Vidyamala’s “Mindfulness for Women” Course Begins March 1, 2017
Vidyamala’s online course, “Mindfulness for Women,” kicks off on March 1 on Wildmind. This course is inspired by the book I co-authored with journalist Claire Irvin. Interestingly, Claire had never meditated before we began this project. She kept a diary of her experiences, which is both humorous and touching. Here’s an excerpt from her diary during her first week of meditation:
Claire’s Diary Week One: Body Scan
It’s a dark evening in early spring, around 9:30 PM. My husband Stuart is away, and I’ve just managed to get my six-year-old daughter Amelie to bed after her usual antics to delay bedtime, especially with her dad not home. Normally, I’d be winding down myself by now, since early bedtimes are my lifesaver in a hectic schedule, but tonight I’m a bit restless. Enjoying the peacefulness of the house, I remember my commitment to Vidyamala to begin my mindfulness journey, so I push the thought of TV away. I head upstairs to bed, play my meditation recording, and Vidyamala’s soothing voice fills the room.
I feel myself relaxing almost immediately. This isn’t as difficult as I expected. However, after a few seconds, I get distracted by a noise in the garden—it sounds like a cat climbing the shed. Resisting the urge to investigate, I refocus on the meditation, though I momentarily worry if I’ve locked up properly outside.
When Vidyamala mentions focusing on my belly, I cringe. Like many women, I’m self-conscious about my stomach, but as I tune into my breathing, I feel accomplished. Another sound outside distracts me, bringing tension back to my body.
Vidyamala then prompts me to relax my face. Realizing how tense my jaw and mouth are, I consciously relax them, but it feels like a game of whack-a-mole with tension moving around my face. I chuckle at the irony of working hard to relax, then notice I’ve missed part of the meditation. Note to self: improve next time.
After the session, I decide it’s time for bed, feeling unexpectedly serene. Even with Stuart away, which usually makes me anxious, I sleep like a baby.
Body scans really help, especially with guided meditation in the background—they’ve been a great support during my anxiety-filled days.