So today's meditation,
We are breaking the rules of mindfulness.
We are taking a moment to look back in time.
So go and get yourself somewhere comfortable and we'll begin.
So with mindfulness meditation,
I'm always saying to you to be in the moment,
Don't think about the past and don't look ahead to the future.
But sometimes looking back can actually make us appreciate the present a little more.
Just tell you a very,
Very quick story.
So I changed my surname when I got divorced two years ago and I decided I was going to choose my surname for one that I wanted to use.
And I settled on my mum's maiden name of Stone.
And I thought just before I go official with this,
I'll just check.
There's not been a nasty Lucy Stone in the past that people might confuse them with a criminal or something like that.
And I Google the name Lucy Stone and lots and lots of results came up for this lady in America who was around about 160 years ago.
And that Lucy Stone was amazing.
She was a campaigner against slavery.
She fought for women's rights.
She won the right for women to be able to wear trousers in America.
But also,
Which really struck a chord with me was that she fought for the right for a woman to be able to keep her surname after marriage,
So not to take automatically the surname of her now husband.
And I couldn't quite believe this kind of little quirk of history that I'd chosen my mum's maiden name.
And here I now was sharing it with somebody who'd fought for exactly the same right.
And it was International Women's Day last week.
And this is why I was telling the story.
But what also made me think about was the fact that meditation is thousands of years old.
I'm right here now in 2021 in this seat,
Practicing this very simple art of breath and mindfulness.
But that's been done for thousands of years.
So I thought it'd be nice to take a little moment to think of all of the people who have gone before us,
Maybe not even people that we know,
People that have put us on this path that has led us to this moment in time,
This moment in history.
So it's a kind of meditation for perspective for gratitude,
And just thinking of the journey that has led us to be here right now.
So sorry about that very long introduction,
But I thought it might be interesting for you.
So get yourself into a comfortable position wherever you might be.
And take a moment to sit with your feet flat on the floor.
Make sure your legs are uncrossed,
Maybe just taking a little roll of the shoulders to release any tension that might be stored there.
And then just bring the shoulders down away from the ears.
Maybe taking a moment to release and stretch the neck.
And then eventually when you're ready,
Just finding moment to close your eyes or soften your gaze.
And very simply begin to feel the weight of your body being supported in this moment in time.
So nothing else matters right now.
Just you sitting or lying here in this unique moment in time.
So starting to lengthen the breath just a little.
And as you breathe in and out immediately feeling that sense of connection with everyone else who is doing exactly the same thing at this moment in time.
Breathing in,
Breathing out,
Living and feeling this moment.
Let's take two deep breaths together.
So breathing in through your nose and breathing out through your mouth.
And again.
And now close your mouth and start to breathe in and out through your nose.
So this is the Yuzhai breath.
And Yuzhai means victorious in Sanskrit.
Just take a moment to think of all those little miracles and victories that you've experienced in your own life which have led you to this moment now in this unique moment in time in history.
Sitting here breathing and experiencing your meditation practice.
Your path has led you here.
Taking a moment to appreciate what a privilege it is to be sitting here right now simply breathing in this unique moment in time.
So all roads have led here.
We do not know what lies ahead on our path.
We can take a glance back at our own life but also the life of our ancestors our family who have formed who we are.
And more than that we can take a look back at the past of all those incredible people who have made changes who have campaigned who have fought for what we just take for granted today.
What a privilege it is to be in this moment in time.
We play our small part in life in history in the future.
Let's take a little moment to breathe deeply in and out realizing from where we've come and not knowing what the future holds full of possibilities opportunities and experiences.
So take a few moments now just to breathe in and out so deeply almost feeling that connection with everyone who has gone before those we have known knows we haven't as if we could breathe in and out side by side right now.
Following the experience of breath.
All paths and roads have led you to here.
And in this moment think of all the people around the world who are doing exactly the same thing as you right now.
Breathing in and out.
Practicing the art of meditation simply in the moment.
Try and lengthen your breath just a little if you're feeling any tension just take a moment to release as you exhale.
Breathing in a sense of connection with those before us and breathing out being grounded in this moment.
Breathing in a sense of gratitude for where we are and what we have right now.
Breathing out a sense of hope about what lies ahead.
Taking these last few moments just for you now feeling the weight of your body being supported by the chair or the ground or the bed wherever you might be.
You might like to say I am grateful for this moment in time.
I'm grateful for those who have gone before.
I am grateful for what lies ahead.
And slowly now just allow your breath to return to a comfortable rhythm and flow for you.
Maybe taking a moment to move wiggle fingers and toes.
Maybe even taking a little stretch.
Eventually bringing your hands together and giving them a little bit of a rub create some heat in the palms.
Hovering the hands over your eyes and linking your eyes open inside your hands and bringing your hands down when you're ready and I'm here.
So I hope you enjoyed that little moment of reflection it's good to break the rules occasionally in meditation and look back and realize that we are all on the path and all what people that have been before and we have hope and optimism about what lies ahead.
I hope it was a nice addition to your day and I'll look forward to speaking to you again very soon bye for now.
