its in the spin- meditation

Dear Listeners,

The following is another style of meditation which combines body awareness, movement and visualization. This synthesis is a response to what seemed like another rapid (or chaotic) week, asking for some centering and clearing.

How do do this? There are many ways, one of which is to get in touch with the body by standing (because it’s an active pose that requires some degree of attention and muscle activation). This in turn can help settle the mind (allows something for the mind to focus and rest on). The geometry of feet is referenced in the meditation, see the image below sketched out for this purpose. Yoga offers a multitude of ways to observe the angles, planes, arcs and lines in the body. Below you might notice an ‘inner’ and ‘outer’ heel, a ‘front side’ (towards the arch) and ‘backside’ of the heel, which squares the circle. Additionally, imagine the four larger dots connecting to form a rectangle, or even an X across the bottom of the foot which then can be broken down into triangles…. There are many shapes to be discovered and we are just looking at one part of one foot!

Geometry is also used when instructing the fundamentals of figure drawing, the body is full of these shapes! This meditation uses this yoga/artists lens to observe a dimension of the body’s physical organization, with an eventual ‘knitting together’ of the design.

This artist has a lovely example of an image you can place in your mind when doing this meditation: https://www.paintdrawpaint.com/2012/03/drawing-basics-constructing-figure-with.html

The gentle slow spin is unique. It’s best to begin practicing it with the eyes open but is fine with eyes closed if you have steady balance and become familiar with this movement. Closing the eyes draws the senses inward, eyes open is preferred for balance, orientation and engaging the sense of sight. Sometimes the spin can facilitate a letting go or a discovery of a personal central axis.

And of course, if you have balance issues, just stand. Use the support of a wall and only visualize the spin- it can be just as helpful.

The power of our imagination is too often underestimated!

If you find this useful please ‘like’ and share with someone who might find it beneficial. Continue to do your best and take care.

Thank you!