It’s prevalent in our society for many of us to spend time over-projecting thoughts about the future or dwelling on memories that have past—so much so that we can forget, or are discouraged, to let go and live truly in the moment. Breathing is a simple way for us to sidestep mental chatter and be present in each moment. Onkar Ryan has shared with us her wisdom and ancient yogic techniques to revel living in the now.
It’s so important to focus on living in the present moment. In the present moment, there is only love. When we feel feelings such as doubt and fear, we are either living in the past or future. These are good indicators for us to observe our feelings and access whether we are in the present, past or future.
Here are two great exercises to help you be present and live each moment fully.
EXERCISE ONE
Sit in a chair, bring your hands together with your palms facing up, one on top of the other in your lap. Close your eyes and concentrate on your breath. Begin to listen to your breath as you breathe in through your nose, hold briefly, and then exhale through the nose. As you begin to focus on your breath, begin to notice any outside noises around you. Keeping your eyes closed with no judgment of the sounds you hear, just listen. Keep drawing your focus back to the breath. As you become aware of outside noises do not let them distract you. Keep the noises as part of your experience. Continue this exercise for 3 minutes.
EXERCISE TWO
Focus on the silence. When you have a conversation with someone, make sure to notice the pauses in between the words. Begin to notice that within these pauses there are subtle moments of silence. In this moment of silence, you experience the present moment. In our fast-paced world, we do not acknowledge these silent moments that occur in communication. These moments are precious and although they may feel uncomfortable at first, they will help us to slow down, to communicate authentically and to experience the present moment. Try this practice and see what your experience is.
Living in the moment is truly where the magic, love, and peace live. My prayer is that we all find it!
Blessings,
Onkar
Onkar is a Kundalini yoga student, teacher, and meditative healer. She has been practicing Kundalini Yoga, as taught by Yogi Bhajan, since 2006 and began teaching in the summer of 2008. She has lived in Alabama, Colorado and now resides in Los Angeles, California. Onkar’s classes focus on the deep healing of the self through meditation, breath, yoga, mantra, and relaxation.
