I thought I might share some stuff that came up for me during meditation this morning, as always take what resonates and leave what doesn't.

As I sat to meditate this morning I felt fidgety and my mind busy. I set my intention,  practiced my pranayama and then came to some insight. There is a collective energy that is surging and building as the fullmoon approaches. At this time we are all undergoing changes in our body and mind - purging of old thoughts and mindsets and our bodies cleaning house ready for this new wave of energy to settle in. I believe this is why many of us are or have been unwell and many people have been troubled by past hurts or simply outdated ways of thinking. 
It also came up that there are many guide posts on our path, some in the form of people, others more subtle like a book, a place or song that keep popping up with the same message.  Pay attention to the subtle energies around you. Trust that even though it may be a struggle to sit in silence and stillness meditating - you are cultivating peace and awareness for yourself and those around you on a level you may not even be aware of. 
Finally, clarity - be very clear in your intentions at this time, everything is been manifested at an accelerated rate. So be very mindful of what it is you want in your life and guide your thoughts, words, actions and desires towards what you wish to create. 

Namaste,
Angela

So often in our relationship with ourselves and others we get tangled up and weighed down with emotional turmoil. We have a thought, we perceive that thought as good or bad and then we attach an emotion to it, we allow our body and mind to then be ruled by this emotion. Often this fuels arguments and can be destructive to ourselves and those around us. 

When we start bringing mindfulness into our lives it opens us up to discovering a beautiful world that resides inside of us. We cultivate the ability to remain present. When we are present we feel the emotion rise in our body and thoughts. We can acknowledge and honour that emotion, truly listening to what our feelings are there to tells us. 

Journaling about your experiences and feelings helps to build emotional awareness. Another avenue is to express an emotion through creativity.  Capture a specific emotion you're feeling by writing poetry, painting a picture or composing music, really sitting with that emotion and letting it be released in a healthy way. 

Practicing meditation daily helps to build mindful practice in your life, so that at times of emotional upheaval you are able to go to that still place within you and express your emotions in a healthy way for yourself and those around you.

Namaste,
Angela

The breath is such an amazing gift. As people in modern life we rarely utilise and use the breath to its full potential. Through the practice of mindful breathing you can reconnect to this amazing giver of life and vitality. Bringing new energy and a deeper sense of connectedness and wellbeing. 

There are many simple methods you can practice in daily life to help reconnect you to your breath. 
Try this simple one now, Gently close your eyes and bring your attention to the breath flowing in and out of the nostrils. Keep your attention here for a few breaths, simply feeling the sensations of the breath in and out of the nose. Then, start to follow your breath into the body, allowing the tummy and chest to rise and fall with ease, letting the breath be natural and relaxed. Stay here for a few breaths just noticing where the breath begins and ends, notice the quality of the breath, is it shallow or deep, fast or slow, just noticing with out judgement. 

What did you notice about your breath? Often in stressful times we will take short shallow breaths in and out of the chest, whereas when we are relaxed our breath is longer on the exhale and comes from the diaphragm. By bringing awareness to your breath you tune into your body and its healing power. It can help you to relax in stressful times, create the perfect start for meditation and help to identify any underlying health issues. Check out the diagram below which highlights the diaphragm and where you best breath is created. Remember, breath is the link between body, mind and soul.

Namaste,
Angela

Today marks the start of Mindful in May and my first time participating. I am always looking for ways to help make a difference either in my local or Global community. I found the link to Mindful in May on Instagram and it instantly caught my attention. Meditation is such a wonderful practice and one I have been bringing into my everyday life though the practice of Yoga. When I read the details of Mindful in May and how it combined two of my passions - Meditation and Charity - I knew this was my Goal for May. 

Mindful in May is for beginners and more experienced meditators. It aims to bring the benefits of meditation to you, whilst improving the lives of others. The funds raised during Mindful in May (MIM) will be donated to Charity Water, a not for profit organisation that builds clean water wells in the developing world.

I was very excited to receive my first Meditation today and I am looking forward to sharing this journey in the hope it will inspire others on their path. For more information on Mindful in may check out there website www.mindfulinmay.org Registration is staying open until May 15th, so its not to late to start.

Namaste x