Types of Meditation
Comments
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@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 π 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.
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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 ?
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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 π). 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. π 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 β¬10 a month.
What about you? Are you premium?
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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 firstβ¦
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 BubblΓ© 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?!
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Hi @SmellyBin β€οΈ
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...
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. π€
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Well, about the breathing exercises @StarryEyed I thought they went way too fast for me. I really need a pause in between both parts of a breath. Today's one with the sigh was slightly slower, but still a very high tempo to what I feel is comfortable. Btw, I mostly don't respond very well to breathing to calm myself, despite it apparently working for most people.
Thanks for sharing the IFS, for now I am gonna stick to my own plan or better phrased: list of loose threads such as both the book and course by Tara Brach, parts of the session I mentioned elsewhere of Sunday's Sangha by Nolitha Tsengiwe about not being okay and that is okay (panic and self-doubt in the Q and A).
And what about yesterday's teacher, didn't she have a lovely voice? I listened to it twice yesterday, making me feel warm and fuzzy and safe - another one bookmarked.
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Well hello @SmellyBin πβ£οΈ
Oh I'm having such fun with this challenge! I can't thank you enough for having introduced me to this app. ππΌ My favourite one so far is yesterday's ear massage. Did you like that?
Two things come to mind in your comment about breathing meditations. The first is perhaps you could try taking in more air at once during the count. The idea is by the end of the count you've done a full inspiration or expiration. And if you are taking in too little air then you will not be ready to switch breathing directions. The second thing I'm thinking about is perhaps you could just use the ratio of their account on your own, and then you don't follow along with their respiration, but that's the idea, to be doing a ratio. So for example if they say a count of four for inspiration and a count of six for expiration, it doesn't matter how long that count is. For example, for some people a count of four may take four seconds and for someone else it may take two seconds. This is what they mean when they say to go at your own pace, to be doing a ratio, rather than following the pattern that they give you. I hope that makes sense and that it is helpful in some way.
Regarding the IFS (internal family systems) therapy, I just heard about it a year ago from one of my besties in Canada who did it. It's relatively new and is gaining ground. I did parts therapy in the 90s with some success, and back then the parts were called "ego states." I haven't talked to anyone about IFS besides my one friend, or read anything online about IFS, so I can't comment as to the risks or benefits. Just thought I should put that out there, to say that I really don't know what I'm talking about when I'm posting about it here. π
Could you please post the course you're taking that you mentioned? On second thought, I'd like to check it out.
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Hey again! Is this your course?
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Exactly!
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Ok thank you. πππΌ I'll check it out after this challenge.
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You know, @SmellyBin, I'm really not the person to advise you on your situation about the breathing meditations as I have never been an instructor and typically meditate alone. Also I'm not even sure I understand your situation. You know we can ask the instructors questions, right? I think this would be a really good question to ask one of the instructors, if you're comfortable with that. It may very well be a question others on Insight Timer have too. Actually I think someone else brought that up early in this thread.
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Thanks @StarryEyed What it probably is, like said in most meditations and instructions from this challenge, that we need to stick with what works for us or give in if it doesn't. So either the breathing isn't for me, or I am doing it wrong. Probably the first.
What does work for me is the box breathing, this is breathing with the pause in between. Originally all four parts for four counts, but again: whatever works best, so in my case simply keeping to the four parts regardless of counting, or no counting at all.
Let me admit, I do feel weird sometimes, because breathing seems to be working for so many others. But observing my thoughts and knowing there is nothing wrong with me - basically. Well, sort of.
And what do you think of Tara Brach's course? Did you listen to the explanation?
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Hi @SmellyBin ππΌ π
You make total sense about the breathing meditations, in that there are only a few breathing meditations that I like (in a book mentioned at the beginning of this thread). In fact I'm not interested in learning more.
So how did you like the challenge? How exciting to have done that with you, to have shared the experience. Again, thank you for posting that information. I have saved seven of the 12 meditations, to add to my mental health toolbelt. Yay! How about you?
Regarding the Tara Brach course, I didn't know I could listen to the introduction as a free member, until you told me. So I listened, and it's not for me because waaaaaay too many topics are going to be talked about. I prefer streamlined, focused thinking, as I get easily overwhelmed. Plus many of the topics she'll talk about are of no interest to me.
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Yeah, it was nice to keep each other company in a way with this set-up @StarryEyed . Perhaps one day we can find another live guided meditation to do at the same time. Or do our own meditation at the same time and be connected through the universe that way.
And I appreciated the tiny bits of information with each session, especially the first day. To understand how important it is to calm yourself using your senses. I often forget that, as us humans are so set in our ways being thinking machines.
For me personally for example, it works very well to sniff my bottle of lotion I got nearby whenever I feel I need a bit of reassurance. So lots of suggestions to add to that, indeed like you say your toolbelt, can helpful. And of course, as mentioned before, we need to focus on what works best for us individually - even if that means we're not part of the main stream.And so many participants: over 180.000 :) We are not the only one in need of relief and some help to calm our nervous system. I really need to remind myself of things like that.
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Yes, @SmellyBin let's do something again. ππΌSince you like the senses meditation, I'd love to do one together. They have lots to choose from on Insight Timer for free. I love doing those for one or more of the following reasons - connecting to my environment, thoughts, emotions and body. I like working with any or all five senses. Would you like to suggest one, or would you like me to? Or we could both suggest?
Yes, the amount of particants is most impressive. One day I took a screenshot of the participant map to connect more consciously. Check it out! It reminds me of the lights mapping in X-Men πππ
Remember when we talked about doing a peace walk, and I suggested we do a virtual peace walk? To my mind, this group meditation could be seen along those lines. β₯οΈ
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Indeed @StarryEyed that's why I keep hoping others will join us too. Peace for everyone! But we'll see.
I've got a few ideas for IT meditations, I'll be back in a few days with some suggestions. I mostly do my meditation around 6 EU time, that will be 5 UK time. Would that work for you? Or anyone else who would like to join?
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Yes, that's a great time.
For senses meditations, just put "senses" in your search bar to see them.
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