{"id":5461,"date":"2022-07-29T21:45:00","date_gmt":"2022-07-29T21:45:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/jyo.world\/?p=5461"},"modified":"2023-09-11T15:06:46","modified_gmt":"2023-09-11T15:06:46","slug":"meditation-gathering-sound-meditation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.jyo.world\/staging\/2051\/meditation-gathering-sound-meditation\/","title":{"rendered":"Meditation Gathering: Sound Meditation"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

A warm thank you to those of you who joined me for this month’s Journey You Own Meditation Gathering<\/a>. If you missed us this time, I hope to see you\u00a0 in the future.\u00a0 Below we\u2019ve included some highlights of the practice.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Intention for the Session: Open Curiosity<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

We began the session by acknowledging the challenge that  can arise  with establishing a contemplative practice in our busy lives. It can be hard to  calm our minds of distractions which can lead to a  sense of failure in our practice. Noticing these distractions is actually where we want to be with our practice. The point isn\u2019t to get rid of them, but to see them as they arise. These distractions and difficulties are called hindrances, and they show up in life as well as in our practice and ultimately cause us to suffer.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The opportunity to experience the distractions in practice, allow them in and make peace with them, results in a calmness and tranquility that would not be possible if we tried to deny them instead. Reframing our hindrances as opportunities to incorporate daily life into our sitting practices will result in a calmer, more resilient, and more tranquil state of mind in all aspects of our daily lives.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Session\u2019s Practice: Sound Awareness Meditation<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

As previously described, each session we are exploring different meditation techniques. For this month\u2019s session, we practiced a breathing technique that incorporates the sounds of our environment. We began by bringing attention to a single point of focus – or anchor – in this case the breath. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

We then shifted the anchor to the sounds in our environment, allowing them to enter without trying to push away annoying noises and hold on to other more pleasant ones, but with the intention to listen to all of them as sounds – the quality of the noise as pitch, tone, volume, etc. As we practice this technique, we increase our capacity to take distracting sounds we hear in our daily activities and not react to them negatively. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Shared Practices <\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The participants from this month’s session shared some helpful resources and practices as listed below.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Shakti Mat<\/a> is used as a wellness tool for overall health and well-being. When using The Shakti Mat, thousands of spikes apply pressure to your skin and muscles. Most commonly it is used to support deep sleep, healthy circulation, relaxation of tense muscles, relief from stress, relaxation, and general vitality. These benefits are accessible through the principles of acupressure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

EFT Tapping<\/a>, also known as EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique), is a stress relief technique based on the combined principles of ancient Chinese acupressure and modern psychology. The basic Tapping technique requires you to focus on a negative emotion at hand. While maintaining your mental focus on this issue, you use your fingertips to tap 5-7 times on 9 specific meridian points of the body. Tapping on meridian points sends a calming signal to the brain, letting your brain know it’s safe to relax. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can also download The Tapping Solution App which for free on the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store. For more details, please visit this link<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Support for Continuing Practice:<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Listen to the recording of a Sound Awareness practice introduction and session<\/strong> (15:23) below.<\/p>\n\n\n\n