Meditation on Health inspired by Italy

It’s been about a month since returning from my Italy Yoga retreat. Opus Yoga and Wayfinders Yoga and 10 retreaters went for one week to a beautiful and peaceful agriturismo spot called Il Tesoro near the Umbria and Tuscany border in Italy. I’m still processing all that I experienced on this amazing excursion. 

One particular aspect of Italy that I so loved was the emphasis of quality of experience over quantity. This might manifest as high quality olive oil, coffee or wine, but also in the way we sit and appreciate those things. It also manifests in the way we appreciate each moment, that is, when we consciously remember to do so.

This morning I found myself doing my Metta or Lovingkindness meditation which I do most mornings. I learned this technique from Sharon Salzberg. There are 4 phrases I repeat: 

May I be safe. 

May I be happy. 

May I be healthy. 

May I live with ease. 

This morning as I was doing just that I had a sudden rush of memories from the retreat. My hand went to my heart, and as a way to truly savor and take in the moment, I found myself repeating only one phrase, “May I be healthy,” over and over as if to milk the phrase for all the manifestations of health. My thoughts went to many ways I hope to cultivate health, such as : May my thoughts be positive and helpful, may my food choices be nourishing, may my exercise be balanced between challenge and understanding, may my relationships be compassionate and positive, may my words and deeds be helpful and inspiring, may my skin be porous and breathable, may my immune system do it’s work to discern what is unwelcome, etc. I realized there was so much to contemplate in that simple phrase “May I be healthy.” 

It was a powerful meditation which will stick with me.

What are some ways that you cultivate health? They could be small or large.

Thanks for reading.

🙏 Sharon