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The Yogi Movement with Monica Stone

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Meditation when you’re feeling low energy, stuck in life, or can’t sleep

When you're down, feeling rock bottom, lost or confused - always meditate. It will heal you. Promise. Here's how you do it...

September 17, 2015 By Monica Stone 1 Comment

Do you have trouble getting yourself out of bed in the mornings? Does your body feel heavy, tired, or even a little tinge of sadness or confusion inside? You know you need to get out of bed, but you’ve just hit a rut in your life, and you’re not excited for the day. 

This has been one of those weeks where I just don’t want to roll out of bed, and I’ve been feeling tired and drained in my body (hate that).

I could easily fall into a depressed state, but that’s not my style. If something’s bringing me down, I know I need to snap out of it. Sometimes I listen to a motivational audiobook, or I might watch a TED talk. But, this morning, It was clear to me that I needed to devote time to sitting meditation, and make it a regular part of my practice.

It wasn’t until I went to a Vipassana meditation retreat in Twentynine Palms where I realized the effects of sitting meditation.

sitting meditation is different

When you’re moving in your asana practice, at least you can move through the emotions. Every asana is different, so you’re creating new energy and feelings with each movement and breath. In sitting meditation, you have to sit with everything that comes up, and wait for it to float away. It can be extremely excruciating, incredibly joyful, or totally neutral. You never know what to expect, and you have no choice but to deal with it. 

I went into my yoga room, and set the alarm for 20 minutes. At the retreat we meditated for 12 hours and 45 minutes each day! No, I am not making that up. And, did I mention it was a silent 10 day retreat? All of my friends freaked out when I told them about the silent part, but it was actually the easiest part of the process.  

As I was scanning my body, I noticed my lower back was feeling a little uncomfortable, and my breathing was very uneven. I was also feeling weak inside. I asked myself, how do I wanted to feel? The words that came out were: free, energetic, fulfilled, happy. I asked myself when was the last time I remembered feeling that way, and I traveled right back to Joshua Tree.

It’s interesting. I haven’t really written about that trip. I’ve discussed it here and there, but what I experienced was just so profound that I couldn’t put it into words. It’s the only time in my life I felt completely free inside. When I was there, I wasn’t in my head about worry, money, stress, or anything.  I just felt alive. I felt so full of life.

Joshua Tree Collage

I stayed at the Joshua Tree Inn before the retreat, and the 29 Palms Inn after. I woke up every morning and did yoga and meditated. Then, I jam packed my days with exploring, but it didn’t feel busy or hectic. It just felt free.

I didn’t waste a day or moment. I hiked through the national park. I chose a different restaurant every day. I even went to the laundromat and the owner was so nice. He gave me a bunch of ideas to do while I was in town. I loved the Indian/Pizza place! 

Gram Parsons Joshua Tree

The second part of my trip was to practice at the Ashtanga Yoga Center with Tim Miller. I stayed at the Carlsbad Inn which I still think of as my home away from home.

On my last day, I remember sitting at a waffle food truck in Carlsbad. I ordered a peanut butter waffle, and just sat outside as I took in the scenery. It was at that moment that I thought, I can’t believe I have to leave. I don’t want to go back.

Carlsbad Last Day

I was milking every last minute. I didn’t have to leave until around 11pm, so after that I went to the San Diego Botanical Gardens. Then, I went to a vegan restaurant for dinner in San Diego before I dropped off my rental car.

I couldn’t get enough of the special energy in that place. Everywhere for me was like a breathtaking moment. If I wasn’t in tears over the beauty of the Mojave dessert, I was speechless over the sunsets and beauty of the ocean in Carlsbad.

Usually when you’re somewhere for too long, you want to come home to what’s familiar. I usually think, I just want to be in my own bed. But, that didn’t cross my mind. I was home. And, I want to go back.

My alarm went off. I opened my eyes, and decided if I can’t be there right now, I can create that here. I want to feel that in my body again. I want to feel that in my heart. I thought about all of the pictures I had, and then I remembered that I had a coupon for free prints from Artifact Uprising.

If I’m not living in my home yet, then I figure I can bring my home to me. I ordered prints to surround me of Joshua Tree, Carlsbad, and Encinitas to hold me over until I get there. 

They’re on there way & I can’t wait to wake up every day to the dessert and ocean of my favorite places. 

