Last week our Campus & Academic Manager Lisa led a fantastic meditation class exploring different types of meditation with students.
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Square breathing
First, Lisa explained square breathing, also known as box breathing or four-square breathing, a simple and effective breathing technique used to promote relaxation, reduce stress, and increase focus and clarity. It involves inhaling, holding the breath, exhaling, and holding the breath again in a rhythmic pattern, creating a square-like pattern when visualized.
By engaging in square breathing, you can bring balance and calm to your nervous system, allowing you to regulate your body’s stress response and promote a sense of inner calm. It is a portable and easily accessible technique that can be practiced anytime, anywhere, providing a moment of relaxation and centering in the midst of a busy day.
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Nadi Shodhana
Nadi Shodhana, also known as alternate nostril breathing, is a yogic breathing technique that helps balance and purify the nadis, which are subtle energy channels in the body according to traditional yogic philosophy. This practice involves alternating the breath between the left and right nostrils, promoting a sense of harmony and calming the mind.
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Walking meditation
A walking meditation is a form of meditation that involves combining mindfulness with the act of walking. It offers an opportunity to cultivate a state of deep presence and awareness while engaging in the physical movement of walking. Rather than focusing solely on the breath or a static object, walking meditation allows you to bring mindfulness into your daily movements.
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Bhramari pranayama / bee breath
Bhramari pranayama, also known as “Bee Breath,” is a calming and soothing breathing technique practiced in yoga and pranayama (breathing exercises). The word “Bhramari” is derived from the Sanskrit term for “bee,” and the practice involves mimicking the humming sound of a bee during exhalation.
Bhramari pranayama is often used as a technique to calm the mind, reduce stress, and induce a state of relaxation. It can be practiced at any time when you feel the need for a break or wish to center yourself.
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Yoga Nidra
The practice of Yoga Nidra typically involves lying down in a comfortable position, such as Savasana (corpse pose), and listening to a trained instructor or guided recording that leads you through a series of verbal instructions and visualizations. The aim is to induce a state of deep relaxation while maintaining a conscious awareness throughout the practice.
As the meditation activity came to a close, the students emerged with smiles on their faces, grateful for the transformative experience that had left them feeling rejuvenated, centered, and ready to approach their studies and lives with newfound peace and perspective.
Learn English in Byron Bay. Lexis English students study General English, IELTS, FCE, CAE, and English plus Surfing in a friendly and professional school right in the heart of Byron Bay and only 15 minutes from the beach.
