meditation

Ojai Sunset

Travel

Recently, my husband and I took in the “pink moment” as they call the Ojai, California sunset. It was different from any other sunset I have experienced. It was beautiful!

I booked a visit to Meditation Mount in Ojai. Meditiation Mount is open at certain times for visitors to come enjoy the grounds and enjoy the peace. A reservation and fee will allow one to enter the gates. There are garden paths to stroll through the grounds and plenty of benches to stop and sit to enjoy nature. After being able to relax on the property, guests are encouraged to take part in a group meditation led by one of the staff. This was a wonderful experience and I left the room in peace.

There is also another meditation room that is for self-guided meditation for anyone who prefers this type of meditation. I peeked in and there was a circle of chairs and candles set up in the center of the room. A very nice setting for meditation.

After meditation, guests find a space to enjoy the sunset. High above the valley, Meditation Mount offers a good view of the setting sun. However, don’t be fooled (as I was) into thinking the amazing event is happening in the west, where the sun is setting. Oh no, my friend. Look around! The pink moment is directly behind, to the east. The clouds turn a beautiful pink. The show is all around.

The Ojai “pink moment” can (of course) be viewed from anywhere in Ojai that you can catch a glipse of the sunset. Catching the “pink moment” was one of the highlights from our trip to Ojai. Ojai is a good place to feel grounded and at one with nature.

As Always, Happy Travels!

Goldie and Giving Back

life

Goldie Hawn has always been one of my favorite actresses. Funny, carefree, with a definite “hippy” vibe. What’s not to love? But there is more to this actress/producer/mother/grandmother than meets the eye.

Goldie Hawn created The Goldie Hawn Foundation and MIND UP to help children practice mindfulness. Classrooms can adopt the program (which was created by Hawn and specialists in the field) to teach children how their brains work, to focus, to be mindful, and to understand the power of gratitude and empathy. The focused breathing exercises help the children to focus and to manage their emotions and stress. The idea is to give the children the resources they need to create their own happiness and to become happy adults who are in a good place in their lives. This can also be practiced at home.

This program totally makes sense to me. Why not start children in a practice such as this from an early age? Or at any age for that matter. People can learn to control their anxiety and stress through meditation and breathing exercises making for a healthier individual. I love this approach! And I love that Goldie is using her voice to help our children. A true star!

To learn more read Goldie’s book 10 Mindful Minutes and go to https://mindup.org/ to read further about the MIND UP program.

Meditation…Not as Easy as it Sounds

life

Meditation is good for the soul and has been proven to have health benefits. Meditation helps a person to relax, reduce stress, reduce pain, and clear the mind. Meditation sounds easy enough. Just clear the head for a few minutes. Piece of cake right? Think again!

Meditation is a practice. That literally means it is something one needs to practice in order to get it right. Meditation sounds so simple. Sit cross-legged on a cushion, close the eyes, be at peace while listening to soothing music of waterfalls in the background. Easy enough…until the mind starts to drift and lose it’s focus. What will I make for dinner? I need to add bread to my shopping list. When I get done I need to… What was that noise? The list goes on.

So, yes, meditation takes practice. The idea is to clear all thoughts and focus on breathing. Listening to the breath. However, the mind wants to think of a million other things. This is normal. When meditating, one has to keep re-focusing back to the breath. After a while, it does get easier. At first, meditating for a short period of time is fine. Working up to a goal of, let’s say, ten minutes over time. Once able to become immerged in meditation, one becomes quite relaxed.

Meditation can be done anywhere. No cushion is needed. Sitting in a chair is fine. No background music is needed. Some prefer quiet in order to focus better. All that is needed is just a quiet place where one can focus on their breathing. It is absolutely free. It just requires a little patience and commitment. Practice makes perfect.

For more information on meditation check out the book 8 Minute Meditation by Victor Davich.