Instructional &
Informational Posts
Those people in the yoga advertisements looking perfectly zen sitting in lotus position next to a lotus flower? Good for them, but that’s not your life, is it? You have a cell phone, you have kids, you have noise in your life. But you also (we swear) have time to meditate. Join us for a weekly meditation that you can incorporate into your life, anytime, anywhere.
Many of us commute to get from point A to point B, point B being the place that affords us the subway pass in the first place. Not a very relaxing environment during rush hour. You may not get a seat. You may be stacked against people like bumper-to-bumper traffic (with the bumper being...well you get the drift). How can you meditate here?
First, stop trying to do more. As you get to your destination, stop trying to hold a paper and getting frustrated when the subway lurches. Just stand. Or just sit. This is the essence of meditation.
Try to prevent your frustrations from overcoming you, or from letting your eyes aimlessly drift along the posters.
Keep your eyes fixed with a soft gaze (preferably not on a person).
Keep your feet firmly planted.
Ride the waves of the subway, engaging your core like you're on a surfboard.
Every time you get to another stop, remind yourself: Breathe in. Breathe out. A really good, deep breath from the bottom of your belly.
Then go back to it. Soft gaze, ride the wave, breathe in…breathe out. If you want an additional challenge, you can record the number of seconds an inhale takes, and increase it as you get to each stop.
When you reach your stop, start walking to your destination. Be confident in the fact that you have the tools to keep calm and carry on.
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Courtney Sunday has two cats and a boyfriend who are very patient with her health and wellness obsessions. She teaches yoga, Pilates and indoor cycling and gives Thai massages through her Toronto business Om at Home Yoga. When she is tuckered out, she takes up the sport of sleeping.
