Meditation 101 Course
Welcome to Your Meditation Practice
Details
Explore a different meditation technique each month along with strategies for working with the body, senses, and nervous system.
- Re-shape your view of what meditation “must” or “should” be.
- Gain strategies for responding to common concerns such as discomfort in the body, a busy mind, finding time for meditation and noticing environmental distractions.
- Connect to practice over a period of time to support yourself and encourage consistency.
- The focal points drive change and will increase awareness in your daily interactions.
Session 1 –
Asana and Kaya Stira.
In the first session, we discuss meditation through a yogic lens. While the practice of mediation is ancient it has direct relevance to today’s world.
Take a moment to ask yourself and answer: Why are you here? What is your personal motivation for practice?
Discussion in this session centers around preparations for a meditation practice. Finding the proper orientation for your physical situation is important to create the inner conditions of space and observation without being distracted by the physical form.
After the session overview you will be led through a series of asanas to prepare the body for meditation, followed by guided meditation.
Session 2 –
Pranayama and So Hum Meditation
- Prana = life force
- ayam = expansion
Once you’ve created steadiness and ease in the physical form, learn to establish steadiness within the flow of the breath. You will practice the qualities of an effortlessly fully diaphragmatic breath and understand the influence of the breath on the nervous system. From here there is an opportunity to awaken to the presence of prana within the breath and begin to direct and expand your life force.
The session concludes with the practice of Nadi Shodhana.
Session 3 –
Pratyahara and Antar Karana Meditation
Pratyahara can be defined as collecting the senses inward. Ordinarily our senses are directed outward and relay information inward. The yoga sutras teach that when the senses are withdrawn from external objects and directed inward, there is an opportunity to perceive one’s own calm, clear, tranquil essence.
Trust the process.
Shift your attention. Notice what you are taking in and how it influences you. Pause. Develop discernment. Take action.
A practice for soothing and then drawing nourishment through the senses concludes this session.
Session 4 –
Loving Kindness
Discussion in our final session centers around a review of the pertinent limbs of yoga which you may already be living with and see them as possible choices for your life circumstances. When you come across difficulty, you may find these ideas useful to you or those you care for.
Consider self study (svadyaya) a critical piece of self-care, one that is served in your meditation practice.
This session concludes with loving kindness meditation. Clarity, compassion and courage cultivated within flow outward into skillful action and right relationship in the world.
Loving kindness meditation creates a positive feedback loop that engenders an experience of contentment and wellbeing. Hold yourself in a circle of grace as you direct kind intentions toward yourself and then to others.
Register
When you join the course you will gain access to the course for 4 months. Expect monthly follow up emails to check on your progress. Please use them! You can reply to them to ask questions, get clairfication on a particular pratice, or even share you successes.
