Last week, I shared with you a simple technique of observing the breath and this week we’ll explore how your body can bring you back into the present moment. As you are reading this, you are most probably not moving around too much: you’re sitting at your office desk, maybe resting at home, or maybe you’re in public transport. Either way, your body is fairly still.
Remain as you are and begin by first observing your breath for a couple of seconds. Stay still and allow your breath to become subtler and subtler.
Now shift your attention from your breath to your body. Start by scanning your body from the top of your head down to the tips of your toes. Become aware of the position of each body part separately. Is your head slightly tilting to one side? Is your body weight evenly distributed between left and right? Is your spine straight? As you are observing your position, don’t change it. Don’t judge it. Just become aware of it.
Start noticing any sensations on your body. Be aware if any part of your body is touching the ground, or the furniture? What is the sensation there? Is any part of your body stiff and tense? If so, try to observe that stiffness first – how big is the area that is stiff? Do you feel that the tension starts from a particular point and then spreads around? Observe the tension for a few moments and then with the help of a conscious deep breath let it dissolve and try to relax that part of your body.
Once more scan your body from head to toe, paying attention to any sensations – warmth, cold, numbness, tingling, touch of your clothes, or the touch of air. Try to observe the sensations objectively. Even if the sensation on your body is unpleasant, don’t rush to change your position. Examine them as if you were looking though a microscope.
Gently shift your attention back to your breath.
Next time you are stuck in traffic, or waiting in a supermarket queue, in stead of getting all restless and nervous, try observing your breath and your body and see that if you practice staying in the present moment, there is no such a category as 'time wasted'.
Remain as you are and begin by first observing your breath for a couple of seconds. Stay still and allow your breath to become subtler and subtler.
Now shift your attention from your breath to your body. Start by scanning your body from the top of your head down to the tips of your toes. Become aware of the position of each body part separately. Is your head slightly tilting to one side? Is your body weight evenly distributed between left and right? Is your spine straight? As you are observing your position, don’t change it. Don’t judge it. Just become aware of it.
Start noticing any sensations on your body. Be aware if any part of your body is touching the ground, or the furniture? What is the sensation there? Is any part of your body stiff and tense? If so, try to observe that stiffness first – how big is the area that is stiff? Do you feel that the tension starts from a particular point and then spreads around? Observe the tension for a few moments and then with the help of a conscious deep breath let it dissolve and try to relax that part of your body.
Once more scan your body from head to toe, paying attention to any sensations – warmth, cold, numbness, tingling, touch of your clothes, or the touch of air. Try to observe the sensations objectively. Even if the sensation on your body is unpleasant, don’t rush to change your position. Examine them as if you were looking though a microscope.
Gently shift your attention back to your breath.
Next time you are stuck in traffic, or waiting in a supermarket queue, in stead of getting all restless and nervous, try observing your breath and your body and see that if you practice staying in the present moment, there is no such a category as 'time wasted'.
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