You know the amazing benefits of mindfulness and meditation, you’ve been through periods of consistent practice, experimented with different styles and teachers – but something’s just not sticking…
Even with years of dedication, the state of presence and stillness we might hope to achieve through meditation can still prove elusive.
We caught up with Isabell Britsch (ahead of her February Meditation Training) to find out some of the ways you might be able to re-approach this invaluable practice.
Find out if Isabell’s training is right for you with this free 10 minute mindful breathing meditation.
Isabell Britsch, renowned for her clear, accessible teaching style, believes the fullest experience of meditation is built on three foundational pillars. Here is her expert insight into elevating your practice beyond the basics.
Pillar 1: Releasing the ‘Fix-It’ Mindset
A common roadblock for long-term practitioners is often the subtle, but deeply ingrained desire to achieve a certain state of mind – to feel ‘clear’ or ‘blissful’. Whilst it can be a valuable driver for building the habit at first, this expectation grows counterproductive.
“Striving or grasping, wanting to get somewhere or wanting to get something from the meditation means following habitual mental patterns which often lead to frustration and strain rather than success. Moreover, we lose sight of the bigger picture – the actual foundation for meditation – which is characterised by an ongoing curiosity into our own being.
As self-awareness deepens, meditation enables a process of letting go of our personal (biased, filtered and selective) interpretation of reality and open to a wider perspective. Then – just for a moment – the mind has a chance to become still; at ease; free.”
Isabell’s teaching helps you move away from expectation towards an embodied deepening of self-awareness, building patience and resilience in the face of life’s challenges.
Pillar 2: Keep it simple
“Practice is about letting go of the expectation that things should be different to how they are; instead we can simply attend to what’s there – one moment at a time. Through this process, we can receive what we experience in the moment with kindness, without judgment, with a receptive heart, and even a sense of tenderness.
There are no tricks, no shortcuts, to get somewhere quickly. There simply needs to be a willingness to lean into curiosity. Curiosity helps us to stay open to the twists and turns life brings without withdrawing or panicking. And curiosity is also at the heart of any deepening of self-awareness.
“When we are able to stay curious, it becomes easier to live with the uncertainty that life invariably brings. Opening to not knowing, meeting life with a spirit of adventure, willingness to adapt, and ability to work with difficulties; this helps us to grow from challenges, and integrate their lessons over time.”
Pillar 3: Integration – Turning Meditation into Action
The practice doesn’t just end when we step away from it. In no small part, the reason we meditate is to develop a deep well of patience to draw on in moments of hardship, and equally to allow ourselves to feel deeper and be more present in moments of joy and connection.
“Progress in meditation often doesn’t show up in practice itself. It shows up in life; in our ability to feel a little more resourced, stable and regulated in our day-to-day activities and interactions – bringing together our aspiration and highest intentions with the practicalities of living and an attitude that can embrace life as it is.
Practice helps us to become less restless, less stressed, more attentive, more receptive and open to see the special moments in our lives, to become more honest with ourselves, more patient and kind inwardly and outwardly, and to lead happier and more balanced lives.”
Interested in training with Isabell?
If you’re a yoga teacher looking to develop your offering, Isabell’s meditation CPD training is a fantastic opportunity to do so. She’s able to share with you not just the tools to deepen your own meditation, but ways of making it uniquely accessible, allowing you to share with other practitioners whatever stage of the practice they’re in.
- Develop confidence as a teacher: Learn to confidently guide students away from complex techniques and towards simple anchors like sounds, breath and bodily sensation.
- Break down common misconceptions: Gain the professional vocabulary to bust myths like “I need total silence”, “I need to sit on the floor cross-legged”, “I need to clear my mind” and offer practical, accessible alternatives.
- Discover accessible teaching methods: Simplicity allows for easy adaptations that make this a practice that can work for many of us with whatever lived experience we bring to the practice. Whether we’re busy or overwhelmed, stressed, hurt, or simply curious.
Find out more about Isabell’s Meditation Teacher Training at Yogarise Peckham. Over the course of a month you’ll meet for 2 full days in our Peckham training space and gather for 4 afternoons on Zoom.