Since I’ve started meditating again, I feel happier and lighter inside. I also have more energy. It’s fascinating how sitting for just a few minutes a day can create such a profound change in your mind and body.

Enough about me. I want to help you do this too. I’ve created a guided vipassana style meditation that you can do daily. Click the image below for your FREE guided meditation!

Here’s what you’re striving for:

  1. Sit in a comfortable position. A cushion helps. 
  2. Try not to move even if you have to scratch your nose. Sit through the discomfort knowing it’s only temporary. Remember, you’ll never injure yourself from sitting. 
  3. Don’t open your eyes. 
  4. When you do the body scan, don’t skip around, and don’t stay in each area the same length of time. 
  5. Don’t try to control your breath. 

14 minute meditation2

Filed Under: Instruction Tagged With: Meditation

Monica Stone

About Monica Stone

Monica is a lover of all things yoga, a vegetarian, an avid tea drinker, and never gets sick of soup and noodle dishes. She teaches yoga, practices daily, and runs a Spiritual Book Club in Orlando, FL. She likes to challenge the strict rules of yoga, and makes it accessible for everyone - especially people who suffer from daily life and work stress.

« How I Stopped Chasing Postures, and Started Enjoying My Practice, and My Life
What It Really Means If You Skip Your Yoga Practice? »

Hi! I’m Monica

Monica StoneWell hello there! I'm Monica. I'm a yoga & meditation teacher (and junkie). I teach yoga practices that are quick and effective for the busy person who just needs a few minutes of quiet time in their day. Click around and you'll find quick meditation tips for calming the mind to simple stretches to relieve stress and tension. If you are sick of being intimidated by yoga or just confused by all of the different styles out there - then this page is for you. Yoga helps me daily & I know it will help you too! I'll show you how! Welcome to The Yogi Movement :)

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Testimonials

  • Jaime ShearerJaime ShearerYoga Student Since 2012

    Monica is dedicated to her own practice and the true path of yoga - the one of personal experience - which makes her an outstanding teacher. She is warm and easy to talk with, and she allows the student to have their own experience on the mat. She explains postures and breath in ways that are understandable so that the student "gets it." She makes yoga real and tangible in ways that truly serve the student. Work with Monica. You'll be glad you did.

  • Jacob AbercrombieJacob AbercrombieYoga Student Since 2011

    have always wanted to try yoga, but was always nervous. Monica took that fear away and made me feel like i was the only one in class with a room full of strangers. She is able to work with multiple students during the same move and still make it a personalized class for one.

  • Serena JonesSerena JonesYoga Student Since 2010

    Monica has been a highly influential teacher to me. She creates a safe environment for learning and practice. I have always felt grounded in her classes, and she pushes me beyond my own expectations. She inspires and motivates! I can't imagine my life without sharing a path with her!

  • Angela OrofinoAngela OrofinoYoga Student Since 2011

    Monica is a caring, wise, thoughtful, and talented yoga instructor. She has an in-depth knowledge of the philosophy and spirituality of Ashtanga yoga. My previous yoga experience had mostly just been at my local gym. Luckily, last year I found Monica. She has been guiding my practice at least once a week since then. As a newcomer to Ashtanga yoga, Monica made me feel comfortable and had the patience to teach me the basics. She also encouraged me to start an at home practice so that I was able to obtain a deeper understanding of Ashtanga. Monica is always encouraging and lets me know in subtle ways when she feels that I am ready to move deeper into my practice. I feel that the growth in my practice over the last year has been tremendous. Not only do I notice the change in me but others around me do as well. I am so grateful to have found Monica!

  • Sasha TamarSasha TamarYoga Student Since 2012

    I’ve come across many a yoga instructor over the years, but Monica stands out as genuinely amiable, as she glows with an infectious inner light, and highly devoted to and passionate about her practice. Her dedication to Ashtanga as a lifestyle is very clear, and creates for a contagious motivating force. Every time I’ve practiced with her, she eagerly transmits her devotion and passion of Ashtanga and meditation to everyone in class; she makes the most fledgling beginner feel at home, and simultaneously challenges the more advanced students. While I only practice Ashtanga with her, I know she provides therapeutic yoga sessions as well as meditation. And, if her methods of guiding students out of the Ashtanga vigor into the more meditative savasana are indicative of her meditational techniques, I’d recommend her to anyone

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