yoga meditaion weekends in cornwall

The meditation room - from yoga at work

Written by yoga teacher and life coach Phil Aston BWY Dip

Meditation lessons in Cornwall are available for groups, individuals and in the office.

Tel : 01736-719342

Introduction - so you think you can't meditate!

off The Wall
exercising your smile
taking the Breath for a Walk
60 Second meditations
meditation & visualisation lesson plan
Thoughts of the week

If you are interested in meditation, then you are probably aware of the wealth of excellent material there is already on the web. The purpose of this page is to offer advice and help to those of you who:-

think you can't meditate, or
have tried and believe that you failed, or were not doing it right.

The first point to get across is that people who do meditate are not from another planet! Meditation is something that anyone can do, even Buddhist monks have days when they can't get comfortable, or can't stop thinking about a hundred things at once!

90% of meditation is remembering to turn up. If your mind wanders, the mere fact that you are aware of this means that you are having some success! [back]

Yoga teacher Phil Aston British Wheel of Yoga West Midlands

Exercising your smile (by Henryk Skolimowski

Breathe deeply, especially when you are a bit rushed, feel rattled or overwhelmed.

Stop time and breath deeply, while you breathe, let your smile come to your lips.

Begin to smile while you breathe. Then you realise how much your face and your mind have loosened – while you breathe and smile. Let this smile spread throughout your body. Breath and smile with your entire body.

A great magic of peace is generated by your lips as you begin to smile. Practice this smile and breathing daily. Notice how much this smile helps your well-being; and how much it helps others – when you are in a serene mood, after you have breathed and smiled.

There is a power in your smile – the power of peace and inner equilibrium. Activate this power daily, it costs nothing! This inner tranquility is part of building your confidence, is part of your self-empowerment.[back]

Taking the Breath for a Walk

It is important to develop mindfulness in all four postures, sitting, standing, walking and lying down. This month we will take a look at bringing mindfulness to walking.

Walking is something we all do a lot of, whether it is around the house, outside, or at work. It can greatly help with your concentration if you take time to follow the breath while you are walking.

All of us like to visit the countryside, this could be a simple walk through the park. How many times have you been in the company of nature, but your mind has been going through tomorrows 'to do' list?

I have seen people arrive, at the most beautiful locations and watched them continue talking about work, take a snap shot and leave.

There's nothing wrong with that, if that's what you're into, but take a minute to think about it, are you really experiencing the place you came to visit?

The following is by Thoreau and is taken from

'Breath by Breath by 'Larry Rosenburg' and sums up the importance of staying aware of your surroundings and your breath.

'Of course, it is no use to direct our steps to the woods if they do not carry us thither. I am alarmed when it happens that I have walked a mile into the woods bodily, without getting there in spirit. In my afternoon walk I would fain forget all my morning occupations and my obligations to society, but it still happens sometimes that I can not easily shake the village. The thought of some work will run in my head and I am not where my body is - I am out of my senses. What business have I in the woods, if I am thinking of something out of the woods?' [back]

60 Second Meditations

This is basically practicing what the Buddhists call 'mindfulness'. At various times of the day ,try to focus on your breathing. Notice how the air feels cool when you inhale, and then feels warm when you exhale.

You can do this while you are doing the washing up, making the beds, waiting at a red light, or even standing in a post office queue etc. The instant benefit from this is that it brings you immediately to the present moment. It is also very effective if done during or before an important meeting, an exam, or even while sitting in the dentist's chair. As you breathe out, you will start to feel your body relax, and your mind will become more focused. So each time you feel yourself getting stressed or find that you have unexpected time on your hands, you can do a quick 60 second meditation. Try it and let me know how you get on! [back]

Off The Wall

Taken from Cassandra Latham's Living room wall - Take 3 full breaths to center yourself and then simply read the following and see how many items you can relate too!

Stay loose ~ learn to watch snails ~ plant impossible gardens ~ invite someone dangerous to tea ~ make little signs that say yes! and post them all over the house ~ make friends with freedom & uncertainty ~ look forward to dreams ~ cry during movies ~ swing as high as you can on a swingset by moonlight ~ cultivate moods ~ refuse to be responsible ~ do it for love ~ take lots of naps ~ give money away ~ do it now ~ the money will follow ~believe in magic ~ laugh a lot ~ celebrate every gorgeous moment ~ take moonbaths ~ have wild imaginings, transformative dreams and perfect calm ~draw on the walls ~ read every day ~ imagine yourself magic ~ giggle with children ~ listen to old people ~ open up ~ dive in ~ be free ~ bless yourself ~ drive away fear ~ play with everything ~ entertain your inner child ~ you are innocent ~ build a fort with blankets ~ get wet ~ hug trees
~ write love letters.

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