Meditation


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Biking Meditation

Bike leaning against a bench in a park

I'm not sure what to call it. Biking meditation. Bike yoga. Meditation in motion. Meditative biking. Maybe just mindfulness meditation while biking.

But I know something happens on my bike. Riding by myself, unplugged, no earbuds, outside in nature feels good. It relaxes me. It helps me let go of concerns about the future or past. If I have a problem I've been trying to solve, I often arrive home from a ride with a solution. Especially if I was not trying to solve the problem.

Decentering

Episode Number
69
Psychologists use the phrase "decentering" to denote the difference between our thoughts and reality. It's a practice the removes you from the center of your thinking. In this meditation we practice a variety of decentering techniques designed to help shift from a self-centered perspective to a nature-centered perspective.

To leave a comment about this episode, visit matthewtift.com/prettygood/69. The theme music is "Maxixe" performed by Edson Lopes under CC BY 3.0.

Earth, Water, Fire, and Air

Episode Number
68
In this meditation, we examine the body as four elements: the earth element, the water element, the fire element, and the air element. This practice provides a method to go into the body based on material conditions. Not the stories the mind tells about the body. Not judgments. The reality of this moment. This practice can help us learn to let go of attachments and judgements about ourselves and other people

To leave a comment about this episode, visit matthewtift.com/prettygood/68. The theme music is "Maxixe" performed by Edson Lopes under CC BY 3.0.

Peacefulness and Ease

Episode Number
67
Sometimes loving-kindness meditations focus on categories of people, starting with you, and then moving to someone who is easy to love, then family, friends, acquaintances, people that you do not like, people you've never met, etc. Other times, loving-kindness meditations take a more geographical approach, such as starting with you, the people you live with, neighbors, people that live in the same city, state, nation, or world, etc. In this meditation, we drop most of those categories and focus on the feeling of loving-kindness.

To leave a comment about this episode, visit matthewtift.com/prettygood/67. The theme music is "Maxixe" performed by Edson Lopes under CC BY 3.0.

Letting Go of Performance and Learning to Observe

Matthew meditating on a rock near a river

Last weekend I attended a 4-day retreat put on by a nonprofit organization called onelove.yoga. The title of the retreat was: "Moments of Silence Yoga and Meditation Retreat to Grand Marais." As is often the case for me with meditation retreats, I left feeling nourished. Even better, I had a breakthrough. I realized why this weekend led to feelings of relaxation, renewal, and joy.

Perfect, Whole, and Complete

Episode Number
66
Most of the time, our minds are not satisfied, and instead are on the lookout for danger, scattered, or just board. In this meditation we use a mantra to help train the mind to appreciate the present moment: "This moment is perfect, whole, and complete."

To leave a comment about this episode, visit matthewtift.com/prettygood/66. The theme music is "Maxixe" performed by Edson Lopes under CC BY 3.0.

Seeing the Truth

Episode Number
65
We can't make much progress in meditation if we do not see the world for what it is. In this practice, we pay attention to how the mind draws us away from what is real. We pause, with the intention of letting go of those stories and seeing the world as it actually is.

To leave a comment about this episode, visit matthewtift.com/prettygood/65. The theme music is "Maxixe" performed by Edson Lopes under CC BY 3.0.

Working with Distractions

Episode Number
64
During meditation it is common to hear a sound or experience a feeling that sends the mind off, carried away and caught up in the future or the past. In this meditation we investigate the nature of the distractions, practice letting them go, and re-establish connection to the present.

The theme music is "Maxixe" performed by Edson Lopes under CC BY 3.0. Subscribe to my newsletter at matthewtift.com/newsletter.

Rest in the Knowing

Episode Number
63
In this meditation you will start by noticing how your body fits within the space of your own awareness. Using the physical sensations of the body and the flow of breath, this meditation allows you to practice centering your attention, stabilizing your awareness, and rest in the knowing.

To leave a comment about this episode, visit matthewtift.com/prettygood/63. The theme music is "Maxixe" performed by Edson Lopes under CC BY 3.0.

The Gift of a Pause

Episode Number
62
Would you like a short break in your day? This brief centering practice provides a moment for you to give yourself the gift of a pause.

To leave a comment about this episode, visit matthewtift.com/prettygood/62. The theme music is "Maxixe" performed by Edson Lopes under CC BY 3.0.
Meditation