Sat Nam! This picture is me doing my 40-day meditation in my family room with my dog, Star. This is how it is when I do my personal at-home practice (sadhana). Needy dog, clutter around me.
It may look like I'm reaching across to pet Star, but I'm not. That's actually the position that I hold for 11 minutes of this bizarre meditation. (I just heard another Kundalini Yoga teacher describe this practice as "Kunda-looney" and this meditation affirms that characterization.) I'm actually trying to ignore my dog, so she'll leave me alone. I've read that we should invite our pets into our meditation rooms because they'll benefit from being around the relaxed energy. This is a is lovely idea if the pet curls up and gets mellow. Mine tries to get attention. My daughter captured this relatively calm moment for me, but she missed Star licking my face and sniffing my ear.
I'm tempted to include a lot of disclaimers about how my family room isn't usually that cluttered. But I'm trying to be real with you here. That's how it is, unless company's coming.
The reason I'm airing my "dirty laundry" here is that I imagine this is how it goes for many of us in our busy lives. Needy dog, laundry piling up, dinner to be cooked, emails to be answered... (and I know many of you have longer lists than I do). So, how do we fit in daily meditation at home?
I had to make a commitment, a solemn vow. No matter how needy my dog or how messy my house, I have to do my meditation. My son's Pre-K teacher had a great line she used with kids to describe the non-negotiables, like wearing a coat for outdoor time in the winter or washing hands before snack. She said, "It's a have tonot a want to."
My non-negotiable "have-to" practice right now is a 20 minute stretching sequence and an 11 minute meditation. I know it's only 31 minutes, but some days it's hard to fit it in and some days I don't want to. So I took the choice -- the Do I have time? Do I feel like it? --- out of the equation. I call on my inner Pre-K teacher. Before my head hits the pillow at night, I have to do it.
It helps that my "have-to" practice is a homework assignment for the training I'm in. I want to do well in the training, and I'm accountable to my teacher and my fellow trainees. If it's just loosey-goosey, pick a meditation and a kriya and go -- I'm less likely to do it and more likely to get lost searching for the perfect meditation and kriya on my computer.
So, I'll keep at it, dog and mess by my side. I have to.
It may look like I'm reaching across to pet Star, but I'm not. That's actually the position that I hold for 11 minutes of this bizarre meditation. (I just heard another Kundalini Yoga teacher describe this practice as "Kunda-looney" and this meditation affirms that characterization.) I'm actually trying to ignore my dog, so she'll leave me alone. I've read that we should invite our pets into our meditation rooms because they'll benefit from being around the relaxed energy. This is a is lovely idea if the pet curls up and gets mellow. Mine tries to get attention. My daughter captured this relatively calm moment for me, but she missed Star licking my face and sniffing my ear.
I'm tempted to include a lot of disclaimers about how my family room isn't usually that cluttered. But I'm trying to be real with you here. That's how it is, unless company's coming.
The reason I'm airing my "dirty laundry" here is that I imagine this is how it goes for many of us in our busy lives. Needy dog, laundry piling up, dinner to be cooked, emails to be answered... (and I know many of you have longer lists than I do). So, how do we fit in daily meditation at home?
I had to make a commitment, a solemn vow. No matter how needy my dog or how messy my house, I have to do my meditation. My son's Pre-K teacher had a great line she used with kids to describe the non-negotiables, like wearing a coat for outdoor time in the winter or washing hands before snack. She said, "It's a have tonot a want to."
My non-negotiable "have-to" practice right now is a 20 minute stretching sequence and an 11 minute meditation. I know it's only 31 minutes, but some days it's hard to fit it in and some days I don't want to. So I took the choice -- the Do I have time? Do I feel like it? --- out of the equation. I call on my inner Pre-K teacher. Before my head hits the pillow at night, I have to do it.
It helps that my "have-to" practice is a homework assignment for the training I'm in. I want to do well in the training, and I'm accountable to my teacher and my fellow trainees. If it's just loosey-goosey, pick a meditation and a kriya and go -- I'm less likely to do it and more likely to get lost searching for the perfect meditation and kriya on my computer.
So, I'll keep at it, dog and mess by my side. I have to.