Australian Yoga Journal — July 2017

START BY BECOMING AWAREof where

youarerightnow.Slowdownfora

moment and begin to observe your

surroundings. Notice the space you’re

in, the quality of your environment, the

overall atmosphere and the feeling of

the space around you. Take note of the

textures, the tones, and how much your

senses can take in while you connect to

your outer surroundings. Start to sip in

the details, and notice the little nuances.

As you become more aware of the

external setting, see how you can start

to relax into your body and inner layers

of your mind, breath and feeling.

Let the outer edges of your body begin

to relax, softening your skin, and

inviting that softness to pour its way

inwards into your innermost core.

Continue to breathe deeply, in a really

natural and easy way, as you follow PHOTO: CAMERON DAVID SMITH

the pathway of your inner softening. 

As you begin to follow the subtlety of

your breath into your inner space, see

how you can drop into your most basic

awareness of yourself inside this

moment. Try relaxing your attention

back a level, so you can start to notice

any mental chatter, inner dialogue, and

gradually you can transition into a mode

of observing yourself and the moment

simultaneously. By tapping into this

depth of awareness, you may find the

dust starts to settle and you can start to

observe your thoughts, mind, body and

breath with more acute clarity. Stay

here in this place of observation for a

few minutes, encouraging a space of

presence, peacefulness and gentle

awareness. As you finish, slowly ease

into your day and carry the gifts that you

receive with you as you continue on your

way. You can keep this up, and use it as a
tool to practice orienting yourself with
internal direction. 
Over time, this inner compass can be
cultivated and soon it will become a
touchstone of peace and balance for you
to use and access as you please. No
matter where you are, wherever you go
in the world, you can carry this inner
map with you as a place to draw on for
support in your life and in your daily
practice. The method is refreshingly
simple: look inwards to find your true
north. The map is available, and the
landscape awaits inside you. An array of
benefits comes with this discovery of
mindfulness.
“Mindfulness is not chasing the
moment but sipping the nectar of the
moment.”
42 — Amit Ray, Mindfulness

july 2017

yogajournal.com.au