Morning Meditation

My mum has worked in the holistic therapy field for almost 20 years, so you'd think I'm a daily practicer of meditation right? Well... no.

I have meditated and I sometimes quite enjoy the calm that comes after it, but I could never get my head into a daily situation where I set time aside for it. I usually stumble out of bed as late as possible with just enough time to be ready to leave for work. Then once I'm home I have just enough energy left to feed us, spend some low-energy time with Tom and then crawl back to bed. Sound familiar?

Well today my bladder woke me early (about 6.15 to be precise) and I just knew there'd be no going back to sleep. I had a headache already, my back was in knots and it was pretty light in the bedroom. Usually on these days I throw on the laptop and mooch about online until it's time to resume my normal routine, then lament the wasted time.

Today started similarly, but as the laptop was loading my head throbbed even more at the sight of the screen and my back ached painfully. I've seen a lot about meditation and mindfulness helping with pain and anger (something I'm becoming all too familiar with lately - thanks hormones!) so I figured "What's there to lose?"

Which is why when Tom came into the living room this morning he found me cross-legged on the floor quietly. I meditated for about 10 minutes, followed by slowly, gently stretching out my back and shoulders. Nothing fancy at all, just watching my breath and (trying) to gently let go of any thoughts, then some basic cat stretches.

And here I am at just before 7am feeling much calmer, my headache now almost gone (almost...) and my back is easing, if not completely better. Not only that, but I've almost finished writing a blog before my alarm has even gone off!

Thinking of how I felt when I first got up, I can't put this change down to anything but the meditation. So maybe I'll be trying it again very soon!