Meditations for Inner Peace

Most of us live in a noisy world. From the moment we arise in the morning, our eyes are bombarded with constant clamoring. The television blares in the background, sirens wail, and our neighbor’s stereo blasts. We sit at work in a sea of cubicles among nonstop chatter and chaos. In the midst of all this upheaval, it is very easy to stop listening to our own inner voice. Many of us turn to food to cope with the turmoil. A great practice or resetting technique to regain or even begin your meditative journey is to retreat from the noisy world for 24 consecutive hours. As this may seem unachievable due to life factors, even a minimum 3-6 hour vow of silence once a week or month, is important to regain a level of calmness needed to relieve the stressing factors of our daily lives. During your silent retreat, you should not speak or be spoken to by anyone unless of course it is an absolute emergency. Pick a place that will allow you this time and space. some places I enjoy are a quiet park, your favorite and most comfortable room in your home, or if you have family try to wake earlier in the morning to catch the sunrise and spend that time in complete silence, Unplug your TV, telephone, and computer. Resist the temptation to check e-mail or the daily news. Use this time to practice meditation skills. Focus on just being, instead of doing anything. This exercise is perfect for balancing your throat chakra. The Half Fish pose, known as Matsyasana in Sanskrit, is one surefire way to get energy flowing to fifth energy center. After completing your silent retreat, experiment with the Half Fish pose. To assume the pose, lie on your back and extend your legs out in front of you. Take a few moments to breathe deeply. Place your hands close together, underneath your buttocks. Make sure that your palms are facing down and your fingers are free of tension. Adjust your legs so that they are close together. Release all stress from your legs, and allow your whole body to be at peace. When you are ready, inhale as you gently lift the weight of your whole body onto your elbows and allow your neck to safely tilt backwards so that the back of your head rests on the floor. Arch your back, and let your legs relax on the floor. Shift all your weight onto your elbows. Firmly press your buttocks onto the floor. Attempt to hold this pose for five whole breaths. Always honor your body first, release the pose whenever it feels right for you. Release by pressing your elbows into the floor. Carefully lift your head and very slowly lower your entire body back to the ground, one vertebrae at a time. If your have a history of neck or back problems, please consult a doctor prior to doing this pose. There are many groups that hold silent retreats on weekends that include guest speakers and workshops in meditation and yoga check for some in your community.

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