Release Stress & Find Calm Within Meditation

The mind is like a puppy without a lead. We can train it to be simple and centred and to let go to the present as it is.

Counting the breath is one of the simplest and most effective ways to develop a regular meditation practice.

In this gentle guided meditation, training the mind to rest on one simple point of focus. Rather than trying to stop your thoughts, you'll learn to gently count each breath from one to five, giving the mind a simple task that encourages steadiness, presence and awareness.

As the mind naturally wanders, you'll discover that the practice isn't about getting it right. Every time you notice you've become distracted and gently return to the counting, you're strengthening your awareness. Over time, this simple technique helps the mind become more settled, allowing the quiet stillness that's already within you to naturally reveal itself.

10 mins - no music - guided meditation then silence then gentle return.

Transcript

Good, So settling yourself into meditation. Meditation isn't about trying to stop the mind. It's about remembering the stillness that's already within us. It's not meant to be complicated. It's simply about practice. In yoga we use different ways to help the mind settle. These methods are called Dharana. Dharana simply means training the mind to be one-pointed. To rest on one simple thing. The mind isn't used to that. That's used to moving from one thought to another, Here and there. So while we sit to meditate, We're simply training the mind to become centered. The method we choose doesn't need to be complicated. We don't want to give the mind something that leads into more thinking. We simply give it one small task. To help it stay present. One simple way is to count the breath from one to five. Breathing in, Breathing out, One. Breathing in, Breathing out too. Breathing in, Breathing out, Three. Breathing in, Breathing out, Four. Breathing in, Breathing out, Five. We're not trying to change the breath. The counting simply gives the mind something gentle to rest on. A task that's simple enough to help us remain present. Without following every thought. And even while we're doing that, We may notice the mind wandering. Sometimes it wanders for quite a while before we realise that's completely normal. As soon as we notice. We simply come back to the counting. If we lose our place. We just begin again at one. It doesn't matter how many times we guide ourselves back. It doesn't matter if we never make it to five. It's not all or nothing. It's simply about practice. And after a while, As the mind becomes more one-pointed, We naturally begin to sink into that stillness that's already there. The thoughts don't have to stop. We're simply sitting back and watching them come and go. If we find ourselves caught up in them again, We gently return to the counting. And then we allow ourselves to release once more. So as much as we can. We keep guarding ourselves back. Remembering that stillness within. And allowing yourselves to rest there for a while. Good, So gently noticing what the mind's been doing. And noticing that you can notice. Remembering there's something within you that's not the mind, A quiet stillness. And that's what we're remembering. It's not something we create, It's already there, Our natural state, Our authentic self. The mind continues to change. Thoughts come and go. Life continues to change. But that stillness remains. It's always there. We're simply reminding ourselves of what has always been present. And when you're ready, Gently becoming aware of the body once again. Noticing the space around you. Taking a slow deep breath in. And then breathing out. And carrying a little of that stillness with you into the rest of your day.