My Spotty Meditation Practice

Greetings fellow travelers,

I just added an mp3 file of a recording of a talk I gave in June at my meditation group (Sacramento Buddhist Meditation Group) regarding my spotty meditation practice.   It is big file (50MB), 55 minutes long, but the last 15 minutes are post-talk conversations that I didn’t mean to record and I don’t have the software to edit out.

Just in case you ever have 40 extra minutes to spare – well 43 if you count the download time……..but it is something you could listen to while you do the dishes or or iron your your yoga clothes.

With a bow and a smile to each of you.

Lisa

When was the last time you did something for the first time?

This is my first foray into the blogosphere so I am a bit unsure of myself. I just finished the first weekend session of the It’s All Yoga Yoga Teacher Training. I loved it. I feel fortunate to be part of such an exceptionally good natured and intrepid group of yogis. The curriculum was a well conceived and skillfully delivered blend of asana, meditation, experiencial anatomy and activities cultivating self-inquiry and inner-awareness.

A highlight for me from today was the exercise in which we spoke outloud and randomly about the physical sensations we were experiencing during a couple of long-held asanas (virasana and forward bending over gomukasana legs.) I was very intrigued to be hearing what others were experiencing (in voices both across the room and right next to me – as well as my own voice) and realized that I wasn’t the only one who felt discomfort in the hip socket or strain in the low back.  I saw that at any given time during any given asana class, everyone else in the room is experiencing the pose in their way – not just me. This is completely obvious of course – but I experienced it directly through the exercise. We were all swimming in this sea of sensations.

I was also very interested in the plumb-line exercise and seeing how unique each of us is – same basic set of bones and tissue -but so many gazillion variations on a theme. All rich stuff. My amazement deepens!

The sign outside the ski shop near my house asks, “When was the last time you did something for the first time?” Well this is first time I have ‘blogged’ something, and this weekend was the first time I looked closely at 17 other peoples’ postures through a plumbline.

May all our bones stack with ease and comfort!
Lisa