Simplicity in Practice
Why this uncomplicated daily practice benefits us all
Don’t get me wrong, I love my morning walks, pulling tarot cards, Qi Gong exercises and the asana (postures) of yoga. But the older I get, and the more demanding life gets, I find myself drawn to the simpler practices– and I’ve found them to create the biggest waves in my life.
Being immersed in the wellness/fitness/health world for many years, I’ve seen trends come and go endlessly. New research emerges and we get excited, embody the tools, practices or products for a while, and then do it all again when something new comes along. It’s the natural rhythm of being human– we learn, we embody, we grow. But what if there is something that could endure these cycles of change, because of its obvious simplicity?
Unsurprisingly, I’ve found this to be meditation. I’ve felt this to be the most impactful, and challenging, practice to show up to. Just hear me out! No, it’s not new, it’s not exciting, and in fact, it’s quite boring. But that’s what makes it so wonderful!
When was the last time you were bored? Truly bored? We have a continuous onslaught of information and activities in this life, thanks to social media, the internet, densely populated communities, technology… it’s endless. And while many mindful practices help us to step away from these influxes, they still provide us with something to focus on. Something to attach our attention to. The brain loves to focus, and when we aren’t consumed by external stimuli (a task that needs doing, taking a test, watching TV, or reading a book), the thought chatter spills into consciousness. Future plans, what’s for dinner, memories, to-do’s.
While it’s important to think of these things, thought chatter that constantly overshadows our present experience can detract from living wholly. Often, it can overwhelm our nervous system and expend unnecessary energy. And most of the time, it’s unconscious!
Meditation enables us to remove ourselves, even if it’s just for a breath or a second, from this thought stream. This helps us to become less identified with our mind’s trajectory. It’s this practice in repetition that can help create a feeling of spaciousness in our lives.
The simplicity of meditation deems it ‘easy’ in our minds, but it’s what I’ve found most challenging. Sitting with myself, uninterrupted, for 15 minutes, opens a portal to a deeper understanding of myself. I see how much my mind dominates my body, not only in those 15 minutes but throughout my day. I may last a few breaths detached from my thought stream, but those breaths are the sweetest and most grounded.
It’s not sexy, it’s not new. It’s not ‘toning’ or ‘fat-burning.’ You can’t see the benefit until you sit with it over time and feel it in your life. But the more I sit in meditation, the more I start to understand what the ancient yogis were doing and what they believed the ‘point’ of yoga to be. It’s widely thought that the asanas (or postures) of yoga were traditionally used to cultivate a healthy body, to sit in meditation for long periods of time.
And I get it. While I love conscious movement, I don’t feel the same relief from mental activity that I do while sitting in meditation. For me, meditation clears my mind (allbeit briefly) and fortifies the practice of detaching from the thought stream. It helps build regulation in my emotions and helps me to respond rather than react. Asana, Qi Gong, training, pranayama, and conscious movement helps to build the quality Qi in my body, which in turn affects my physiology in a more tangible way. Both practices support me, but I feel them differently.
Another point of difference with meditation is that it’s uncomplicated and extremely accessible. You don’t need a membership or specific products, and it’s not conditional on how your physical body is presenting. We can practice it daily! And it’s this ability to sit in meditation often that, for me, has created the largest cascading effect in my life.
I’ve found this practice to appear throughout my day, while brushing my teeth, eating breakfast, cooking dinner, driving, in conversation. Intentionally carving out space in my life on a micro level, with discipline, affected me on a macro level.
For the past 3 months, I’ve been sitting in daily silent meditation… and in my recent community yoga class I bookended our asana with it too. We all found it quite easeful after a physical practice, compared to at the end of a busy day or squeezing it into our schedules. Practising at random, convenient times ‘off the mat’ is another kettle of fish! Yet rich in insights and experiences.
Sometimes in meditation, inspiration strikes—which I slot away for another time as I’m trying to detach myself from thought, even creative thought! Somedays it’s extremely difficult to remain present, and this tells me I’ve been quite activated throughout my day. On other days, it feels peaceful and almost easy (...almost!).
Are you curious as to what this fundamental, potent practice could unveil for you?
For one week, starting Monday 25th March on the full moon, I will sit daily for 15 minutes in silent, uninterrupted (ideally!) meditation, and share my experience. I would love for you to join me! Whenever suits you, wherever is best. But commit to it every day.
If you feel called, share your insights, reflections, challenges, and questions. You can do this either privately or, tag me in your shares _wildyoga_
Maybe, you continue this practice unguided when the week is up.
TIP: You can set a timer on your phone, but I use the free app Insight Timer as I can use nice sounding bells or chimes at the beginning and end. You can also toggle the settings to give yourself a few seconds to set up before the 15 minutes begins…
In a world of constant stimulation, biohacks, products, and trendy rituals, this is the most uncomplicated practice for mental, emotional, (and maybe spiritual) hygiene. Could you lean into it?
Thank you for this reminder of the most easily accessible tool I very well know is in my toolbox, but often disregard! 💖