By Mary on August 31, 2010
I’ve been home from Maui for a week now, after leading two Peaceful Woman retreats back to back. I don’t believe I will ever facilitate back to back retreats again. Re-entry into my other life has been challenging for me.
The retreats were spiritually exhilarating and fulfilling, and at the same time, physically exhausting. If I lived on my own, and had another week off work, I might have paid off my sleep debt by now! 
So I appreciate your patience as I gather myself back together, become accustomed to the new vibration I came home with, and integrate everything I learned about myself into my day-to-day being.
Mahalo (thanks) and Blessings,
Mary
Posted in Mary's Musings Tagged fulfilling, Peaceful Woman, sleep, spirituality
By Mary on January 21, 2010
My recommendation for this week: Project Meditation’s free LifeFlow sample.
LifeFlow is a product designed by Michael Mackenzie to increase relaxation and help you move into a meditative state faster and easier.
LifeFlow® has been specifically designed using extremely precise frequencies that resonate and impact the body at a cellular level. You can truly feel your deep relaxation or meditation on a physical level, in surges of positive energy and a flow of deep heartfelt emotions.
I listened to it the other night before bed, and I had a good night’s sleep. And I turned it on underneath my yoga DVD this morning, and it was wonderful, especially for the meditation at the end. I was able to stay more focused.
Listening to it sounds like pleasant nature sounds, but underneath the sounds are Isochronic, Monaural and Binaural tones that lead to brainwave entrainment. What exactly does all that mean? Stay tuned for next week’s post, as I’m doing the research to break it down.
For now, give the sample a try. You will need to enter your name and email address, which will sign you up for another list. The whole system is a bit pricey, but he gives away other freebies from time to time!
Blessings,
Mary
Posted in Meditation Articles Tagged meditation, meditation music, sleep, yoga
By Mary on December 28, 2009
I have several practices that I do on a regular basis: yoga, journal writing, and meditation. Over the holidays, and the time leading up to the holidays, my discipline at maintaining these practices has been slipping. As someone with a history of procrastination, I have had any number of reasons (read: excuses) as to why I cannot do any or all of them. Since I practice first thing in the morning, and right before bed, many of my excuses revolve around sleep.
“I stayed up too late last night, so I ‘m going to sleep a little later this morning.”
“I feel a cold coming on, so I am going to rest more to fight it off.”
“I have to finish reading this book so I can get it back to the library.”
Thinking of these three practices (yoga, meditation and journal writing), it can be difficult to measure the effects of doing or not doing them. If I don’t brush my teeth before bed, it’s easy to relate that to furry teeth and horrible morning breath when I wake up. If I don’t put my raw breakfast on to soak before I go to bed, I have to have something else to eat in the morning. But is the late afternoon headache coming on because I didn’t do yoga, or because I didn’t drink enough water today? And am I irritable because I didn’t write in my journal or meditate last night, or because my hormones are changing with the onset of my moon time?
And then there is the guilt. I made a commitment to myself to practice yoga at least three times a week, and to journal and meditate before bed at least 5 times a week. If I can’t keep my commitments to myself, how trustworthy am I? And if I am not keeping my commitments, I am not in alignment, and I am not attracting the things I want into my life.
Why did I make these commitments in the first place? Yoga helps keep me flexible and is a good way of combating chronic plain. Writing in my journal and meditating help me stay balanced emotionally, and help me feel calm and peaceful. I am able to stay focused longer and accomplish more. And frankly, I don’t like what I become when I am not practicing.
So while it may always seem easier to follow an excuse and not get up for yoga, or short myself on meditation time so I can get back into whatever book I am reading, I almost always end up regretting the decision. Discipline is much more challenging to maintain, but it is so much easier to live with than the regret of not following the discipline.
Keep this in mind as you make your New Year’s Resolutions, if you partake in that ritual. Will you be self-disciplined enough to keep your commitment?
Blessings,
Mary
PS. How do I best impart this lesson, which has taken me over 30 years to understand (and I still haven’t gotten it perfect!), to my young sons?
Posted in Mary's Musings Tagged alignment, discipline, journal writing, meditation, meditation benefits, peace, Peaceful Woman, procrastination, regret, sleep, spiritual alignment, yoga
By Mary on November 28, 2009
Article by William Bodri on The Chase Carter Method Tones for Healing
Many people cannot sleep at night. They try wearing socks, drink relaxing herbal teas or take tryptophan or melatonin, read a book, keep a stress journal, and try all sorts of other expedients to help them fall asleep and get a good nights rest. What if I were to tell you that you could use this downtime as a chance to practice meditation?
Continue reading…
Blessings,
Mary
Posted in Meditation Articles Tagged Guided Meditation, insomnia, journal writing, meditation, meditation benefits, sleep
