Give your mind a break

When we arrived home after being at Santillán in the mountains above Rincon de la Victoria, in Andalusia, Spain we were met by strong winds and whirling snow. The contrast could not have been any bigger.

Only hours before, still in Spain, the sun was shining from a clear blue sky and it felt like a normal sunny summer day in Finland. Arriving in Helsinki was a bit of a shock for both body and mind…

But today the sun is shining and there is hope that spring will be here in the not too distant future.

After almost two weeks in Spain the sun now rises 40 minutes earlier than when we left, which can really be felt. So today when I got up to do my practice around 6:30, it was already almost light.

It does make a huge difference to the energy levels.

This morning I started my meditation by sitting focusing on my breath. Not as a breathing exercise - but as an awareness exercise. To give the mind a break. To take the attention away from thinking. Not to completely stop the thinking, because I don’t see that it is possible - only once we are dead will we not think anymore.

But the pauses between thoughts will become longer when we shift our full attention to something like the breath, without trying to make it deeper or longer or influencing it any way. Doing this is restful for the mind. And it opens up for a deeper meditation. So try it if you wish.

Just sit still with your eyes closed and focus fully on how your breath moves. In and out. Breath after breath.

According to ayurveda, spring is a good time to do a cleanse.

It can be done in a gentle way with a change in our diet. Moving from heavier to lighter foods. Or with a more substantial cleanse. All according to how you feel.

In my meditation this morning I used a mudra that supports cleansing - it is called Apana mudra. It is said to both detoxify and to purify the body. It comes with many benefits, of which strengthening the immune system and maintaining digestive health were my main reasons for using it at this time.

But it is also a mudra that has contradictions, so as with all mudras, one should know their effect before using them.

A long meditation before the asana practice in the morning and then a sunny day makes the heart sing. Today was a day like that for me. I hope yours was good also!

Namaste!

Here I sit

Only focusing on the breath. Without regulating it. Only giving it my full attention.

It may take a while to get there, so don’t give up if you don’t feel anything the first time. It’s a practice. It’ll come.

One of many

The rich and colourful salads we get every day at Santillán in Andalusia, Spain are wonderful. Both for the eye and the tummy

Santillán Retreat