman were separated, food was excellent and … was free.

Vipassana had entered my awareness. I knew that it was exactly what I needed. ‘‘This would solve so much of my problems’’ I thought. And so, without giving it much more thought, I decided to skip classes for 2 weeks, reassured my mom who thought I was about to join a cult and packed my bags. Vipassana was calling and I had to go.

So, what is Vipassana?

Vipassana is a word in Pali, an ancient language of India, that means to see things as they really are. Long lost to humanity, this very ancient meditation technique was rediscovered by Gautama Buddha 2 500 years ago and has been passed on from teacher to teacher ever since. The current Vipassana teacher, S.N. Goenka, was born and raised in Burma and who, after studying Vipassana for 14 years went on and taught tens of thousands of people across the world with no regards to religion, culture, age, gender. Although Goenka passed away in 2013, the Vipassana teachings continue. Indeed, today, Vipassana courses, are held at 310 locations in more than 90 countries.

Is vipassana a cult?

Rest assured tribe, contrary to what my mom and friends thought when I first told them I was going to spend 10 days meditating in total silence from dusk till dawn without any distraction nor contact with the exterior world, Vipassana is absolutely not a cult.

It’s non-sectarian as Goenka explained that, "The Buddha never taught a sectarian religion; he taught Dhamma - the way to liberation — which is universal". It’s not an intellectual nor is it a philosophical entertainment. It’s not a rest cure, a holiday, or an opportunity for socializing. And it’s certainly not an escape from the ups and downs of everyday life (as I initially thought, oups !).

Vipassana is just a meditation technique that requires dedication and hard work. You will learn to observe the sensations of your body in the present moment in order to learn how to let go of cravings and aversions to ultimately reach happiness and full liberation. By learning and applying this method, you will learn to purify your mind from old patterns which in return will allow you to face life with a calm and balanced state of mind. Simply put, Vipassana teaches you to be happy. Pretty sweet hu ?

How do you subscribe?

Typically, Vipassana centres are far enough from big cities to not be in a very noisy environment, yet close enough to be accessible.

If you are a beginner at Vipassana, meaning it is your first time, you will have no other choice than to attend the 10-day retreat. Only old student can choose to attend shorter classes because they already learned the technique.

What are the 5 precepts?

During the whole Vipassana 10-days retreat, beginners will have to observe a Code of moral conduct comprised of 5 precepts, which are :

• to abstain from killing any being ;

• to abstain from stealing ;

• to abstain from telling lies ;

• to abstain from all sexual misconduct ;

• to abstain from all intoxicants.

What is the ‘noble silence’?

All Vipassana students will have to follow the rule of ‘Noble Silence’ for the first 9 days of the retreat. The Noble Silence implies the silence of body, speech and mind. That’s right, no talking for 9 days !

You’ll see, it’s like a facelift for your throat. But just know that if you have any questions, preoccupations about technical or material stuff you can always talk to the person in charge of the centre. Same goes for any question you might have about your meditation practice, in which case you can schedule a moment to talk with the teacher.

On the 10th day, you will be allowed to talk again as a way of re-establishing the normal pattern of daily life.

The schedule

Each Vipassana centre is said to have its own schedule of courses. But in my experience, (I attended Vipassana in Canada, Switzerland and Peru) the schedule is pretty much always the same.

The day begins at the sound of a gong at 4:00 am (I know, I know. It sounds horrible, but trust me, it’s not that bad) and ends at the sound of a gong at 9:00 pm. During the day, you meditate somewhere around 11 hours, with regular breaks, lunch (the food is so delicious I still dream about it) rest periods and even time to walk outside.

Also, every day, around 7:00 pm you assist to a videotaped lecture by the Teacher S.N. Goenka. During that teaching you will get information to understand better your meditation practice.

You will also laugh as Goenka is the most adorable men ever. And after a long day of meditation, his smile will do you lots of good.

