August 1st, 2013
Those people in the yoga advertisements looking perfectly zen sitting in lotus position next to a lotus flower? Good for them, but that's not your life, is it? You have a cell phone, you have kids, you have noise in your life. But you also (we swear) have time to meditate. Join us for a weekly meditation you can incorporate into your life, anytime, anywhere.
“I just like to smile…smiling’s my favorite.” Will Ferrell in Elf
Some days, it feels like the whole world is smiling with you. In others, it feels like the world is scowling at you and you’d do anything for a genuine “How are you doing today?” kind of smile.
One of the most famous Tao meditation practices is known as the “inner smile.” Ever smiled at your liver? Give it a shot on a day when you feel that you and the world are not on the best terms.
Sit comfortably and tall, allowing the muscles of the neck and face to relax. Come into the present moment by taking a couple of deep, steady and controlled breaths.
Start to let the corners of your mouth lightly lift. This should be a subdued Mona Lisa smile that supports the relaxation of your face.
Bring your attention to the centre of your brain, or the point equidistant between the ears. In Taoism this is known as the Crystal Palace. This is the place between the pineal and pituitary glands. Feel the energy gathering in this place.
Direct the energy from the Crystal Palace to your eyes, imagining your eyes becoming affected by the smile on your lips. Let your eyes shine, just like when you’re around someone you love. Direct that love and that smile inward.
Continue to smile throughout your body, perhaps directing it towards an area that needs healing or an area that you rarely give attention to (this is where your liver comes in). Continue to direct smile energy throughout your body until the slight smile on your face feels natural.
Then go spread that sweet look around town.
Courtney Sunday from Toronto, Ontario
Courtney Sunday is a writer, yoga teacher, Pilates instructor and Thai massage practitioner. She teaches corporations in Toronto the fine art of breathing deeply, and travels too much for her own good. She likes to cook meals from scratch using ingredients from her garden, and would mill her own flour and make her own butter if she had more hours in the day. You can find out more about her at www.courtneysunday.com.
More about the author
