The Practice of Ujjayi Breath
Guide: Caryl Opening song: This Little Light of Mine by Odetta Featured practice/excerpt: Learn and practice the Ujjayi, or oceanic, breath for relaxation and energy. Ujjayi (pronounced oo-jai) breathing gives us the ability to focus our attention through the breath. It translates as the “victorious breath.” A note about this breath, it can relax us […]
Let Us Slow Down
Guide: Caryl Featured song: Take It Slow, Ayla Nereo Featured practice: Let us slow down. Bayo Akomolafe says, “The times are urgent, let us slow down.” Let us slow down. Often the demand of urgency requires rapid, habitual responses that create tension and stress. There is an unwritten contract in urgency that says get it […]
How To Beat The Sunday Night Scaries
Does this ever happen to you? It is Sunday. You’ve had a great weekend so far. Maybe you spent some time with family or you got outside in your garden or went on a hike. You are feeling relaxed and connected. Then it happens. (cue the theme from Jaws). The Sunday Scaries. Sunday […]
Letting Go of Fixing
Guided audio practice from the 8/18/21 Connect In virtual community mindfulness practice. Guide: Linda Snyder Opening song: Epiphany by Riopy Featured practice: It is in our nature to fix things, to problem solve. On days where we may have a problem, practicing mindful meditation may be challenging. Our minds’ natural tendency to wander and problem […]
Breathing In Fullness
Lead Guide: Caryl Opening song: Eyes Shut. Soul Alive (Watch video here) Featured poems/excerpts/breathing exercises: In today’s practice, I am going to lead you through a breathing exercise where we pay close attention to breathing on all sides of the body. Noticing the roundness that our body creates as we inhale. Breathing into the entire […]
A (Mindful) Summer State of Mind
The summers of yore. When I was a kid, summers were spent in an idyllic 1980’s suburban kind of setting. Images flood my mind when I think about it: waking up naturally, spending endless days by the pool, playing outside with neighborhood kids and riding my bike with a banana seat. The streamers on […]
Connect In Audio Practice 07/14/21
Please enjoy the recording of our guided mindfulness practice from July 14th, 2021. Lead guide: Caryl Opening song: Hiddensee by Ceeyse Featured poems/excerpts: Walking Slowly by Donna Faulds It only takes a reminder to breathe, a moment to be still, and just like that, something in me settles, softens, makes space for imperfection. The harsh […]
Calm in the Face of Change
This last year tested me. It tested my patience, values, self-control, and boundaries. It reignited the big transcendental question, “What’s the point?” It also caused me to contemplate and take action on things I never guessed I would need to act upon. In some ways, I’m curious: Are all major life changes a test? Are […]
10 Mindful Intentions to End Your Day
[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”section” _builder_version=”3.22″][et_pb_row admin_label=”row” _builder_version=”3.25″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”3.25″ custom_padding=”|||” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” _builder_version=”3.27.4″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat”] Just as setting intentions to start your day can set you up for the kind of day you want to experience, the same can be true at the end of your day. Many of us start […]
A Meditation For Winter
I love winter. This has not always been the case. I lived the first part of my adult life disliking winter. I would start to complain as the last of the leaves were raked up and put into the compost pile. I would complain about how cold my bed was when I got in […]
