Types of Meditation

123468

Comments

  • SmellyBin
    SmellyBin Online Community Member Posts: 413 Empowering

    I am glad you are sharing your experience with breath exercises, @Delphi Apparently it works for most people, but I find it hard to help me relax. Good to know I am not the only one.

    There are just a few things when it comes to breathing that I do appreciate, such as long pauses after each inhalation and exhalation.
    Or in through the mouth and sighing audibly, but just this morning my partner was very worried that when I did that (sometimes just to find my feet) he thought I was very nervous…

  • Delphi
    Delphi Online Community Member Posts: 49 Contributor

    I agree the long pauses can be helpful. Counting breathing in, for a pause and breathing out is something I try to do. I also do very long breaths in and slow as possible breaths out for pain. Learnt that for childbirth (where it was no help at all) decades ago). A few nurses and dentists have wondered if I'm okay when I've done that so now I'll often say I'm going to do it in advance.

    The yoga class I went to had lots of fast breathing amongst other things and that wasn't for me.

    If I sigh audibly my partner thinks I'm annoyed! We need a translation sheet for partners😅

  • StarryEyed
    StarryEyed Online Community Member Posts: 1,018 Trailblazing

    Hi @SmellyBin 😊

    Hi @Delphi. I've only done a sound bath once, about 10 years ago. It was really beautiful. My preference is doing meditation and yoga at home because it's so hard to concentrate in a group. And it's so much simpler to do at home.

  • SmellyBin
    SmellyBin Online Community Member Posts: 413 Empowering

    I don't think I've ever done a sound bath, not sure if it is for me. Whenever there is a bell at the end of a guided meditation, it always makes me jump. Might look into it on Insight Timer, though…

  • Mary_Scope
    Mary_Scope Posts: 4,210 Scope Online Community Children and Family Specialists

    It is really interesting to hear your experience with a sound bath @StarryEyed and @Delphi.

    I went to one back last March and found it a bit overwhelming and quite emotional which i wasn't expecting! I do try and do some do breathing at home and I do feel better when I have this into my routine

  • SmellyBin
    SmellyBin Online Community Member Posts: 413 Empowering

    A week from now a new challenge starts on Insight Timer, this time twelve days about the nervous system. I am looking forward to it.

    You can sign up for free, but you do need the app for that.

  • StarryEyed
    StarryEyed Online Community Member Posts: 1,018 Trailblazing

    So now you guys have me wanting a sound bath. It turns out there are lots on YouTube. I'm listening to a beautiful and interesting one right now on my headset. @Mary_Scope maybe doing it at home would suit you better? This is the one I'm doing....

    @SmellyBin could you post some info on that nervous system challenge, please?

  • SmellyBin
    SmellyBin Online Community Member Posts: 413 Empowering
  • StarryEyed
    StarryEyed Online Community Member Posts: 1,018 Trailblazing

    Thank you! 🙏🏼😊. That looks so very exciting! Wow! I've signed up and really look forward to doing this with you. Maybe others are interested too. Here's more info....

    1000047886.jpg 1000047888.jpg 1000047890.jpg 1000047892.jpg

    Maybe Day 7 Physiological Sigh is what you and @Delphi were talking about?

  • SmellyBin
    SmellyBin Online Community Member Posts: 413 Empowering

    Ah, it is nice to do this together, @StarryEyed I am hoping others will join us. For those who are thinking about it: most of these programs are really low key, they benefit also those new to mindfulness and meditation :)

    I am looking forward to day 5 and the last one, it might be eye yoga. Everything looks really interesting… It is so accommodating that these are short sessions, and I am also glad to find new teachers this way.

  • StarryEyed
    StarryEyed Online Community Member Posts: 1,018 Trailblazing

    I've never heard of eye yoga! Or most of these topics. So cool! Look at the attendance so far!

    1000047900.jpg
  • SmellyBin
    SmellyBin Online Community Member Posts: 413 Empowering

    I am just hoping it won't be too much of visualizations of being in a forest. Often makes me so sad. But this sounds al very down to earth and versatile.

