Mediating and Meditating

Rebecca Spath, Breathwork Practitioner

Originally Published at:

SANGOMA: Stories from the Frontlines of Mediation

Last week I happily updated my Facebook status to say that I was off to mediation. I got some terrific responses - many of them commending my  meditation practice. I do try to take a moment to get my mind off all the other stuff - the rest of my day, my pre-mediation butterflies, my opinions and judgments - to get myself mentally prepared and completely attuned to the process I am about to guide.  

 Remember to listen to SANGOMA. Press the triangle to listen. Coming up on Thursday May 10: Tara Fishler guides the future of mediation.

Listen to internet radio with Bathabile on Blog Talk Radio

Meditating before mediating is good for the participants, too. Mediation is best when everyone is present, focused, and open. Briefly meditating before mediating can certainly help everyone come to that place.

Rebecca Spath, a Breathwork Practitioner and owner of  Breathing Room Therapies, suggests a brief, simple, yet tremendously effective breathing exercise that you can use before you face any challenging conversation. Do you use other ways to relax before delving into a tough conversation? Please share them in the comments below.
 

 Stepping into a calm and mindful state before engaging with others  

By Rebecca Spath, Breathwork Practitioner, Transformational Life and Wellness Coach

As I’ve moved through my life of opportunities and challenges, I’ve found that I am most successful when I prepare myself energetically, emotionally and physically. Life moves so fast and we tend to get pulled along with it and then find ourselves unprepared for those moments when we wish we could have just stopped time, rewound and started over. Unfortunately, life doesn’t work that way. Thankfully, we have the capacity to be pro-active and use tools that provide us with extra focus, clarity, energy and, most importantly, the opportunity to be grounded and present. 

As a Breathwork Practitioner, I’m given the opportunity to assist individuals in approaching life challenges with what I consider one of our most powerful tools…our breath! It is the only bodily function that while we use unconsciously and can also use consciously.

Here is a wonderful breathing exercise that you can use any time, but most especially when you’re going to be engaging in an important conversation with a loved one, a boss, a child, your landlord, or anyone who needs to hear what you have to say and you know you need to stay focused, grounded, calm and clear:

 THE EQUALIZING BREATH

(Provides energy when tired and calms you down when you’re stressed)

 Stop, sit, relax, get comfortable….and breathe as follows:

 INHALE (through your nose) to the count of 4 (make sure to fill your belly not your chest and keep your shoulders down)

 HOLD to the count of 7

 EXHALE (through soft pursed lips) to the count of 8 (really empty your belly and easily pull your belly back toward your spine. Also feel your shoulders relax as you exhale.)

 Repeat 4-8 times as needed

 If this feels like too long a time for each action, reduce the count to 3-5-6. The more you do this the greater expansion you’ll find you have. The most important thing is that your exhale is longer than your inhale. Don’t force any of this.

 This is great to do before and after a big meeting, picking up the phone, as well as any time you’re switching from one activity to the other. Give your body a chance to come back into a relaxed state of being.

Remember, we must stop and refuel, our body or we will find ourselves literally running on empty. Our greatest source of nourishment is oxygen! Proper breathing oxygenates the blood, stimulating and massaging the brain, creating focus, clarity and alertness, thereby creating increased productivity. So feed your brain (and your belly) and see increased successful communication in all areas of your life!

 www.breathingroomtherapies.blogspot.com

 breathingroom@bigplanet.com

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