Blast Off Into Presence

One small step for you, one giant leap for your soul.

As an Amazon Associate, Breathe Together Yoga earns from qualifying purchases.

Meditate.

Does this sound familiar? You rise out of relaxation pose in yoga class, your teacher directs you into some reflection on how you feel, and you think to yourself, “Yes, I am connected to all living things, I do feel peace in my mind, and it seems more and more likely that I actually am filled with bliss in the very core of me,” only to have those feelings completely disappear by the time you get home? The traffic, news of the world, and constant barrage of texts, emails, and calls blast your consciousness like an alarm clock, and you feel your dreamy bubble of peace and connection pop.

I know the equanimity and union that I study in my practice is sometimes at odds with my modern householder life, but every day I wonder: Is it possible to maintain presence of mind in the face of so much rising chaos? 

I live in a part of Florida that sends rockets into space and in 1999, the county lobbied for and received its area code, 321, as an homage to the launch countdown clocks so often employed here. What if the countdown was for something more earthbound than celestial? What if we used the countdown to bring us back to that presence – that equanimity – that we lose once we step off the mat? The answer to this question birthed the following mini-practice that I use anywhere and anytime that I need it:

Three…

Take three breaths, full and expansive. They might not start out full, but with attention, they will grow smoother, deeper, and more even. Breathe as if your breath could fill and empty from your entire torso: the front, back, sides, top, and bottom of you. Enjoy each moment of your breath.

Two…

Become aware of your two feet standing or touching the earth. Feel your connection to the planet, almost as if you could send roots through the soles of your feet down, down, down to the center of the planet. As your roots grow downward, the top of your head extends upward toward the stars. Feel yourself standing on the crust of the planet and see if you can sense its rotation through space.

One…

Maintain one thought (just one!) at a time. For this moment only, resist the urge to multi-task because no one can really do that. What we end up doing is several things poorly instead of one thing well. Do one thing, think one thought, feel one emotion at a time.

At the end of this countdown, observe what unfolds. Is it the rocket of your “monkey mind” taking off, or is it your presence rooting down? Use this short practice whenever you want to recreate that wonderfully blissful experience in yoga. Three, two, one…

Picture of Lorien Neargarder

Lorien Neargarder

A California native, Lorien now lives in Florida and only visits her home "planet" for family and work-related events. When she's not writing, teaching, or running a nonprofit, Lorien enjoys traveling and hiking both familiar and unfamiliar hills. She happily greets the dolphins and manatees who live in the river in front of her house, but her favorite animals are the peace-loving masters of coexistence: the sloths (any number of toes will do).

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Shine Your Way to Firefly | Izumi Sato

We aim to improve the flexibility of hamstrings and shoulders, as well as the strength in the arms, thigh adductors, and the core. Variations are offered to develop the sense of balance on the arms. It is an exploration of your own expression in Firefly, whatever stage of life you’re in.

Introduction to the Buddhist Mudras | Izumi Sato

Mudras are highly stylized and symbolized as non-verbal communication. In this introduction to the Buddhist mudras, we will learn five Buddhist mudras and the mudras of the five wisdoms, or five Buddhas. After learning the forms and meanings of the mudras, it’s fun to observe the arts such as Buddha sculptures and paintings.

Chanting Gayatri Mantra With Mudras | Izumi Sato

In this mantra, the 24 Mudras are practiced while chanting the Gayatri Mantra which has 24 syllables. Gayatri Mantra is dedicated to Savitri, a Vedic sun deity. Among various translations of the mantra, I introduce the first line by Tias Little and the rest of the lines by Swami Vivekananda.

How Mindfulness Can Help You Navigate Social Media

Now that social media has become an extension of our own communities, a lot of negative perspectives and habits have made their way from the digital world to our real one. By becoming aware of your emotions and actions, you can get past the bad side of social media and enjoy the company of your social circle.

BREATHE TOGETHER | France

During this yoga retreat in France, you’ll spend your days wandering through medieval villages and soaking up French culture as the locals do.