If you’re feeling dull, foggy, or uninspired this spring, you’re not alone. While spring can bring the energy of excitement and renewal, it is also Kapha season, which can lead to feeling heavy, low, and sluggish when imbalanced. A meditation and breath-work practice are fantastic ways to clear any stagnation in the mind and create space for new energy and ideas.
Enjoy this brief breath and meditation practice next time you feel like you need some inspiration and clarity.
Find somewhere where you will not be disturbed. Curate a calm and relaxing environment for your practice. Find a comfortable seat on a meditation cushion or with your back supported either in a chair or against the wall. Keep a long spine, crown of your head toward the ceiling, and relax your shoulders away from your ears.
Place your hands on your shoulders, thumbs on the back, and fingers in the front. Keep your elbows out wide at shoulder height. On an inhale, twist your torso and head to the left. On your exhale, twist your torso and head to the right. Continue this pattern for one minute, slowing down and eventually coming to stillness. Take a deep breath in, hold for five counts, then exhale slowly and release your hands into your lap.
Take some time to settle into your body and feel the shift in energy that the breath practice created for you. Then, begin to direct your awareness to your breath. Watch the breath as it enters and leaves the body, expanding the diaphragm as you breathe in and letting it fall away as you breathe out.
After a few minutes of focusing on the breath, begin to imagine that on your inhale, you are drawing bright, golden light from the earth, up through your root and all the way to the crown of the head. On your exhale, visualize the breath drawing downward through your crown and out through your root as your body relaxes deeper.
Inhale, draw the breath up as you visualize filling the body with golden light from the earth, and exhale, release the breath and soften deeper. Imagine that with every exhale, you are releasing any stagnation from the mind and body into the earth below you and with every inhale, you are drawing the energy from the earth into the body, filling up with fresh energy and life force.
Continue this pattern and visualization, allowing the breath to be soft. Meditate here for five minutes.
When you finish, let go of the visualization and begin to redirect your awareness back to the space around you, noticing what sounds you are hearing, the temperature of the room, and any smells you can pick up on. Take a few deep breaths and when you are ready, gently open your eyes and return to the space around you.
Nourish yourself and enjoy six days dedicated to relaxation, detoxification, and healing at the Chopra Health Retreat at CIVANA.
Enjoy this brief breath and meditation practice next time you feel like you need some inspiration and clarity.
A Meditation to Clear Your Mind and Welcome Fresh Energy
Find somewhere where you will not be disturbed. Curate a calm and relaxing environment for your practice. Find a comfortable seat on a meditation cushion or with your back supported either in a chair or against the wall. Keep a long spine, crown of your head toward the ceiling, and relax your shoulders away from your ears.
Place your hands on your shoulders, thumbs on the back, and fingers in the front. Keep your elbows out wide at shoulder height. On an inhale, twist your torso and head to the left. On your exhale, twist your torso and head to the right. Continue this pattern for one minute, slowing down and eventually coming to stillness. Take a deep breath in, hold for five counts, then exhale slowly and release your hands into your lap.
Take some time to settle into your body and feel the shift in energy that the breath practice created for you. Then, begin to direct your awareness to your breath. Watch the breath as it enters and leaves the body, expanding the diaphragm as you breathe in and letting it fall away as you breathe out.
After a few minutes of focusing on the breath, begin to imagine that on your inhale, you are drawing bright, golden light from the earth, up through your root and all the way to the crown of the head. On your exhale, visualize the breath drawing downward through your crown and out through your root as your body relaxes deeper.
Inhale, draw the breath up as you visualize filling the body with golden light from the earth, and exhale, release the breath and soften deeper. Imagine that with every exhale, you are releasing any stagnation from the mind and body into the earth below you and with every inhale, you are drawing the energy from the earth into the body, filling up with fresh energy and life force.
Continue this pattern and visualization, allowing the breath to be soft. Meditate here for five minutes.
When you finish, let go of the visualization and begin to redirect your awareness back to the space around you, noticing what sounds you are hearing, the temperature of the room, and any smells you can pick up on. Take a few deep breaths and when you are ready, gently open your eyes and return to the space around you.
Nourish yourself and enjoy six days dedicated to relaxation, detoxification, and healing at the Chopra Health Retreat at CIVANA.