But that’s not the case! People are exhausted. I found a “Heart Awakening Yoga” retreat. We are only human. I also think that meditation and yoga has made me a better lawyer and one of the main reasons I’ve stayed in private practice and the law as long as I have. “The quality of our breath expresses our inner feelings” ~ T.K.V. I was irritable, stressed and anxious all the time. And I know if you’re anything like me, it’s especially difficult to wrangle that rambunctious mind of yours. My brain used to move at what felt like a million miles an hour and with no conscious outlet of there being any other alternative outside of that. And at first, it was a little difficult. I’m talking about a yoga class that focuses on yoga as a healing journey. The reason I still wasn’t making progress with my health, was because – despite my intentions to take it slow – I was still locked in “GO” & “DO” mode. And if you do fall asleep, that’s great . If you are in pain, use a heating pad on you abdomen or back / shoulders during the meditation. A lot. But not Pollyanna optimism -- more like trust. You can find more poetry and positive quotes by following my Instagram account: @Vibrant_Yogini. Back home I could feel myself boomeranging towards bad habits and so when a new friend from the trip suggested I give meditation a whirl I thought “why not.” He recommended the London Meditation Centre, co-founded by Jillian Lavender and Michael Miller who teach Vedic meditation - a non-religious, mantra-based method and suggested I go to a free intro talk and report back. Meditation gets to the root cause of fear by releasing the tension and stress that are getting in the way of someone feeling calm, grounded and balanced. You are sure to find one that suits your needs perfectly! Writer Judy Cogan reveals how meditation transformed her life and helped her break unhealthy patterns once and for all. This is your first post. The practice of yoga and meditation has changed who I am and made me a better person. London Meditation Centre’s Jillian explains: “Vedic Meditation is key to overcoming fear in all aspects of life. If any of this is new to you, keep reading – I believe that meditation yoga or a practice of meditation, at the least, can change your life. It’s actually quite the opposite. It’s hard not to be constantly in a bad mood when you constantly feel so miserable! Get in touch if you would like to be featured on the blog and across all Vibrant Yogini social channels. Not only that, I became so fascinated and connected to the the art, that I went through a full month immersion program in South America to dive in and study various aspects of it, in route to becoming a Certified Yoga Teacher. Yunguilla Valley, Ecuador | Yoga Teacher Training. This literally shuts down your digestion and slows motility – a root cause of SIBO& IBS! However I intuitively knew I needed to get out of my comfort zone and make a drastic change. The usual anxious chatter. I could barely function because of it but through the connectives of yoga and meditation, I have been able to develop a technique to truly support and heal my body. sharing my health journey with interstitial cystitis and "IBS", “Oh boy, here we go again … yet ANOTHER person telling me to meditate / do yoga / work on my mind to help manage my painful physical symptoms.”. I’d been traversing gravelly paths and climbing steep verges all day. That princess she once was rose from the ashes and crowned herself the queen. It all started with a Google search of a “yoga retreat” I wanted to go to one summer around town. My focus and concentration the next morning after a yoga class are better compared to days without yoga class the night before. I am not sure there is a single area of my life that yoga has not informed or influenced – from the way that I eat, the way that I speak to myself and others, the way I move, the way I breathe, the way I am conscious of my life and my connection to all – the world and teachings of yoga could certainly be found in the roots of almost everything I am and do. I think it’s fair to say I have some stress in my life and there are A LOT of things about practicing law that can keep you up at night. I knew if I got lazy and didn’t hold myself accountable for keeping up my routine, I would fall off again, just like last time. Turning 35 in September 2017 all I wanted was to turn off the incessant whir of worry in my mind – even just for 30 seconds. Some classes, whether consciously or unconsciously, I experience an emotional release. How We Are Now Starting to Avoid Lifestyle Inflation - After Buying 2 luxury vehicles after our law degrees, How to Get Your Finances Back on Track - 9 Steps to Organize Your Finances. Where would you like us to send your free PDF download? For me, in stressful situations, I HOLD PARTS OF MY BODY (USUALLY MY STOMACH AREA). I had worried how I’d fit in two 20-minute meditations to my day, but with Michael’s guidance it just worked. And to help combat insomnia, which I often struggle with myself, do a second session at night, after getting in bed to sleep. I put so much attention towards my past upbringing and other uncontrollable life circumstances that I just tipped my hat and would go to internal panic mode whenever stressful events would occur. This is why Vedic Meditation is one of the most efficient and powerful ways to rest the nervous system.”. Let’s just say it’s not good for anyone if I miss a class – it’s in everyone’s best interest that I go. “If someone had told me little over a year ago, I’d be meditating twice a day, every day and reaping the benefits I would have laughed out loud. However since beginning my meditation and yoga practice, I’ve developed a much higher sense of what does and doesn’t agree with my body on a nutritional level and I’m much more able to recognize when I begin to lean too much on certain things.