Earlier this morning, I paused myself mid-meditation as this thought came into my mind. I wanted to share it with you all because I think it's a valuable lesson for all of us, and wrote it down before the inspiration went away...
When I was younger, I can't think what age, but I remember a moment when I had observed a friend's breathing. Their chest would rise and stomach would go in as they inhaled and then the chest would fall and stomach would relax and come out again. Then I noticed my body movement as I breathed, I inhaled and exhaled...inhaled and exhaled, and I wondered what am I doing wrong? Why is my body moving in almost the opposite way. As I inhaled my stomach would rise but my chest would only a little, and when I exhaled my stomach would fall and my chest only a little.
So off I went to train my body to move in the same way as my friend when I breathed, I was so desperate not to be different! I just wanted to fit in with my friends around me in every way that I could.
And as I drew my awareness to my belly breathing this morning, it came to me that I was breathing exactly how I was meant to be breathing for a deeper more fulfilling breath. My body was doing exactly the right thing for it and for me. In fact, my body was doing what so many people train their body's to do when they start to learn meditation or yoga or other relaxation techniques.
Don't worry, I stopped the breath copying thing a long long time ago. It was actually hard for me to do, and was mostly a conscious effort.
But what it made me realise again this morning, is that our bodies are so wonderfully perfect for who were are, who we are meant to be and what we need from this physical life for our mind and spirit to grow that we should be thankful everyday. Instead of trying to be or make it be like someone else's body we must be thankful that it supports our journey in every beautiful way that it does...listen to its messages and it will grow and change (if it needs to) as our mind and spirit does.
And now back to my meditation 🙂
Be your unique and wonderful best,
Bhav xx
P.S. Oh if you're interesting in some tried and tested mediation apps, comment below (I don't get any credit for recommending, just joy from knowing more people are breathing more deeply into life).
P.P.S. Would you be interested in a free group meditation? Keen to hear your thoughts, I'd love to organise 🙂
