The first time I meditated was transformational. It was also accidental.
I woke up from a surgery where my throat had been sliced open to remove a cyst that had been growing uncontrrollably. The pain in my throat was overwhelming. My body slugglish, sore and dehydrated. I felt paralyzed & speechless. Somehow I found the call button on my hospital bed and a nurse came in starting up an IV. She left the room and the cool liquid began coursing through my body. The sensation overwhelmed and relieved me all at once. I’d never experienced anything like this before. I was completely focused on the pure physical sensation of rehydration. I observed as each part of my body felt like it was coming back to life. I had no idea I previously felt so dead or disconnected with my physical self. This experience took me over and amazed me. I began appreciating each part of my body as I continued to observe. Enjoying the sensations in each limb, even my mind began to lighten and brighten. Simply watching, not controlling. This was the best feeling in the world!
As I learned over a year later, this is the foundation of meditation. Simply watching, not controlling. Just allowing whatever comes up to be present to your awareness. No sense of expectation. No judgement. Just being. I had no idea what I was doing at the time was nearly identical to the practice of a body scan mediation. If you told me to meditate in that moment post surgery I would have told you I don’t know how. I would have needed instructions. I would have thought I needed a method or a teacher to do it. The truth is, I didn’t. What I learned that day was our bodies and minds already know how to just be. We are all natural meditators when we allow ourselves simply take the seat of an observer. We don’t have to do anything or follow a certain method or instructions. It’s quite incredible. Just sit or lie down and observe. That said, I eventually found many teachers and ended up trying out a variety of meditation methods to get me back into the feeling of integration and peace I felt that day. As I said, my fist time was accidental. But yours doesn’t have to be. Nor, do you have to have a surgery or an IV to experience what I did - thank goodness! You can try out mediation with me during one of my yoga classes or with the link I’ll share here. It’s from one of my meditation teachers, Tara Brach and can be listened to for FREE on the Insight TImer app or on the website.
17 Minute Meditation: Letting Life Live Through You
Mediation is a powerful and healing tool. The health benefits are remarkable and I hope you’ll give it a try. Please keep me posted if you do!
Here’s to a calm mind, body and ALL GOOD THINGS my friends!
Mary
