meditation has its moment
Meditation gets a bad rap. It’s a generalization, for sure, but those who have the can’t-sit-stills meditating is an intimidating concept. But what if meditation was made easy? There’s a movement happening in downtown Vancouver about to do just that.
MOMENT, a five-day, pop up installation at thisopenspace in Vancouver’s Chinatown, is dedicated to sparking conversation about mindfulness, is dispelling myths around meditation and making it accessible (and enjoyable).
The brainchild of yogi Anita Cheung, MOMENT is an opportunity to get absolutely anyone into a mindfulness practice. “To put it quite simply, (meditation) saved me,” says Anita. “However, I found that none of my peers were meditating on a regular basis, and I often wondered why. I knew there was an opportunity to make meditation accessible.”
Anita’s vision was to create a welcoming space that would draw in curious passers-by. Once through the door, a mindful experience is each individual’s own to create. Conversation and curiosity are encouraged, but each person chooses to what extent. And while there are short, guided meditations everyone can listen to on an iPod, there’s no pressure to do so.
Our legacy ambassador Carolyn Ann Budgell helped Anita make MOMENT come to life. Known for her expertise in supporting others in their dive into meditation, Carolyn is the voice of the recorded meditations and will be leading the in-person meditations happening in the space.
“Meditation practice has helped to change my life, my outlook, my friendships in many amazing ways,” says Carolyn. “I harbour far less anger, less resentment, and have fewer unaware reactions.” Through meditation, Carolyn was able to let go of thoughts and actions that weren’t working for her and choose different outcomes, exactly what she has on deck for those who check out MOMENT.
MOMENT will kick off on September 9 and will play host to events such as a speaker series—including a chat about meditation and athletics with lululemon elite ambassador and professional mountain biker Ryan Leech—and a mindful, nourishing meal that your cell phones is not invited to (gasp!).
“What we are creating with MOMENT is a reminder that anyone of any age can create an impact,” says Carolyn. “We’re also offering an impetus to stop. We waste precious time rushing around and running from ourselves. Now is the time to pause and see what comes up.”
If you’re not able to experience MOMENT in person, guided meditations for everyone’s use will be posted on the MOMENT website beginning the week of September 15.
5 easy ways to create moments of mindfulness
1) Breathe. Inhale, exhale. Repeat. Simple and effective.
2) Get grounded. Stop the cyclone of ‘busy’ and get both your feet on the ground. Sit up tall in your chair and place your hands on your thighs. Observe the change that happens in your thoughts when you slow down, take a breath and allow yourself to pause.
3) Pick up a pen. Start or end your day with a brief journal entry of stream of consciousness writing. Unload your thoughts onto paper.
4) Move your body. Movement is known to connect individuals to themselves and to support learning and information retention.
5) Get App Happy. Download Buddhify, an app that supports meditation any time, any where. You’ll find yourself observing things you’ve never considered before.
Jess is an Alberta native living and loving life on the West Coast of Canada. Possibly a mermaid in a former life, she is drawn to large bodies of water and uses any excuse to be in them. She spends her days immersed in the world of words and has a love for people, their stories, their experiences and their perspectives. She also is afflicted by wanderlust, has an obnoxious sweet tooth and is a peanut butter enthusiast.
