Let's take some time to relax

Rachel_Scope
Rachel_Scope Posts: 5,353 Online Community Team
in Coffee lounge

A few of our members have been 'meeting' up to meditate on a certain day or time to feel more connected. I thought I'd start this thread so others can start joining or maybe there are some other ideas for relaxing things we can 'together' ๐Ÿ˜Š

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Comments

  • SmellyBin
    SmellyBin Community Member Posts: 744 Empowering

    Apparently, even being virtually together (while we don't even meet online, like in a Zoom meeting for instance) like this can activate oxytocin which is the happy hormone of bonding. How cool is that?!

    Perhaps we don't even have to meditate, because that is not for everyone. Anyone who simply wants to share this time with others would be most welcome, methinks.

    So hopefully, more people will join us, as I personally quite like it when there is someone else out there - hopefully this doesn't sound too spooky :)

  • Rachel_Scope
    Rachel_Scope Posts: 5,353 Online Community Team

    That's great to know @SmellyBin! It would be great to get a few of us 'together' doing different activities maybe?

    Does anyone like colouring?

  • Broncin
    Broncin Community Member Posts: 8 Listener

    I'dBe interested in meditating with others? ๐Ÿ˜Š

  • SmellyBin
    SmellyBin Community Member Posts: 744 Empowering

    Cool, @Broncin Any day or time that you prefer? I'll be there today shortly after 5 UK or 6 EU time.

  • StarryEyed
    StarryEyed Community Member Posts: 2,031 Championing
    edited May 1

    Hi all! Thank you for setting up this thread, @Rachel_Scope ! ๐Ÿ‘๐Ÿผ

    @SmellyBin are you still planning to do the meditation you suggested in the other thread on Sunday? I'd still love to do it. If you are, perhaps you can post your info here for others?

    Hi @Broncin and yay that you want to meditate. ๐Ÿ‘๐Ÿ˜Š

  • SmellyBin
    SmellyBin Community Member Posts: 744 Empowering
    edited May 2

    Okay, so these are the free sessions on Sangha Live this month.

    Screenshot_20260501_210952_Gmail.jpg

    This Sunday one of my fav mindfulness teachers Jill Satterfield is guiding a free session. She herself has had her fair share of suffering with her health. UK time 7, EU time 8. More infoย here.

  • Broncin
    Broncin Community Member Posts: 8 Listener

    Hi thank you for sharing this! I have registered for the zoom session at 7pm tomorrow. I'm looking forward to taking part at the same time as others. Its good to feel connected. Thank you ๐Ÿ˜Š

  • StarryEyed
    StarryEyed Community Member Posts: 2,031 Championing

    Thank you, @SmellyBin!

    Yay @Broncin โค๏ธ

    See you guys tomorrow ๐Ÿ’๐ŸŽ‰

  • 66Mustang
    66Mustang Community Member Posts: 15,549 Championing

    @SmellyBin

    Your comments about hormones and connecting with people (rather than the actual choice of activity) being the key are interesting to me!!

    Years ago there was a community set up that was a kind of non-religious "church". They recognised that people who took part in a religious community got so many benefits โ€“ like a sense of belonging, purpose and support โ€“ and wanted to make that available for people who aren't religious or don't want to centre around religion. I think it actually did quite well and took off around the world

  • SmellyBin
    SmellyBin Community Member Posts: 744 Empowering

    Sounds great @66Mustang I don't know about you, but I could definitely do with a bit of interconnection and well-wishing, similar to what you describe. The world can be such a cold place.

    It also makes me think of something I came across recentlyโ€ฆ Have you heard of Dacher Keltner, psychologist looking into neuroscience and hormones, urging us to be in awe as that makes us lower our stress? For instance being surprised by a bird or butterfly when outside. New to me was his 'moral beauty,' which is about collective togetherness. For instance, last week the little free library was a mess, but I wasn't capable of fixing it. When I came back the next day someone else had done it. It was really a happy surprise :)

    If you've got more info or thoughts like that, let's keep them coming. We could do an online scrapbook of uplifting, happy hormone inducing ideas.

    And will you be meditating with us one of these days?

  • 66Mustang
    66Mustang Community Member Posts: 15,549 Championing

    @SmellyBin

    That's interesting about being "in awe"

    I've always found being in awe of traditional things - like celebrities - quite repelling. I think it might be because a lot of my bad experiences were due to being a victim of crowd behaviour/mob mentality leading me to maladapt too far the other way - almost "everything popular is wrong" to quote Oscar Wilde

    Being in awe of the things you mention, though, I've been doing that a lot recently! Flowers, trees, blossoms and things or even sunsets and rainbows. I couldn't work out whether I started doing it after I started to recover, or whether doing it led to recovery, maybe both? It definitely makes me feel good, though

  • SmellyBin
    SmellyBin Community Member Posts: 744 Empowering

    Alright, I'll be meditating for about 15 to 20 min today somewhere between 5 and 5.30 UK time (6 and 6.30 EU time). Is there anyone out there who would like to join me?

  • Holly_Alumni
    Holly_Alumni Scope alumni Posts: 6,534 Championing

    I won't be able to join at that time but will spend some time later this evening ๐Ÿ˜Š

  • SmellyBin
    SmellyBin Community Member Posts: 744 Empowering

    Would anyone like to be together in meditation today?

    I might be listening to this session (only the guided meditation at the beginning which is about 30 min) or I'll be meditating in silence for about 15 to 20 min today somewhere between 5 and 5.30 UK time (6 and 6.30 EU time).ย 

  • StarryEyed
    StarryEyed Community Member Posts: 2,031 Championing
    edited October 5

    Hello @SmellyBin. Great idea! It's been a while. ๐Ÿ˜Š Yes, I'll join you at 6 EU time to do this 9-minute meditation on Insight Timer that is free to everyone. It's called "Release the Weight of the World From Your Shoulders" by Christie Vallance.

    1000089946.jpg 1000089948.jpg

    This is the link, free to everyone.

    https://insighttimer.com/christiev/guided-meditations/release-the-weight-of-the-world-from-your-shoulders

  • Emilee
    Emilee Community Member Posts: 159 Empowering
    https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/1152147#Comment_1152147

    I'm busy this evening but I'd love to do this one day knowing others are doing it at the same time.

  • StarryEyed
    StarryEyed Community Member Posts: 2,031 Championing

    Yes, I'd love to do it again with you, @Emilee. It was really gentle and soothing. Binaural beats sounds are used, which work best with a headset/earbuds. Also, you need to be able to sit without back support in order to do the movement (shoulder shrugs). Of course that's the ideal, but you can improvise. When suits you?

  • Emilee
    Emilee Community Member Posts: 159 Empowering
    edited October 6

    I can do most evenings @StarryEyed, when works for you? I have headphones and a seat I can use for this, thank you for the tips!

  • StarryEyed
    StarryEyed Community Member Posts: 2,031 Championing

    Hi @Emilee. That's great! You're most welcome. I'm home again today as it's pouring rain off and on for the third day in a row - oh joy! So lete know any time that suits you.

    I think @SmellyBin regularly meditates at 6 EU time. Right? Maybe you want to join us? Does that time suit you @Emilee?

  • SmellyBin
    SmellyBin Community Member Posts: 744 Empowering

    Are you complaining about the weather @StarryEyed LOL

    But seriously, I'll be here around 5 UK or 6 EU time. It would be nice for @Emilee to join us, do you have a fav mindfulness teacher?

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