When I first read about the Vipassana schedule, I was like No way I’m doing that, it’s crazy ! But in reality, I was surprised to see that it was actually easier to wake up at 4 am than my usual waking hour. Plus, this schedule has proved workable and beneficial for hundreds of thousands of students for decades. So, I guess it must be doing something right.

How much does it cost?

Vipassana is free. Yes, free. There are no fees for the course, not even for the food (which is vegetarian and soo delicious), accommodation nor teachings.

The whole experience is based on donations from old students who believe that Vipassana has brought something valuable in their lives and who now want to help somebody else to experience it.

Whenever I attend a Vipassana retreat, I always take a little time to thank the students that have come before me for allowing me to receive this beautiful experience. Without them, there would be no Vipassana.

Should you attend a Vipassana 10-day meditation retreat?

Attending a 10-day silent meditation retreat is something I wish everybody would do. I feel like the world would be such a better place if we all knew about this technique.

For me, Vipassana turned out to be something very different from what I initially thought it would be. During my first retreat, my mind brought me to a very very dark place. And I mean very dark. And while it was a hard moment at the time, I now know that is what I needed to come to the understanding that I am not my mind. I am not my body either. I am so much more. All these tools that I have gained from this experience have helped me to go through life with more equanimity. As a result, this equanimity helped me cope with not passing the bar exam a year later, it helped me with my relationships to others and to myself, it helped me with my anxiety which doesn’t have so much power over me now, it helped me with finding my Self and my purpose. And most of all, it helped me to be happy. And for all of that and so much more, I am forever grateful. So, beautiful tribe, know this, although everybody has a different experience, Vipassana remains hard for all. But it is well worth it and I deeply wish you get to learn this beautiful technique and practice it daily.’

Article sourced from: https://www.thepathprovides.com/blog/what-is-vipassana
Article author: Modern Spirituality

---

FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM FOR HOW TO VIDEOS, TIP AND TRICKS, YOGA INSPO AND MUCH MORE!

How to successfully meditate at home

Meditation is hard enough, without all the distractions a home practice can present. The article below outlines some tips and strategies to ensure you are setting yourself up for a successful meditation session.

Meditation is an effective technique that has been around for centuries. People who meditate consistently find that there are short-term and long-term benefits. For instance, soon after they start sitting, meditators begin to enjoy a decrease in stress and anxiety, enhanced well-being, and, in many cases, improved sleep and overall health. In the long term, meditators are better able to understand how the mind works and how to work with their minds.

Until recently, serious meditators generally belonged to one of two categories. They either joined a monastery or ashram and devoted their lives to practice; or they left the hustle-bustle of the worldly life behind and sought refuge in the serenity of isolated hermitages. But we can find a way to meditate within our everyday lifestyle. Nowadays, however, many people who lead active lives – work, family, school, etc. – are willing to devote time and energy to meditation because they are convinced of the benefits. Some do their daily meditation sessions in groups, but far more are now meditating at home.

What is the best way to meditate at home?

The first thing to do is choose a meditation method you can look forward to. Although constancy and discipline are necessary for practice, meditation shouldn’t feel like work. With the right method, you’ll soon be able to find the perfect balance between too rigid and too relaxed.

Here are some helpful tips:

1. Think about your motivation

Are you meditating because you want to manage stress, sleep better, or cope with chronic pain? If so, you may do well with guided meditation, relaxation meditation, or chanting. Are you looking to gain insights into the mind? This is the true goal of mindfulness and awareness meditation. Is your primary objective to develop qualities such as patience, empathy and generosity? Gratitude meditation is a good choice (if you can do a morning gratitude meditation it can benefit your whole day). Do you want to go deeper into your relationship with the divine presence? Spiritual meditation can take you there.

There are many valid forms of meditation out there. When you know why you’re interested in meditating at home, you’ll know which ones are right for you.

