“Be with your Breathe”, resonate the priceless four words of my Meditation Teacher who almost liltingly sang them into our minds. And as I reflect on these repeatedly, I feel the journey towards Mindfulness may begin (and it usually does), in an unpleasant, chaotic situations, with internal struggles aplenty, but where it culminates, I think I now know – is at the Breathe, and you do end up becoming a more “mindfully fitter” person in the journey.
Yoga teaches us about the five ‘Koshas” or body layers (#Ref i), where most of the illnesses (Vyadhis) first take birth at the mind or “Manomaya Kosha” level. These gradually manifest as bodily ailments in some form or other in the gross body or “Annamaya Kosha” level. This talks volumes about the importance of working on the “mind”, with a daily mind gym workout, or rather a work-in.
We now have the pandemic era to be eternally grateful for opening up “the Mindfulness” avenues more than ever before, as we experience, yet again, struggles and losses giving birth to something more stellar and stronger – The non-ephemeral, enduring, more permanent aspects of our lives. To appreciate these and make them integral to us, I have learned, is to go inward, meditate and reflect, as a regular practice in our routine.
How a Meditation Routine helped me-
- From moving away from the “yo-yo”, fickle and momentary pleasures, to looking at the long-term and stable, thus helping take objective decisions in life {“Shreyas” – The Good vs “Preyas” – The Pleasurable (Ref ii) }
- Being in the moment – Meditation may be a day-long practice, as we constantly brush away unwanted thoughts of past & future, and be with our breathe, in the present moment. This has brought in happiness, contentment, and emotional balance.
- Gratitude and an open mind – Rather than looking at things and people with doubt, disappointment, or fear, I have learned to accept and also thank situations or people for being there for a definitive purpose.
- From a wavering, flickering mind, it has brought in more concentration, awareness, and focus at work.
- Also, it has helped with my exercise regime, offering muscle relaxation & recovery at the end of a session, not letting mind games like procrastination stop me from working out, in the first place!
- Responding and not reacting, not giving in to anger (work-in-progress!) but letting calmness and silence deal with the plight.
- Reflecting on my daily habits, like mindful eating, wherein I don’t give in to sensory pleasures easily, chew food well, and maintain a healthier relationship with food.
My Mindfulness Routine–
- Take time out twice in a day to do nothing, just sit and watch your breath.
- Whenever unnecessary thoughts take siege, focus on your breathing- it will bring you back to the NOW.
- Everything, right from brushing teeth to eating food is done more mindfully and with complete awareness.
- Chanting Om or your go-to divine words helps immensely. Om creates post sound resonance that removes even the subtlest of tensions from the body.
- Whenever distracted, start counting reverse with each breath, like from 100 to 1.
Research studies on Meditation prove more neural connections, stress release, better response to life events, behavioral coping strategy, etc. (#Ref 3)
Methods to meditate are many, just let those take you to silence, where questions are answered, and be with your breath – The breath, after all, is perpetually there with you.
Ref #3: Panchkosha from Taitteriya Upanishad
Ref #2: Shreyas vs Preyas from Kathopanishad 1.2.2
Ref #3: Astin J, A: Stress Reduction through Mindfulness Meditation. 10.1159/000289116
Author: Sheetal Dalvi
