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Beginner’s Course
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Mindfulness Meditation for Modern Life

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Walking Meditation

Walking Meditation

Walking Meditation

Body Scan, Walking MeditationSep 11, 2019

Walking meditation is a practice in making mindfulness portable. By focusing on movement as the object of meditation, we can train ourselves to be present and aware of physical sensations and other senses on the go.

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Recent Posts

Mini revelations and ah-ha moments from newbie meditators Aug 28, 2024
Why are you rehearsing that? Jul 24, 2024
Intermittent fasting for the mind Jul 12, 2024

themodernmeditator.me

Last Sunday’s retreat was 👌❤️🧘‍♀️☮️😋🍃🐇 🤫🕯️ An intimate group of women plus our chef @kingy2488. The theme for the day was “come home to yourself”, though, each individual came with their own personal theme. Letting go
Non-attachment
Freedom
Health
Balance
Clarity
Grief We meditated, we journaled, we spent the day in “noble silence”. We ate delicious home cooked food (described by some as the best they’d ever tasted!) We enjoyed an unhurried schedule and the permission to “just be”. For me, this day showed me how tired my body was. How much subtle tension I was carrying and didn’t even realise it. At the end of 6 hours we all walked away feeling lighter, clearer, and inspired to continue prioritising our themes at home. I’m so grateful to all who shared this day with us. 🙏🏻 Who’s coming along for the next one? ☺️
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#Meditation #Mindfulness #MeditationRetreat #WellnessRetreat #MindfulnessRetreat #MeditationRetreatMelbourne #TheModernMeditator #Wisdom #Breathe #Wellness #WellBeing #SelfCare #SelfLove #Retreat #InsightMeditation #Warranwood #Warrandyte #Ringwood #RingwoodNorth #Croydon #ParkOrchards #EasternSuburbsMelbourne

One week to go! Can’t wait to host the Suburban

One week to go! Can’t wait to host the Suburban Bush Retreat in Warranwood this Sunday 27 October. 🍃 A daylong meditation retreat is the perfect next step if you’ve been meditating a while and would like to go beyond your usual 10- or 20-minute practice. It’s also an amazing stepping stone into longer weekend or week-long residential retreats. The cumulative effect of several meditations practised with a group over a day is noticeable and vastly deeper than the ones you fit into your usual week. Deeper rest, deeper insights, deeper peace. Sound just like what you need? Register for a spot at https://themodernmeditator.com.au/suburban-meditation-retreat/ Link in bio. 🧘‍♀️
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#Meditation #Mindfulness #MeditationRetreat #WellnessRetreat #MindfulnessRetreat #MeditationRetreatMelbourne #TheModernMeditator #Wisdom #Breathe #Wellness #WellBeing #SelfCare #SelfLove #Retreat #InsightMeditation #Warranwood #Warrandyte #Ringwood #RingwoodNorth #Croydon #ParkOrchards #EasternSuburbsMelbourne

If you’re feeling stressed and disconnected and

If you’re feeling stressed and disconnected and weary from winter, then step into my Suburban Bush Retreat, a daylong mindfulness retreat in Warranwood on Sunday 27 October. We’ll meditate, we’ll journal, we’ll move our bodies gently. We’ll share delicious food (and taste it, too). We’ll bask in silence and the soothing sounds of nature. Feel the tension melt away and step back out into the world feeling more like you. Save your spot! https://themodernmeditator.com.au/suburban-meditation-retreat/ Link in bio. 🍃
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#Meditation #Mindfulness #MeditationRetreat #WellnessRetreat #MindfulnessRetreat #MeditationRetreatMelbourne #TheModernMeditator #Wisdom #Breathe #Wellness #WellBeing #SelfCare #SelfLove #Retreat #InsightMeditation #Warranwood #Warrandyte #Ringwood #RingwoodNorth #Croydon #ParkOrchards #EasternSuburbsMelbourne

