Meditation on retreat

During an Inhabit Retreat there will be opportunities to meditate. Every person will have varying degrees of comfort and experience with meditation, and all are welcome. Meditation is a practice of focused awareness on the present moment. With that broad understanding, there are many different ways to access a mindful state.

If you already have an established meditation or mindfulness practice, and are comfortable with dropping into a state of presence as needed, just do whatever you normally do during the retreat.

If meditation is not in your normal practice, you may find that you need some support. Guided meditations are freely available and a wonderful resource - even for the most experienced meditators.

Some free recommendations to get you started:

• Calm: designed to help you manage stress, sleep better, and live a happier, healthier life

• Insight Timer: has the largest library of meditations available for free, with plenty of guided sessions for beginners

• Headspace: integrates mindfulness meditation with mental wellness.

If your experience of meditation is that it is difficult or stressful, expand your idea of what meditation or mindfulness can be. Try a walking meditation (the apps recommended above will all have a guided walking meditation), some breathing exercises (I find the 4x4 box breath or the 4 x 7 x 8 breath both simple and useful to calm and focus the mind) or just being outside in nature following your breath, and being aware of what your five senses are picking up.

Whatever you choose to do, be kind to yourself and let go of any expectations - this is not a race, and there are no prizes for being the best meditator.

Go well,

Sara