100 Days

Day 90!

Focus was a little erratic today, but this time when I noticed it trailing off, I pulled it back to my body, and in particular to my jaw and the sensation of relaxation that emanates from that area. This particular focus was prompted by listening to Shinzen Young’s talks on meditation, in which he recommends (when starting a meditation practice) focusing on the lovely feeling of relaxation that stems from loosening the jaw. Focusing on something enjoyable helps to provide a reward/positive reinforcement for this new activity.

If you’re interested, Shinzen Young’s basic instructions for starting a meditation practice are – find a comfortable seated position, close your eyes, loosen your jaw, and notice the subtle sensation of relaxation that starts in that area of your body¹ focus on that, and when you observe that your focus strays, bring it back to that sensation. Focusing on the relaxation sensation will ultimately help it grow, and when you get really good at meditating, you’ll feel this relaxation across your entire body, all the time