I am not sure as to how prevalent or obvious it is through these blogs, but I have a very non-stop kind of “over-thinking” brain process.  I constantly question and second and triple guess each and every thought, motive and action.  Although an asset at times; and it certainly has been in the past, it is also been a source of frustration.

With this said I decided to attempt and calm this part of myself in some fashion.  My first attempt was what is commonly known as an isolation tank.  It is a large metal box essentially.  It is filled with about 12” of water that is saturated with 800 lbs of salt to make it incredibly buoyant.  You simply lay in this water and float, and then the fun part.  You close the door to this box and it is completely black. There is no sound, no visuals or stimuli of any kind.  In fact after a few minutes you begin to feel as if you are actually floating and completely weight-less.  Although this is not for everyone, it is quite an experience and I highly recommend it.

However although very fun and interesting, this isolation tank is not exactly the “calming” experience that I really need, nor is it something that is practical to do on a consistent basis.  So I began to dabble into the good ‘ol meditation.  Now, I am in shape and that shape…is round.  So needless to say, I need some comfort to brace between the floor and I.  I tried many things, from a yoga mat, to a bamboo meditation bench and then finally the meditation cushion.

These Zafu and Zabuton meditation cushions were certainly my favorite thus far and are eco-friendly. They made it much easier to “let go” per say, rather than thinking about how hard the ground was.  So although I am a grave novice at this point, I shall see where this little rabbit holes leads and report on my findings down the road.

As you have probably figured out about me, I’m a jack of all trades- master of none.  I’m a very curious person, and enjoy sampling different parts of life.  Working for MatsMatsMats.com, I get to talk to so many diverse people that every once and a while I feel like “hey.. you’re interesting.  We need to be friends”.  Usually because I’m talking to somebody that is passionate about something. 

Lately I’ve been curious about meditation, but how do you learn to meditate by yourself?  What meditation supplies to I need to get started? I’m guessing that these are pretty common question amongst people just starting or wanting to start.  From what I’ve heard from a few customers, for the best meditation experience you simply need a meditation cushion (zafu or zabuton) to make yourself comfy and imagine yourself in a very tranquil place- for example, the beach, the mountains, or a forest.  I’m so easily distracted I would actually need to go to the beach or mountains.  If you’re like me I heard other more “physically-oriented” techniques are more helpful.  You can do things like following your breath, or you can focus on different body sensations.  These sensations will tend to move, and following them is one form of meditation!  The hardest part for me will be to clear my head, but I heard using a mantra is very helful.  Something simple like “Om” or a hum can work.  This is supposed to stop all the random thoughts.  I guess it just takes some practice.  First I need to just get started.  Make it a habit. 

One of my customers told me I shouldn’t ask so many questions, just do it.  She said questions about best time of day or technique are really disguised ways to look for an EXCUSE not to meditate.  She did say not to meditate right after I eat.  “If you meditate right after you eat, you’ll usually fall asleep.”

Does “Going Green” mean you have to become a hippie? Absolutely not! You can do your part to help save the environment without trying very hard. Believe me, I don’t like anything that makes my life too difficult.

Here’s what I’m talking about. I’m not going to buy those canvas bags that you can reuse at the market (mainly because I’ll never remember to bring them with me), so rather than throwing away the plastic bags I use them as trash bags in my smaller trashcans at home- REUSE!- This, is going green.

I have a recyclables can next to my trash can so I can easily toss paper, plastic and other non-biodegradable junk in there with no extra effort- RECYLE- It’s something most of us have probably done since we were kids, but!! It’s being green.

I try not to have water running while I’m doing dishes, or brushing my teeth, and I close the fridge for the 10 seconds it takes me to pour a glass of milk. None of that sounds like much, but it adds up AND helps with your utility bill. REDUCE!

Some other simple things you can try is buying eco-friendly products whenever you can, and when it’s convenient. For instance: If you’re on a website, like MatsMatsMats.com, because you’re already planning on buying a yoga mat or meditation cushion or whatever, check to see if maybe they have an Eco-Friendly section (which they do – www.matsmatsmats.com/eco-friendly ).  It may take a few extra clicks, but you can do something small to help something great.

What I am trying to say is, don’t let the super green people make you feel like your contribution is inadequate.  Do whatever you can, when you can. One thing at a time.  It’s easy to make changes.  It doesn’t matter how many steps you take, just that you’re moving.

Being “Green” doesn’t have to consume you. When you are shopping for things take a moment to see if there are eco friendly alternatives, like an eco yoga mat, eco door mats, etc.  Make small changes to your lifestyle to conserve energy and re-use products when possible.  If all 6 billion people in our world did as little as I do, the effects would be monstrous.

One added benefit of trying to be eco-friendly is the peace of mind that you’re doing what you can to preserve the planet for the next generation!