Vipassana — loosely translated as ‘insight’— is an ancient Buddhist meditation technique that focuses on the deep connection between mind and body, which can be realized by bringing awareness to the sensory experience. The goal of Vipassana, when practiced daily, is to bring an ever-increasing awareness to one’s own understanding of the truthful nature of the impermanence of life. It is a process of self discovery that allows you to observe your own experiences while simultaneously participating in them as they occur.

Getting Started with Vipassana

1. Sit or lie comfortably. A pillow or meditation cushion can be helpful, but is not required.

2. Allow the eyes to either close or gently flutter.

3. Begin to tune into the breath, making no effort to manipulate your natural pattern of breathing.

4. Focus the attention to the breath and how it affects the body with each inhalation and exhalation. Observe the physical form such as the neck, shoulders, rib cage, low belly and back. Simply focus on your experiences in the present moment and allow attention to remain anchored to the breath without working to control its pace or intensity. When you begin to lose focus, bring awareness back to the breath.

There’s the old adage that it takes something 21 days to become a habit, and although this can be true, certain habits can take longer to form than others. (based on difficulty, determination, etc.) Even meditating just 10 minutes a day for 30 days can yield amazing results. Feel free to take a listen to any of the audio guides here to find clarity in the mind, complete your yoga offering, or decompress after a stressful day.