beginning practice

Today was the third morning in a row in which I sat upon arising, to meditate. I have been pleasantly surprised to find that I can focus my attention on my breath, on my nose, without too much difficulty. Apparently, sitting for 10 days at Vipassana retreat 7 years ago had some long-term effects, even though I failed to continue that practice for more than a week or two afterwards.

Focusing on breath is the easy part; staying focused is definitely more challenging. My mind wants to think, and plan, and process. But I catch myself sooner than I used to, and go back to the breath, always the breath. Sometimes, when I feel really fragmented, I have to count during the inhale and again during the exhale, in order to make no room for other thoughts. Other times, I forget that strategy, and the beginning of each part of the cycle is like coming up for air in a sea of swirling thoughts.

The evening sessions have proved equally difficult, but in other ways. I find myself slipping off into sleep, and losing the bookends of the breath. There is less planning, and more processing, and I find myself more easily lost. I am considering riding the crainal midtide as my practice instead of doing Anapana, because I find that it is so interesting that it is easier to put aside the chatter in my mind. The Vipassana folks are on to something, though. Anapana is a good place for me to start, to remind myself what centered focus can feel like, and to help carve out some space out of the day to just be.

ready, set, go!

After years away from the blogosphere, I have spiraled back to this place, this way of being. The occasion? I am now back in college, and my first class is called "Movement & Mindfulness." One of our requirements for the class is to keep a journal on our mindfulness practices, and this seemed like a good way to do that.

I invite you to journey with me as I enter into mindfulness practice.