Guided meditations from Wild Geese Sangha Edinburgh

And here we have from Wild Geese Sangha recordings of the Guided meditations which are part of the regular practice every Tuesday and Thursday.

Simply click on the picture below and you will be taken there...

click me !

Wiston Lodge Retreat

Today's

Well, today I have decided to try a mindful run...more like jogging than running....

a 5k...below via Runrtastic...

Speed really makes a difference... when mindful walking, I pay attention to synchronizing breath and steps..same when running...the difference is in the feeling or awareness of your body limits....

when running, the fatigue kicks in, sooner or later, but surely it does...and you feel like 'I want to stop'... but the 5k  doesnt end at 2.5k...so I must keep running...and then I start taking it just one step at a time...I can't think at how much I still have to go to end it, because is extremely demotivating...it is much easier if I think only at my next step...one, then another one...breathe, slow down a bit if needed, accelerate if you can...but never stop....don't stop....

after a few laps the body adapts, and my awareness is able to take in the surroundings...the stony texture of the running path, the new ducklings learning to swim by their mom, the new green shots in every tree, the sharp and clear air after rain, the rain itself for a few tens of seconds, the wind, and the crazy ducks who it seems do have a fight or competition..or maybe they simply play....so much beauty around...unbelievable spring beauty...and everything changes from moment to moment...and it's just the feeling of surprise...a kind of 'hey, let's see what u come up with now' towards everything around u....

And this is energising...and when the 5k is done, it didnt't even feel so tiring...because with everystep I took (or run) I was shown something new...no time for boredom...

Thank you, Lochend Park!

Thank you, Edinburgh!

Duckling @Lochend Park

Barcodes of tree and sun :-)

Lochend Park after rain

Elegant swan on Lochend Park

Lochend Park

Cold Sunday mindful walk

Cold day today in Edinburgh. This did not stop me (yay) from my mindful walking practice @3pm -Lochend Park .
It felt quite difficult to slow down today. Focusing on breathing, I only managed to slow down by controlling it for a wee while, through synchronizing the breathing with my steps: breathing in - left, right followed by breathing out - left, right.

I kept focusing on slowing down and leaving the control, and trying to let go up to the moment when synchronizing became natural, not somehow forced...

I have seen so many beautiful things: the buds on the tree branches, of all kinds...still protecting themselves of cold, but daring to leave the safety....

Sometimes I was aware of the people passing by maybe wondering why am I walking so slow...but I like to think they assume I am injured, and I can continue my walk without any worries...So good to simply take one step after the other, to feel the texture of the air, the smell, the temperature of the wind in the sunshine, or in the shadow...every moment becomes so unique, and I am so curious to see what comes up in front of my eyes at the next step...a walk better -in curious but very calm excitement- than a Hollywood movie.

In short for today: Cold and joy - this is quite a strange combination.



In the above pic, even if it is difficult to see, there is a squirrel, - right on the middle - it seems starge to see a squirrel so close to water...




So many things happening on the lake...

Shy buds