Mindfulness and Meditation
Emily at a 5-day Kriya Yoga meditation retreat with Kambiz Naficy in Santa Barbara (Nov 2016)
In 2006, while living in Sri Lanka, I started facilitating meditation sessions on behalf of Kambiz Naficy, my Kriya Yoga meditation teacher.
While I continue on my own journey of deepening and nurturing my connection with this ancient art, I have received his blessing and encouragement to share the wisdom of this lineage.
In May 2014, I received the blessing of my mindfulness and meditation teachers in Seattle, Joel and Michelle Levey, to facilitate mindfulness and meditation sessions. This was an important step in honoring the lineage of teachers through whom this ancient medicine has passed. I was deeply touched and honored to receive this blessing enveloped in a wave of enthusiasm and support.
“When you come to meditation, it doesn’t mean you give up on being a person and become some sort of a transparent weirdo. You change your relationship with who you think you are as a person and, in particular, the story of who you are or think you are.” —Jon Kabat-Zinn, On Being with Krista Tibbett, December 27, 2012
Meditation and Mindful Practices
Meditation and mindful awareness practices have far-reaching impact in our work and lives.
Benefits of Meditation
The following list was inspired by and partially adopted from Joel and Michelle Levy’s book, Living in Balance: A Mindful Guide for living in a Complex World.
- Enhancing creativity and productivity
- Improving awareness, focus, and concentration
- Developing clarity of thinking
- Enriching the quality of relationships
- Deepening peace of mind
- Mastering stress
- Deepening insight and intuitive wisdom
- Awakening greater authenticity, integrity, and compassion
- Improving responses to challenge and change
- Developing greater flexibility and fluidity in times of adversity
- Improving sense of balance and integration of work and life
- Strengthening self-confidence and sense of purpose
“Mindfulness is not some strange abstract or imaginary exercise. It’s a proactive way to bring your life alive and in balance, and to discover what is real and true for you. … Because you can change only what you’re aware of, mindfulness lays the foundation for living in greater balance and harmony.” —Joel and Michelle Levy in Living in Balance: A Mindful Guide for living in a Complex World
Perceived Obstacles to Meditation
The following list of perceptions can be overcome easily and with time. There are many different styles and stages of meditation and mindful practices. Beginning with and maintaining a simple practice is the key to building a lasting practice!
- I will never be able to quiet my mind.
- I don’t have time.
- I am afraid to slow down. / I don’t know how to slow down.
- I don’t know if I can sit still long enough.
- I am uncomfortable with silence.
- I am unfamiliar with turning my focus inward.
- I am not used to taking time for or focusing on myself.
- I am concerned that meditation may conflict with my religious beliefs.
- I don’t know how.
If you are interested in exploring or deepening the benefits of meditation and mindful awareness, reach out to schedule an individual or group session to start or re-ignite your practice.