Last night I shared the final beach class with some lovely yogin. The focus of the class was meditation. As they rested in shavasana I layed clementines at their feet and had my own brief meditation. Class was over and it was too late to share with them but I offer it to you now.
Take a five minute break in your day for a fully mindful little pocket of time. Have a fruit that you like available – maybe a clementine, since it is the season for those little orange jewels.
Sit up in a chair or comfortable seat with a long upright spine and begin with three full deep breaths to transition from whatever you were doing before and to mark the beginning of your 5 minute meditation.
Continue to be aware of your breath as you inhale and exhale.
Notice your senses:
Listen to what sounds you hear around you and inside of you.
Look at your clementine. Notice the color, texture, uniformity or uniqueness.
Touch it. Pick it up notice it’s weight, texture, density. Notice if it reminds you of any time, person, place or thing.
Smell the clementine, notice what the skin smells like and what sensations arise in you after doing so.
Continue breathing fully and deeply with awareness of the breath moving in and out of your body.
Peel your clementine, feeling the textures change on your skin, notice any droplets of juice that escapes, wetting or making your skin sticky. Notice the fragrance inside the peel. Listen to the sound of the skin tearing or wedges splitting apart. Observe with your eyes, the beauty of it’s shapes inside the skin.
Taste it! Enjoy and savor the flavor of the fruit, the texture of the citrus popping on your tongue and the way that it feels as you swallow each piece.
When you are finished sit a moment and notice how it feels to have taken in this bit of earth. Consider where it came from, how it absorbed sunlight and water, how it grew and matured on the tree. What measures were taken for it to travel from the tree to your hands? Finally, consider what nutritional value it serves in your day.
Take three full deep breaths to transition back to your day.
Meditation is to be mindful and that is being mindful.
Try it! Be fully present to the vibrant experience of eating a clementine.
Enjoy!
