We’ve all heard of the benefits of meditating, but for many, meditation is something that is easier said than done. Part of this comes from uncertainty and perhaps an unwillingness to be quiet and present. Meditation, however, is an important part of the yoga practice.

One of our students, Edith Alig Gagné, is a Chopra Centre certified instructor who offers courses and workshops in Thunder Bay throughout the year. She has also recently completed advanced training to intensify presence and live your highest purpose with Eckhart Tolle and offers meditation sessions to underserved communities.

I asked her to share some reflections on meditation with our Modo community:

“Make meditation a part of your daily life and the benefits will flow. There’s no meditation that is particularly the best. It’s basically what resonates most with you in the present moment.

The type of meditation I teach is called Primordial Sound Meditation. Primordial sounds are vibrations of nature, which are more subtle than words or language. The breath of the wind, the cadence of rain, the singing of birds all remind us of our essential nature.

Our senses are gateways through which we experience the world. Begin your day in silence.

Smell the fragrance of flowers in your garden, listen to the raindrops, feel the wind and sunshine on your face, touch the earth with your feet, watch a bug, taste the water from your glass and feel how far down it’s absorbed by the body. Silence is the birthplace of happiness, creativity, and infinite possibilities.

Practicing meditation on a daily basis allows us to weave stillness and silence into our mind and body to create a life where we are more grounded, more connected with source and less reactive, less stressed. We come from a place of activity to present moment awareness.

Be the present moment awareness in the stillness and silence and bring this presence to your yoga practice, another form of meditation.”

Photo by Edith Alig Gagné

Looking to meditate or take your practice deeper? Check the schedule for guided meditations on Thursdays at Modo or join one of Edith’s next courses. Also remember that savasana at the beginning and end of class is a form of meditation and a great opportunity for you to practice silence in this space. I encourage you to take these simple opportunities to connect to your breath and be still.