The difference between being “in thought” and

The difference between being “in thought” and being “present”. Your body knows and celebrates the difference. Like after eating a big plate of veggies. 🥒 There’s a distinct feeling of relief, even celebration, when you jerk to attention; when you come out of a train of thought. Your body welcomes the break from thinking. This is what mindfulness meditation does for your body (and you). Next time you meditate, pay attention to the sensations in your body when you transition from thinking back into awareness. You’ll start to realise just how sweet the present moment really is. ☺️
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#Meditation #Mindfulness #PresentMoment #PresentMomentAwareness #Relaxation #SelfCare #StressReduction #StressManagement #MindfulLiving #Wisdom #TheModernMeditator #Insight #InsightMeditation #BeHereNow #BeHere #JustThis #MindTraining

While there are countless amazing ways to meditate

While there are countless amazing ways to meditate and reasons to practise them, the traditional mindfulness instruction - focus on your breath and come back to it when you get distracted - still has its place. The beauty of the breath is that it has no storyline. While your attention is there, narratives are not. Doubt, worry, and self-criticism can’t perpetuate while you’re deliberately aware of your breath. It’s a safe haven from all that catastrophising. The breath doesn’t judge. The breath has no opinion. The breath is an impartial bystander happy for you to hang with it in the land of nothing to see here. Next time your mind is spinning, cut it off with a detour to the breath. Because the scenic route may be interesting but it can be exhausting and full of pot holes. —- Need a break from life’s treadmill? Take a detour past the Suburban Bush Meditation Retreat, coming up on Sunday 27 October. Spend a day catching your breath on the leafy grounds of Warranwood’s Michael Centre, and step back into the world with more energy, clarity, and calm. Learn more and register for a cushion at:
https://themodernmeditator.com.au/suburban-meditation-retreat/ Link in bio. 🍃
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#Meditation #Mindfulness #MeditationRetreat #WellnessRetreat #MindfulnessRetreat #MeditationRetreatMelbourne #TheModernMeditator #Wisdom #Breathe #Wellness #WellBeing #SelfCare #SelfLove #Retreat #InsightMeditation #Warranwood #Warrandyte #Ringwood #RingwoodNorth #Croydon #ParkOrchards #EasternSuburbsMelbourne

Kids, work, sport, friends, family, pets, Insta, e

Kids, work, sport, friends, family, pets, Insta, email, text... the list of people and things that need things from us is long and keeps coming.⁠
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When was the last time you took a day to recharge, and really reconnect?⁠
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Time to come home to yourself.⁠
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🌱 SAVE THE DATE 🌱⁠
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Join me in Melbourne's serene outer east for a daylong meditation retreat.⁠
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Leave all your usual concerns and demands at the door, and feel yourself lighten, breath by breath; layer by layer.⁠
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Meet yourself where you're at and welcome what arises as we meditate in "noble silence", explore the bushy grounds of the Michael Centre, share a mindful meal together, journal, and sit in the energy of other like-minded people.⁠
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Sound like just what you need? ⁠
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Same. 🙋‍♀️⁠
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I can't wait to be your host and guide, and hold space for you.⁠
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Learn more and sign up at: https://themodernmeditator.com.au/suburban-meditation-retreat/⁠
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Link in bio.⁠
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#meditation #meditationretreat #themodernmeditator #mindfulnessmeditation #mindfulness #silentretreat #mindfulnessretreat #silentmeditationretreat #meditationretreatmelbourne #meditationteacher #meditationclasses #wellnessretreat #wellness #wellbeing #selfcare #selflove #selfcompassion #compassionfatigue #burnout #warranwood #ringwood #croydon #warrandyte #parkorchards #ringwoodnorth #outereasternmelbourne #melbourneoutereast #maroondah #yarravalley #yarravalleyretreat

