Guided Meditation: Mindfulness of Breathing, 4 Ways

Today's episode of the podcast is a little different - rather than a talk or an interview, I'm offering a short practice! Find a quiet spot, pop in your headphones, and try this Guided Meditation: Mindfulness of Breathing, 4 Ways. (If you want to skip my brief intro and go right to the meditation, you can fast forward to 1:55.) This guided meditation offers a beginner-friendly introduction to Mindfulness of Breathing, or a nice refresher for those who are already familiar with breath meditation. The breath is a very common "anchor," or focal point in Mindfulness Meditation. And yet, it can be a challenge to connect with the breath - sometimes it feels too subtle, or sometimes it's intertwined with stress and anxiety.  This is why it's important to explore a few different ways of sensing the breath. We can be present with the breath as it moves in different locations in the body, or by listening to the sound of the breath.* Once you've chosen your preferred way to pay attention to the breath, we'll stick with it for a while and practice coming back to that anchor when the mind (inevitably!) wanders. You can do this meditation seated on the ground, or in a chair, or lying down. Any position that's kind and friendly to your body is good! * And, if none of these mindful breathing strategies work well for you, that's ok! You might just want to explore other anchors and techniques, like Mindfulness of Sounds, the Body Scan, or Walking Meditation. -- For more links and resources mentioned in this episode, find the show notes at movedtomeditate.yoga/podcast. And, you can sign up for your "Library Card" to access this month's FREE practices in the Moved To Meditate Class Library! Feel free to reach out through my website with your thoughts on this episode. You can also connect with me on Instagram at @addie_movedtomeditate (for mindfulness, movement, yoga, and pictures of PNW nature and my adorable kitty, Mustache).