2. Start small and work your way up

While learning how to meditate at home, it’s important to start with small, manageable sessions. Even three minutes will make a difference. It might sound super short, but for some beginners, sitting in awareness for a few minutes feels like forever. Starting with short sessions also helps you to gain the momentum you’ll need to sustain your practice in the long run. As many meditation experts suggest, the quality of your meditation is more important than the length.

3. Pick a convenient time and comfortable spot

One of the best ways to meditate at home is to find a quiet place away from noisy distractions. Pick a time that’s convenient for you. Early morning is a perennial favourite time to meditate since this time of day is generally peaceful and there are few interruptions. You can also start your day with simple morning meditation exercises.

You’ll also need to find a comfortable position. While some meditators like sitting in the lotus position, there are other good options. You can sit on a meditation cushion, chair or even a couch, so long as you feel comfortable and you can sit up straight. Do your best to find a position where your spine is aligned. Your neck and shoulders should be relaxed, and your eyes can be half open or shut during the meditation session.

4. Try a guided meditation

Since you’re just beginning, guided meditation can add a welcome structure to your practice. Mindworks Meditation courses offers complete instructions that provide progressive guided meditations, all developed and curated by internationally-known meditation experts. Have a seat, learn and practice meditation daily, and enjoy the journey. Try Mindworks free meditation fundamentals course with everything you need to get you started.

5. Focus

Whatever form of meditation you choose, awareness of the present moment is key. When you meditate, you train in being aware of whatever object of meditation you’ve chosen. There will be distractions in the form of sounds, odors, sensations of discomfort, tension, itching, etc. In addition, there will be distractions that your mind will produce all on its own: to-do lists, things you should have done or said, things you plan to do or say, emotions, daydreams… the list is endless.

To help the mind stay focused on the here and now, one of the best ways to meditate at home is to focus on the process of breathing. Be very aware of your respiration as you inhale and exhale; use the breath as an anchor for your mind. When those distracting thoughts pop into your head, simply acknowledge their presence and go back to focusing on the breath. Alternatively, you can use physical sensations, sound, or a visual object as the focus of your meditation. Forget about “emptying the mind.” Noticing and coming back is what meditation is all about.

6. Goodness

Trungram Gyalwa, a renowned meditation master from the Himalayas, teaches that compassion is a fundamental quality that’s hard-wired in all of us. Meditation helps us control negative emotions (such as anger and envy) and uncover positive qualities such as loving kindness and compassion. Meditation gives us all the tools we need to develop the goodness that already exists within…

Article source: https://mindworks.org/blog/how-to-do-meditation-at-home/
Article author: Mindworks Team

---

FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM FOR HOW TO VIDEOS, TIP AND TRICKS, YOGA INSPO AND MUCH MORE!

Why we find it challenging to let go

In traditional meditative practices, "letting go" (also called non-attachment) means coming to terms with the fact that both good things and bad things are a constant in our lives. Life is an accumulation of experiences, causes and conditions which are always shifting and changing forms. After all, one of the only things you can count on in life is change.

When you’re suffering, you have two options for dealing with the difficult situation and emotions it brings up. You can either resist it and wish it to be another way, or you can accept your situation and change the way you feel about it.

Letting go means letting life be by allowing tough feelings to arise, letting them deliver their message and then watching them be replaced by new feelings.

Here I'll explore more about the concept and practice of letting go, and how you can experience your personal freedom in learning to do so.

Letting Go and Accepting

In life, the more we try to control people and situations around us — to push, pull and force things to be as we’d like them to — the worse the situation usually gets. Through introspection, we come to realise that clinging to things we don’t want to give up usually only causes unnecessary suffering and unhappiness.

What are we trying to let go of? Criticism, blaming, fear, competing, people-pleasing, anger, resentment, jealousy and shame are some of the most compelling items on the list. When we trust enough to let things come into our lives at the right time and let them go as they need to, we’re able to find more freedom, peace and comfort.

As the saying goes, "When one door closes, another opens." Letting go and acceptance go hand-in-hand.

With practice, it’s possible to accept ourselves and our lives for what they are, accept other people for who they are and maintain this attitude in each moment.

