Everyone (including me) raves about the beneficial effects of a meditation session. And yet ...

Someone told me that she is afraid of meditation because the feelings she experiences could throw her off track. I can understand her because I have had this experience myself.

To be completely honest: I knew that my life would change the day I decided to meditate. I realised that I would never be the same again.

Was I ready for this change? My energy would change automatically. The people around me would feel it too. Was I ready to be myself again? Because that's what it's all about: getting back to the 'real me'. The restoration of peace within ourselves.

I knew that meditation would 'release' feelings that I had suppressed for far too long. But I was determined to keep going and get rid of my physical and mental pain.

It wasn't fear that I felt, but rather a mental and physical state of helplessness. What was I supposed to do when I couldn't stop crying, or worse, when I felt even worse? What a dilemma!

On the one hand, I was ready to look to the future, but on the other, there was that fear of the unknown again. I knew that I had to change so that I could be happy and free again.

Preparation was therefore necessary and unavoidable. How did I proceed?

To prepare myself for this, I told myself over and over again for several days that everything would be fine and accepted the impending change (I can make you a little list of affirmations if you like).

Trust yourself!

And then the day came when I was finally ready. I made sure that I wasn't disturbed.

I put on some soft music, lit some incense sticks and a candle. I wanted the atmosphere in the room I was in to be inviting so that I felt cosy and relaxed.

My first session was a breathing meditation, as I found it difficult to relax. No wonder, right?

I can tell you that I cried a lot and hard. My whole body reacted. I wasn't afraid because at the same time I felt something good happening inside me. I finally felt a lightness that I had never known before. It's hard to describe ... it was very upsetting, but so healing!

I gave free rein to my feelings: anger, fear, hope, aversion, disappointment, mental and physical pain and so on.

I can't remember exactly how long it took. It's important to take an afternoon or even a whole day.

A walk in the forest that same day helped me to centre myself. I felt better. I was exhausted, but at the same time carefree and in a much better mental state.

I repeated the same meditation ("breathing meditation") a few days later. The sobbing had subsided and I knew I was on the right track! After each meditation I became more confident, happier, I felt a beautiful energy that I hadn't felt for a long time. The ballast had been lifted from me.

Since then, I have been meditating regularly and no longer want to be without meditation. For this reason, I have completed training as a meditation teacher.

What do you need to start meditating? Should I give a guided meditation for beginners? Do not hesitate to contact me. I will help you before, during and after the meditation. There are posts about meditation on my Instagram account. Take a look at them and if you feel like it, join in! I'm looking forward to it!

Your Catherine