Embodied Practices With Marlo

Hey hey everyone! Its been a while since I posted a new audio recording. It's been pretty tough the last several weeks + creating an audio was the least of my worries. But alas, I have a new one + it is all about having a cup of tea. And if tea doesn't work for you, go with whatever hot beverage you prefer. Coffee, hot chocolate, or whatever hot beverage you prefer, this is after all all about your own experience. I recorded this informal practice because I wanted to highlight that you can drop in to any moment you are in. Whether that's going for a walk or in this case, sipping tea or coffee, moments of informality are a great training ground for mindfulness . Hot Cuppa Meditation Exercise Things to consider when doing this practice  ~The ground to which you work on with this informal practice is your own direct experience. ~Take your time! Do this as slowly as you like + for as long as you like. The recording may end but you can continue for...

There is a collective sense of grieving at the moment. With the COVID-19 virus impacting so many communities world-wide, most of us are not only grieving our sense of normalcy and everyday routines but we are also grieving our jobs, family and friends we have lost due to the virus. We may also be grieving physical touch, a stable income and special life events we can't attend to due to physical distancing.  Right now, at this very moment, there is a sense of loss and uncertainty that is looming in the air.  Like many of you, I am impacted by this pandemic. I've recently experienced a temporary layoff like so many people world-wide.  At times, I've felt scared and overwhelmed by the rapid changes this virus has brought on in my life. I know I'm not alone and in some way, I'm comforted by the fact that we are all in this together.  For my own personal practice, I've been making a genuine effort to lower my own stress. I'm making a point to embody a sen...

Being with our thoughts can be incredibly challenging. There is this misconception with the general public that when you meditate, you shouldn't have thoughts during practice but that isn't true. Our minds are meant to think and we simply can't turn off our thoughts. If anything, when we try, we experience resistance and it can actually make the practice even more challenging and stressful. I'm a firm believe that how we relate to our thoughts is a kinder, more compassionate gesture compared to forcing ourselves to stop thinking altogether. This audio recording is a wonderful way of attending to our thoughts in a mindful, kindly way. It is a short practice but I think one you will find useful. Things to think about before and after your practice: Were you able to notice the thoughts in spacious awareness? If not, what did you notice? Did you notice resistance, annoyance, doubt? If so, it's OK. Recognizing the thoughts is part of mindfulness practice. I...

We can use any of our sense perceptions when engaging in a mindfulness meditation practice.  I created this Sound Awareness Meditation recording because sometimes it is really hard to connect to our breaths in a mindfulness practice. I know what that feels like. Sometimes doubt festers in my own mind and I find myself asking the question, "Am I purposely changing my breath?" For others, a breath practice may not be conducive due to respiratory issues, health issues or some may just find the breath claustrophobic due to past or recent trauma. Sound Awareness Meditation Suggestions to better guide you when doing the Sound Awareness practice Listen to the sounds without labeling them or needing to identify with them. If you find yourself identifying or creating a compelling story, kindly take note of it and come back to listening. Notice how the sounds and pitch feel in your body. Sometimes a good question to ask to get you back in your body is, ...

I created this audio meditation practice a few months back but I think with the climate of unease, the fears and anxieties looming due to the COVID-19, this practice will be helpful to calm our nerves and get us settled into our bodies. Easing Into Softness Meditation I hope everyone is staying healthy, safe and most importantly not letting the panic rise up and take hold of both mind & body. And if it is, that's OK too. There is no right or wrong reaction to this. If you are feeling scared, I completely understand and you are not alone. The most important thing I'm taking from all of this is, to step back from time to time to give my mind and body some space so that I can think more clearly. I hope you enjoy this practice and it gives you a sense of ease and softness during this time.  My thoughts are with all of you. Till next time~