November Breathing Bonus

Breathing Towards a Life of Happiness and Abundance

By Rosie Cox, Wanaka Yoga Teacher

When we live by the Law of Giving and Receiving it invokes the abundance of energies in the universe to circulate and lead life in an abundant and happy balance. This of course is not always so easy in our everyday lives and it is important to be grateful for all that is good in your life.

You don’t have to work for happiness. It’s already here to be experienced in every moment. However practice of such a meditation can help to rediscover your natural connection with joy.

Please enjoy this meditation and use the following practice to teach your mind and body to experience joy in the moment. As you invite happiness into your life in this way, you will have more access to a joyful life.

It is the old saying of the more you practice the better you become the same works with meditation and invoking states of well-being, allowing them to become more readily available.

Get comfortable and close your eyes. Become aware of your breath, become a witness to your breath. After a minute or two gently begin to breathe slowly and deeply. Get a sense of Breathing in relaxation and a sense of ease. Let go of any tension as you exhale. Let the warmth of relaxation flow through your whole body, from the top of your head all the way down to your feet. You may want to keep breathing through this 2 or 3 times until you begin to feel a wave of relaxation flowing through the entire body. Find your own way to the still, quiet center of your being, with your body relaxed, feeling your emtions calm and your mind peaceful and spacious.Think of a time when you experienced great joy and well-being, perhaps when you were in a beautiful place, in your favourite part of nature or with a good friend.

Recall this experience with as much detail as you can. If possible, bring an image of that moment to mind. What was happening? What was the environment like? Were you alone or with others? What sights or sounds can you remember? What were the feelings and sensations you had at that time?  Remember how the experience of well-being or joy felt in your body. Did your body feel light? Energetic? Expansive? What did joy feel like in your mind? Did your mind feel open? Present? Clear?

Take a few moments to let your awareness feel the sensations in your body and the mood in your mind. Let them fully register as you breathe in this feeling of well-being. Relax into it with each exhalation. Sense it absorbing into your whole being. Continue to enjoy the moment and completely relax into it.

Depending on how much time you have or want to spend here you may want to continue for a few more minutes of just breathing these feelings of joy, happiness, contentment and well-being. When you are finished do not forget to give thanks for this moment and the joy within you.

Practice this exercise of well-being regularly each day for at least one week. At times, you may find you can simply invoke and sustain those feelings of well-being without having to re-create the specific memory.

Use this practice whenever you are feeling stuck and want to shift to a more uplifted state of mind, or simply want to open yourself to joy.

Namaste, Rosie