Pebbl Practice Session 2: Body Awareness
Welcome to session 2. Congratulations on completing your first session! Our intention for today is awareness. By simply being aware of this moment (which is all there is) we naturally decrease our worries about the future and our sadness/regret/rumination of the past. Be aware of how you feel present throughout your day. Let’s get started!
Daily Tip: Don’t Try Too Hard
Some of us are in the habit of needing to “do” something to feel satisfied and that includes meditating. You don’t succeed at meditation by trying hard. Instead, we learn to use a gentle, easy focus. As with any natural experience, too much effort can ruin the process. Have you ever tried to force sleep, only to be wider awake than when you started? What about trying to force your way through a creative block? The result can be less than your most creative work. Meditation is the same way. Cultivating focus takes practice and consistency. By engaging in meditation, our action-oriented left brain gets a reprieve as our intuitive and emotional right brain has an opportunity to be accessed in a more meaningful way. As we meditate, we encounter a more balanced approach to our brain chemistry. When we are in the throws of left-brain situations that might be stressful, meditation enables us to come up with creative and inspiring solutions in the moment. By not trying too hard, we invite a new way of relating to ourselves. After all, we are human beings, not human doings!
Location: Closet
It can seem a little strange but for may of us, our closets are our one quiet space away from everyone. So find a space, grab your Pebbl and get comfortable!
If the bedroom was successful for you yesterday, feel free to stick with that. If the closet seems too outrageous to you, simply make a note on your meditation tracker.
Time Of Day: Bedtime
Before Bed: In general, it is not recommended to meditate 2-3 hours before bedtime as some techniques can activate the brain. However, for techniques including breath and body awareness, bedtime can be a beneficial time. Like yesterday’s morning meditation, you will be tempted to lie down. Falling asleep is fine and simply a sign that you need more sleep. Sitting upright will help you experience the full benefits of the meditation.
If morning was successful for you yesterday, feel free to stick with that. However, you won’t know if bedtime works for you unless you try it! As a bonus, you could try today’s 5-minute meditation in the morning, and the 10-minute meditation in the evening before bed. Be sure and take notes in your meditation tracker.