That’s a wrap! This week, I finished up with ano

That’s a wrap! This week, I finished up with another cohort of beginner meditators, and as always, everyone took away something unique to them.⁠
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Most people who come to me for meditation guidance aren’t complete newbies; they’ve dabbled on their own before throwing up their ‘prayer hands’ in complete frustration.⁠
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“I can’t meditate!” is such a common exasperation. 😩⁠
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But it doesn’t need to be.⁠
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While some meditation traditions claim their prescription is the perfect one, I disagree.⁠
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That’s why, as well as teaching the “hows”—how meditation works to relax the body and calm the mind—we explore several techniques that are not just “focus on your breath and come back whenever you become distracted.”⁠
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Though, that one is excellent, too.⁠
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In this latest cohort, I even had an experienced meditator who’d been practising for a couple of decades. She reminded me that as meditators, we are always beginners, and the quality of “beginner’s mind” is one to be protected.⁠
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So, even if you’re an advanced meditator, here are 5 revelations and lightbulb moments from newbie meditators to help bring you back to your beginner’s mind.⁠
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You don’t have to make your mind blank ❌⁠
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The 30-second spot meditation is achievable and works ✅⁠
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Labelling is a game-changer 🙌⁠
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Mantra meditation feels surprisingly good 💆‍♀️⁠
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Intermittent focusing is a relief 😅⁠
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👉 Swipe across to get the full context. ⁠
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So, what do you think? Are any of these revelations game-changing for you, too?⁠
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#Meditation #Mindfulness #TheModernMeditator #BeginnersMeditation #LearnToMeditate #MeditationMadeEasy #MeditationTeacher #MindfulnessCoach #MeditationTips #Wisdom #InsightMeditation #MantraMeditation #Awareness #InstinctiveMeditation #Thoughts #Stress #SpotMeditation

I read this quote by @sharonsalzberg. Why are yo

I read this quote by @sharonsalzberg. Why are you rehearsing that? As in, out of two possible outcomes, why are you rehearsing the worst? If we believe what the Buddha taught, that what we think, we become, then without mindfulness, the negative what-ifs; the fear-based worst-case-scenario thinking becomes a rehearsal of how to survive what we don’t want - thereby increasing its chances of “manifesting” in reality. Being pragmatic and having contingency plans is wise, to a point. But the brain’s negativity bias would rather have us loiter in the realm of catastrophe than the realm of amazing good fortune. So, how can we work with this negativity bias? It takes more than spouting a few positive affirmations. In some instances, it requires us to look deep within and listen to the messages beneath one of our most illuminating emotions: SHAME.💡 As @karlamclaren.m.ed defines, shame is the emotion that helps us live up to the standards, ethics, or morals we have set for ourselves - or others have set for us. In terms of rehearsing the worst, it may be soaring standards or outdated ethics that are preventing us from rehearsing the best. It may be shame telling us we don’t deserve this, we’re not worthy of that, and who do you think you are, exactly? This is where the digging comes in. This is where we can ask of ourselves: What standards or behaviours have I agreed to abide by, and are they mine, or did I unwittingly inherit them from society because of my gender, race, age, status - or because I prefer cats to dogs every day of the week? 🐈 If we can examine our shame “contracts”, and cancel or renegotiate the ones that we no longer agree with, our negative bias won’t be so biased anymore. So what catastrophe are you rehearsing at the moment, and can you start the deep conversation with shame to get you to a place where you can authentically rehearse the best? Read more of this on my blog ➡️ Link in bio.
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#Meditation #Mindfulness #TheModernMeditator #Emotions #EmotionalIntelligence #Shame #EmotionalAgility #PositiveThinking #NegativityBias #Psychology #SelfAwareness #SelfDevelopment #SelfEsteem #SelfConfidence #SelfCompassion

Modern life fragments us. The many hats we wear as

Modern life fragments us. The many hats we wear as parents, partners, employers/employees, coaches, children, siblings, friends, lovers, mentors - the list goes on. ⁠
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With each of these roles comes expectations of behaviour and time, and before long, we've leased out multiple versions of ourselves with no expiry date.⁠
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Meditation is like the mothership, calling all parts of us home, to make whole, even if just for a few minutes. We meditate, and we get back to the core of who we are. We return to the "me" that exists underneath our clones.⁠
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Next time you're feeling pulled in too many directions, even at your own making - remember, the road back home is short, and oh, so sweet. 🏡⁠
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#Meditation #Mindfulness #TheModernMeditator #InnerPeace #StressRelief #StressManagement #Balance #WellBeing #MentalHealth #MeTime #Solitude #Recharge #SelfAwareness #SelfCompassion #MeditationQuotes #Wisdom #LoveYourself #SelfLove #SelfCare #PersonalDevelopment #KeepCalmAndCarryOn #MindfulnessMeditation