I enjoy doing live meditations. Everyone is in a room, with their very present phone off, and is forced to turn their attention to one purpose. It is a unique experience to be in a room with other people and feel everyone sinking into a similar relaxed state. This is what I find powerful with live meditation. It has been my experience, however, that not every person at every moment can reach that place of inner quiet, especially alone. Our world is so full of distractions and silent meditation (where many people try to begin their meditation practice) can be very difficult. Guided meditations offer a great, gentler way to start finding inner peace, especially when you can’t make it to that live class.

Our lives as humans are complicated and our thoughts can be disturbing. If we view our thoughts from this disruptive lens, meditation may elude us. However, if we are able to switch our perspective and view our thoughts simply for what they are, a thought, quieting our mind becomes a possibility. When doing this meditation at home, find a timer and set your intention as you set the time. Imagine you are doing this live as you are guided through the meditation—you wouldn’t get up and leave or stop. Thoughts will come up as you meditate. Notice that they are happening, recognize you are having that thought, then let go of it, come back to your breath, and finish the time set on your timer.

This meditation uses the iRest® method, which I am a firm believer in, and will be the main method presented on this blog. This first post is dedicated to St. Joseph’s of Orange Cancer Center in Southern California that offers a wonderful healthy retreat for its patients. I regularly present to this lovely group and promised to offer a RELAXATION MEDITATION that they could use. This meditation is 10 minutes long and is for everyone! Enjoy and feel free to share! More to come.