What Letting Go Is Not

To know why letting go is so important, it helps to understand what letting go isn't and what it won’t do for you. Letting go means practicing acceptance, forgiveness, open-mindedness, patience and remaining realistic throughout the process. But it doesn’t mean giving up or not trying at all. It doesn't mean feeling defeated or hopeless, or allowing others to mistreat you.

Letting go is surrendering and being willing to consciously give up control because you realise that you never really had it in the first place.

Why Letting Go Is So Hard

Ironically, it’s as hard to let go in life when we’re struggling as it is when we’re doing well. Sometimes we can’t let go of what’s familiar, even if it’s destructive or keeping us stuck.

This is because change can be scary.

We don’t like to throw ourselves into unknown territory because we think things might actually get worse. Bad habits persist because their outcomes are predictable. However, fear of change isn’t a good enough reason. It only keeps us feeling stuck, small, fearful and hopeless.

Other times we have a hard time letting go when things are going really well. Clinging is common when we fear letting go of a perceived source of happiness.

The thing is, change and loss are both unavoidable.

Seasons change, relationships end, people age and pass away, companies close, the money runs out and, over time, pleasures lose their ability to keep us happy and engaged. Pretending that we can hold on to material possessions, other people’s attention, power, prestige and youth is an illusion.

Getting Over Clinging, Grasping or Pushing

Meditation is one of the best tools we can practice to learn surrender. It helps remind us to live our lives fully by savouring every moment. It builds our ability to accept the fact that moment-by-moment everything is changing and in flux.

Nothing is permanent.

Bring to mind a difficult situation you’re experiencing and think about what you might be having a hard time letting go of. This might be easy and the situation obvious (you can’t forgive someone or get over the feeling of being let down), or it might take you by surprise. Investigate where in your body you’re tensing, grasping or remaining closed off.

Can you identify which aspects of the situation are causing you the most suffering?

• Are you blaming yourself for past mistakes and can’t forgive yourself?

• Feeling anxious about what’s to come in the future?

• Are you blaming someone else for wrong-doings while failing to consider the conditions they were under?

• Disappointed because things haven’t unfolded like you expected?

Several helpful ideas you can introduce to your meditation practice include: contemplating the end of life and your own mortality, reflecting on causes and conditions, practicing unconditional acceptance and loving-kindness and reciting mantras, which build your trust in the universe.

While it won’t happen overnight, you can learn to be accepting and compassionate with both yourself and others. With time, you can forgive yourself for whatever part you played in the past, as well as forgive anyone else involved. You can let go of fears and expectations about the future, overcoming people-pleasing and being brave enough to face uncertainty.

Make a commitment to letting Go

Letting go is a commitment to stay present in the face of whatever arises.

Change and showing vulnerability can be frightening, but both are easier when you consistently take good care of yourself. (Learn more in Love Yourself Fully: 6 Hacks to Self-Care.)

It’s not easy to let go of expectations, forgive, embrace your own imperfections and experience disappointment.

Show yourself some love during the process of letting go: give yourself massages, take soothing baths, walk outside, spend time at the ocean, write in a journal, dance, run or do yoga.

Practice mindfulness by staying open-minded; allow each moment to bring with it new feelings of hope.

Take stock of what’s around you with fresh eyes.

Remember that happiness comes from going with the natural flow of things, respecting the impermanence of all that life has to offer and embracing whatever unfolds.

Takeaway

Learning to let go allows us the freedom to create space for new outcomes.

Article source: https://www.yogapedia.com/the-freedom-in-letting-go/2/8725
Article author: Jillian Babcock

---

FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM FOR HOW TO VIDEOS, TIP AND TRICKS, YOGA INSPO AND MUCH MORE!

