Centering Meditation

Focus on your inner center to create the changes you desire

One of my favorite methods of meditation is Centering Meditation.
This is a simple method that makes positive use of the energy contained within the body in order to create affirmative changes within the mind and the body.
Whenever stressful or challenging periods are encountered, centering allows the self to quickly overcome potentially difficult situations and prevent negative and detrimental effects from occurring. Anxiety is released, the muscles of the body relax, and breathing slows down, promoting clarity of thought.

Method
If possible, sit in a comfortable position with the legs folded so that your body makes a triangle shape from both knees to the crown of the head with the spine as a conduit for energy to travel from base of spine to crown of head.

Draw awareness inward to the belly and focus on the flow of the breath
Notice the rate and rhythm of the breath
Slow the breath down until it becomes slow, steady, and even
Inhale with a deep breath, feeling the abdomen expand
Exhale, breathing all the way out by drawing the navel to the back of the spine to assist with the exhalation
Let the abdominal muscles relax before beginning your next inhalation

Continue with this deep breathing technique for about 30 breaths, staying focused on the flow of the breath into and out of the center of the body

Breathe away any tension in the body
If the mind wanders, simply return to the flow of the breath and the center of the body

As you maintain steady focus on this deep centering breathing, the body continues to relax from the base of the spine to the crown of the head

Now, with each inhale, draw peace through whole body and feel stillness and serenity flow effortlessly through you as obstacles release via the exhalation

Continue until you feel completely relaxed, peaceful, with no attachment to troubles or tension.

This meditation method hones the mind away from stressful situations while releasing toxins via the flow of the breath. Oxygenated air passes into the deepest parts of the lungs where it replenishes the body.
Try it at bedtime to experience a restful sleep, and in the morning for heightened intuition and expanded awareness.
Combining pranayama techniques with meditation in this manner strengthens, balances, and increases energy in both your body and mind.

POSITIVE AFFIRMATIONS

POSITIVE AFFIRMATIONS

Affirmations Tuesdays and Thursdays)

To maximize the effects of affirmations, it is important to identify the core values that lie deep within you. These embedded ideas and deep-seated beliefs can either nurture you and produce good feelings or promote a mind-set of unworthiness.

Through regular meditation and self-inquiry each one of us can discover who we really are and what we truly need. We will slowly peel away the layers so that we can accept who we are without judgment and uphold the values that benefit ourselves and the world around us.

The two are interconnected, like a parent and offspring, as how we think and act affects not only our personal life but all that we come in contact with. We do not know how deeply our actions will affect another yet if we are knowledgeable about what lies at our very core, we can attract more of what we enjoy into our lives.

Promote clear and positive feelings by seeing yourself as honest, kind, and compassionate in all that you think, say, and do.
Thoughts have their own unique energy. Use the power of your words to create only that which is positive for you.

See yourself feeling strengthened and invigorated as you awaken in the morning. Smile and embrace the start of this new day.
Hear yourself welcoming the potential that this glorious day will bring.
See yourself succeeding in whatever tasks you need to fulfill.

“I am successful in all that I do.”

AFFIRMATION

AFFIRMATION

(Affirmations every Tuesday and Thursday)

Some affirmations will need to be carried with you for a few days or even longer until you feel/know that you have achieved what you wanted.

As always, choose affirmations that feel appropriate to you. Feel free to create an affirmation that's suitable to you by asking yourself the following question:

What do I want to …?

This will help you to create affirmations that assert your purpose and therefore have special meaning to you.

It is important that the words you use are your own or that they feel comfortable to you.

Once you become familiar with using an affirmation, you can create your own ones, based on your specific needs on a day-to-day basis.

The affirmations presented below are a suggestion and I encourage you to change the language and content to better fit what is happening in your own life.

TODAY'S AFFIRMATION

FREEDOM TO BE WHO YOU ARE

As an adult, we have the ability to choose what to cling to and what to release from our life.

We also have the ability to view the world and other people from one perspective or another, e.g. as kind and loving or troubled and unlovable.

Nothing remains the same, and happiness is achieved by acceptance of the changes and perceived imperfections as well as by a realization that in the impermanence of life only the Creator is constant and unchanging.

• I have the freedom to find out who I am
• I forgive who I was in the past
• I accept what is happening and trust that all will be well
• I know that I am a loving person and that I am loved
• I am responsible for developing my own spirituality