  • Mary_Scope
    Mary_Scope Posts: 4,210 Scope Online Community Children and Family Specialists

    I'd never thought about doing it at home @StarryEyed, this is an interesting idea! Thank you for sharing

    Has anybody been in a Sensory Deprivation Tank before? I've done it twice now and I really enjoy it and find it so calming and relaxing!

  • StarryEyed
    StarryEyed Online Community Member Posts: 1,018 Trailblazing

    You're welcome, Mary. 😊

    No, I haven't been in a sensory deprivation tank. But I've been in solitary confinement on the psych ward many times, which is based on the same principle. So I don't think I'll be trying that. Ouch!😳 🤣

  • SmellyBin
    SmellyBin Online Community Member Posts: 413 Empowering

    I've already mentioned the Sunday Sangha by Deborah Eden Tull here, but I just found out the theme for tomorrow night: saying no, setting boundaries. This is something, as a chronic, we also struggle with from time to time?

    https://sangha.live/free_live/sunday-sangha-15th-february-2026/

    7 GMT, 8 CET.

  • Rachel_Scope
    Rachel_Scope Posts: 3,158 Scope Online Community Coordinator
    edited February 14

    @Delphi and @StarryEyed, I've never heard of a sound bath but I like the sound of it! I actually bought my daughter a tongue drum as she loves banging things and it was the nicest noise I could find 😂 We also use it in the bath by having the shower trickle down onto it, it's wonderful. I'd highly recommend them, especially if you have a garden where you can put it in the rain.

  • SmellyBin
    SmellyBin Online Community Member Posts: 413 Empowering

    Has anyone taken part in the Nervous System Challenge on IT yet? I am wondering what people think of the suggestions, I personally liked today's very much (day four).

    Have you tried any of these sessions @StarryEyed ?

  • StarryEyed
    StarryEyed Online Community Member Posts: 1,018 Trailblazing
    edited February 22

    Hello @SmellyBin !

    Yes, I'm doing them daily and really like them too. I loaded the app for this challenge, so had no idea what was missing online. Wowza! It's intelligently organised and the visual aspect is beautiful. I love the varied backgrounds of the teachers (and their varied accents 😊). It's an Australian app, so there are lots of those delightful accents!

    The free stuff is just enough to whet my appetite to join premium so that I can have access to so many courses. I prefer a course - to stick with one idea and think it to death. 😊 So I'm doing a therapy program right now called Internal Family Systems. When I'm done that, I'll likely join premium. I think it's about €10 a month.

    What about you? Are you premium?

  • SmellyBin
    SmellyBin Online Community Member Posts: 413 Empowering

    Yo @StarryEyed I am a premium member since Sept, because I wanted to do the course by Tara Brach about forgiveness and feelings of unworthiness. Admittedly, I haven't finished it yet. Other things keep popping up, but one day I will. Check it out, somehow I think it is indeed also about our darkness.

    And what do you think of the breathing exercises (day 1 and 3)? I do have something to say about it, but want to know what your impression is first…
    So far day 4 is my fav on self-soothing touch, but was also impressed by the guy of day 2 - his voice made me think of how we were joking last Xmas what it would be like to have Michael Bubblé do a guided meditation :) I am hoping to listen to more of this guy's work.

    Personally, I am a bit reluctant about the Internal Family Affair therapy, but it keeps popping up and works for a lot of people. And hey, I was reluctant about EFT tapping as well, but started that a year ago and am still tapping my way around every day. Keeping an open mind, right?!

  • StarryEyed
    StarryEyed Online Community Member Posts: 1,018 Trailblazing

    Hi @SmellyBin ❤️

    Internal Family Systems therapy is also about our darkness, in that you are trained to embrace all your parts, including the dark parts. There are a few sample meditations on Inight Timer by the creator of this therapy - Richard Schwartz. Maybe you would like to try his meditations? Like you, I've been in and out of it (for a year) and started over again a couple of weeks ago. I'm reading his book "No Bad Parts". It's an audiobook, which includes meditations and other exercises...

    1000049821.jpg

    I like the breathing meditations, but require a longer period of time to really find it beneficial. Like 20-30 minutes.Yeah, Mr. Day 2 made my knees weak. 🤭