Gallery Block

This is an example. To display your Instagram posts, double-click here to add an account or select an existing connected account. Learn more

Supporting a healthy brain and mind

Our brains and minds are such powerful things. What we feed our brain – nourishment, exercise, leisure activities, rest & sleep etc – can impact the way we think, feel and function. There are modifiable activities that can enhance our brain health, and others that can jeopardise it. Read more in the article below!

Mind over matter—these days, this proverb feels extra relevant. From mental wellness, to focus, to stress management, the health of our mind is central to our quality of life. So how do we keep our mind in its very best shape? We make brain health a part of our daily routines.

Why does brain health matter?

A healthy brain is the baseline of any thriving lifestyle. In terms of wellness, it comes before the quartz crystal face rollers, infrared saunas, and plant-based meat alternatives. A healthy brain helps us harness our own potential, solve life's inevitable problems, sort out emotions, and manage stress. And this brilliant organ (which research suggests may be more powerful than all the digital computers in the world combined) does these things all on its own. But that doesn't mean we can't lend a hand.

We can do that by adjusting our routines and activities to cultivate the brain functions we appreciate most, like focus and stress management. Getting more intentional about brain health is pretty straightforward, but potent—here's what it looks like.

Begin a regular meditation practice

Intuitively, we all know that meditation is probably a good idea (and it is), but we rarely prioritise it. The truth is that if we understood just how beneficial meditation is for our brain, it would be easy to make it a nonnegotiable part of our daily routine.

We've all heard that meditation helps with stress—but there's so much more to it. A regular meditation practice has been proven to literally change the brain. In one study, Harvard neuroscientists found that after just eight weeks of regular meditation, participants' brain cortex thickened in key areas responsible for factors like cognition, memory, and compassion. Meditation works wonders on the brain—50-year-old meditators have the same amount of grey matter in the brain as 25-year-olds... And this just scratches the surface of how many benefits there are.

Our brains are constantly running the show, but we can assist them by providing the ingredients that help nourish it. Vitafusion* Brain Food is a gummy supplement that nourishes the brain with important nutrients. It includes a daily dose of ashwagandha, a popular Ayurvedic herb that has been used for thousands of years to help with stress. To help support focus, the Brain Food formula also includes phosphatidylserine, a phospholipid/fatty acid that is a critical component of cells, including cells in the brain. Just two Brain Food gummies also provide vitamins B6 and B12, essential nutrients to help nourish our brain.

Get serious about hydration

As if you needed another reminder to drink more water... hydration is actually key to supporting our brain function. Considering water is responsible for 75% of our brain mass, it's understandable that dehydration affects our brain health. Studies have shown that for middle-aged adults, dehydration requires the brain to work harder to complete a task, resulting in fatigue and changes in mood. Dehydration has been linked to impaired attention, executive function, and motor coordination. For the sake of your brain, stay on top of your hydration goals! Make it easier by infusing your water with fruits, set reminders on your phone to drink up, and make every work break a water break. 

Play games that help with cognitive training

Games and puzzles? We have to be real with you; some of these practices and routines are actually a no-brainer. Studies show that cognitive training can yield improvements in attention, memory, and processing speed—meaning that you now have a worthy reason to play "brain-training games" like crosswords and apps like Luminosity (basically a workout for your brain). But under the "use it or lose it" philosophy, research also indicates that persistence is key to maintaining benefits. A fundamental part of brain health is simply using our brain: Play challenging games, learn something new, get creative!

Brain health is an everyday intention

When it comes to brain health, there isn't a single solution or quick fix. Brain health is an everyday intention. Just like we work out and nourish our bodies—our brain needs exercise and nourishment, too. Instead of taking your brain for granted, think about how fascinating "thinking" really is (that's a brain exercise right there). Embrace the lifestyle of brain health, and show your mind that it matters!

**These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

Read the original article here
Article author: Devon Barrow

---

 FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM FOR HOW TO VIDEOS, TIP AND TRICKS, YOGA INSPO AND MUCH MORE!

Gallery Block

This is an example. To display your Instagram posts, double-click here to add an account or select an existing connected account. Learn more