Feel like your brain never stops thinking? Congratulations, you’re perfect for Meditation!
- emmasyogahut
- May 14
- 6 min read
Welcome to this Emma's Yoga Hut Blog! I hope you are well and happy and enjoying all the new light and life of Springtime?!
A couple of weeks I went to see an evening with Ruby Wax over at Reading Universities gorgeous Great Hall. It was a gorgeous warm, sunny evening, and she was interesting, obviously very funny, and smart as a whip. You may or may not know that after she stopped working in television (she did something which ended her career abruptly - turned 50) she became a mindfulness expert. Having dealt for years with mental health issues she decided to take matters into her own hands and study the neuroscience with one of the worlds leading experts at Oxford University. Like you do!
It was a funny, inspirational evening, she communicates complex ideas with clarity and wit, and as a yoga teacher I can attest to her accuracy.
In the questions and answers section someone said to her:
“I can’t meditate. I can’t clear my mind.”
I have lost count of the times I have heard this! As my yoga teaching teacher says – if your brain isn’t busily thinking thoughts then you are probably dead! It is literally the brains job to think. So emptying your mind is a really unhelpful concept when it comes to meditation, yet it is a very widely held belief.
Dhyana (meditation) or Pratyahara (focussing the mind on one thing) are generally considered to be some of the trickiest of the 8 limbs of yoga. Probably its slightly easier if you are sat on a mountain doing nothing BUT meditating for years....Then you have no job stress, family drama, no phone and email clamouring for your precious attention. I mean, honestly I doubt that even your most calm meditating mountain top human would be QUITE so at peace at a family gathering or a tough day at work or even with dealing with a resident teenager!! Quietening the mind is no mean feat - but silencing it? Pretty much impossible!
This is where guided meditation (and yoga nidra) is just so helpful. You are gently guided through the process of meditation,. This way you are gently directed to where you should be focussing your attention. And through practicing directing the brain to be where YOU want it to be - rather than having the mind off high kicking along Anxiety Avenue, or racing through To Do List Boulevard, you can begin to bring a little mindfulness to your life. So if you have the techniques and a meditation practice, when you are faced with a high stress situation, or your mind has gone rogue in a vortex of fear / shame / sadness / whatever you might be able to gently bring it back to something a little calmer, a little quieter, a little more grounded.
Meditation helps you improve your neuroplasticity: this is the brain's ability to alter its own structure, functions, and neural connections throughout life in response to experience, learning, or even injury. Essentially it is debasing the idea of you can't teach an old dog new tricks! Meditation can help manage mild anxiety and depression, with stress levels and sleeplessness. In time, you can build in a pause, a bit of buffer before you react in situations, so you can offer a response over a reaction. It is well documented how beneficial to our mental, and physical, wellbeing meditation is.
If you come to class or sound baths you will be used to my guided meditations, we end every class with one and we start every sound bath with one. And now, once a month I run an online guided meditation – and you can join from the comfort of your own sofa, armchair or bed! Each month has a different theme. If you are anxious about the technology and logging on with your phone here is a little video showing you how easy it is!
Another way that you can access a lovely meditative space is through sound: For some people sound baths offer a deeply meditative experience the beautiful sounds ease you into the kind of brainwave state that is usually recorded at the cusp of sleep and the deep meditation that seasoned meditators achieve. This brainwave state is profoundly calming, clearing and creative. If this sounds good to you then check out our "yoga, sound bath and chair yoga page" here: to find our next event. Seasonal sound baths run every couple of months, and there are also in house luxury Sound baths at Emma's Yoga Hut, alongside combined yoga, meditation and sound events!
FAQ for Emma's Virtual Hut: Live Guided Meditations
1. What are the online meditations like?
You will be greeted warmly and encouraged to get as comfortable as possible, you can leave your camera and microphone on or off when you join. We will then work through relaxing the body, being aware of the breath. From there we move into settling into softness, into deep, meaningful rest with guided visualisations, yoga nidra and other meditation techniques. Everything I offer is trauma informed.
2. Do I need to know how to meditate?
Not at all!! I will guide you step by step, so whether you’re brand new to meditation, or are used to guided meditations in yoga class, or even if you’ve been practicing meditation for years, you’ll feel right at home,
3. What do I need?
A quiet-ish space, something comfy to sit or lie on – and yes bed is perfect as we hold these later in the evening! Wear something soft and comfy, pyjamas are ideal! Pets are optional but very welcome to snuggle up and join in too!
4. How long is each session?
Most sessions last about 25 / 30 minutes. I’ll always let you know the full details beforehand so you can join a few minutes early and settle in without it being a rush.
5. Are the sessions recorded?
Yes — I share recordings with you for the month after the meditation; so you can revisit the practice whenever you need a moment of calm before our next monthly guided meditation meet up!
6. What if I arrive late?
Its fine! Life happens. You’re welcome to slip in quietly whenever you can.
7. Do I have to turn my camera on?
Not at all. Especially as these are run towards bedtime you are very welcome to keep camera and microphone off so you can cosy up and snuggle down in bed. Once we are underway I will mute everyone anyway - not to be rude, but just so we don't disturb each other.
8. What kinds of guided meditations are they?
I weave together themes like:
Grounding and coming home to yourself
Stress release and nervous system soothing
Yoga Nidra
Body scan relaxation
Seasonal offerings
Full moon and New Moon meditations
Rest and sleep support
Each session has its own theme, but the intention is always the same: helping you reconnect with your inner quiet, to deeply relax body, mind and spirit.
9. How do I sign up?
Simply click here to find the next guided meditation session and reserve your space: https://www.emmasyogahut.co.uk/services-4
10. I would but I cannot do technology!
See the video above showing you exactly how to use the link in the conformation email you get sent when you book. I promise you it is super easy!
11. What if I fall asleep?
Well, you probably needed the sleep if you fell asleep, and some of these guided meditations will specifically be for sleep. I simply disconnect from the call at the end and there is absolutely nothing you need to stay awake to do!
Hope to see you soon!
With love,
Emma xx
(Emma runs Emma’s Yoga Hut in Earley. A teeny garden studio for nurturing holistic small group yoga. She is a yoga student and yoga teacher and has practiced yoga for nearly 30 years. She trained with the Traditional Yoga Association right here in Reading between 2016 and 2018 to achieve her 500 hour yoga teaching accreditation. She has additional teaching qualifications in Yin Yoga and Yoga Nidra. She is an Internationally Accredited Sound Bath Facilitator and specialises in singing bowls. She teaches Chair Yoga classes at local community centres where there is almost always a coffee and a chat after class. Emma is passionate about getting the beautiful benefits of yoga out to as many people as possible!)
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