Becoming Present: Recent Episodes
Chantal Garneau
Meditations on compassion, universal love, and the web of life.
To join us live visit www.becomingpresent.earth/practice
Visit Willow Park, listen to this audio recording and walk mindfully as you connect with land and water, awaken your senses, and deepen your connection to the web of life.
Willow Park is located in Norval ON Canada. For directions and more information please visit www.becomingpresent.earth/haltonhills
Visit the Chris Walker Trail, listen to this audio recording and walk mindfully as you awaken your senses and deepen your connection to the web of life.
The Chris Walker Trail is located in Georgetown ON Canada. For directions and more information please visit www.becomingpresent.earth/haltonhills
Visit Fairy Lake Visit Fairy Lake, sit with the water and enjoy a guided meditation
The Fairy Lake is located in Acton ON Canada. For directions and more information please visit www.becomingpresent.earth/haltonhills
Visit the Limehouse Conservation area and walk mindfully as you awaken your senses and deepen your connection to the web of life.
Play this audio recording and listen as you walk the trail.
The Limehouse Conservation area is located in Halton Hills ON Canada. For directions and more information please visit www.becomingpresent.earth/haltonhills
Visit the Hungry Hollow ravine and walk mindfully as you awaken your senses and deepen your connection to the web of life.
Play this audio recording and listen as you walk the trail.
The Hungry Hollow ravine is located in Georgetown ON Canada. For directions to Hungry Hollow and more information please visit www.becomingpresent.earth/haltonhills
Reclaiming and awakening our senses.
FYI I edited out 5 min of silence... my call dropped and when I came back I was muted! HUGE thanks to the dedicated community who waited for me :)
When you feel off, out of synch, or out of alignment your breath can help you come back to centre.
Breathing through our comfort zone. (recorded live at Silvercreek Conservation area near an active trail, so there are some voices in the background)
Love is for-giving part 2 - Thanking the parts of us that shut down in the past to keep us safe, and welcoming them to open back up.
What if you could listen to, and follow the quiet voice inside that knows what you truly need to shine?
Finding the inner spaces that feel tight, separate or alone and inviting them to receive love.
What if a gentle, easy, exhale is a way to receive love and support, and at the same time share it out into the world?
You are invited to breathe, relax, and settle down.
Reminder: You are invited to practice with us live via Zoom Monday-Friday at 9:30am EST. Visit www.chantalgarneau.com/daily-practice to receive daily email reminders.
If you're feeling alone or overwhelmed listen to this episode.
Reminder: You are invited to practice with us live via Zoom Monday-Friday at 9:30am EST. Visit www.chantalgarneau.com/daily-practice to receive daily email reminders.
Every single breath is an opportunity to remember that you are part of a large interconnected web of life. And that each breath is a gift of life. Mmm...
Reminder: You are invited to practice with us live via Zoom Monday-Friday at 9:30am EST. Visit www.chantalgarneau.com/daily-practice to receive daily email reminders.
When you offer yourself love and compassion you open a doorway for others as well.
Reminder: You are invited to practice with us live via Zoom Monday-Friday at 9:30am EST. Visit www.chantalgarneau.com/daily-practice to receive daily email reminders.
Settle down and breathe. You belong here. And we need you.
Reminder: You are invited to practice with us live via Zoom Monday-Friday at 9:30am EST. Visit www.chantalgarneau.com/daily-practice to receive daily email reminders.
Each inhale is a gift of life from our greater eco-system. Breathe it in and remember that you belong.
Reminder: You are invited to practice with us live via Zoom Monday-Friday at 9:30am EST. Visit www.chantalgarneau.com/daily-practice to receive daily email reminders.
The more you love and care for yourself, the better we all are. Thank you!
Reminder: You are invited to practice with us live via Zoom Monday-Friday at 9:30am EST. Visit www.chantalgarneau.com/daily-practice to receive daily email reminders.
Allow your breath to gently guide you back to yourself.
Reminder: You are invited to practice with us live via Zoom Monday-Friday at 9:30am EST. Visit www.chantalgarneau.com/daily-practice to receive daily email reminders.
Practice noticing when your mind drifts away and gently invite it back to the moment.
Reminder: You are invited to practice with us live via Zoom Monday-Friday at 9:30am EST. Visit www.chantalgarneau.com/daily-practice to receive daily email reminders.
Invite your mind to follow the journey of your breath as it travels through you. Our mind loves to have an important job :)
Reminder: You are invited to practice with us live via Zoom Monday-Friday at 9:30am EST. Visit www.chantalgarneau.com/daily-practice to receive daily email reminders.
Find 2 or 3 times today to be aware of your breath and to practice breathing on purpose. Pause a few times throughout the day and take 3 breaths to reset.
Reminder: You are invited to practice with us live via Zoom Monday-Friday at 9:30am EST. Visit www.chantalgarneau.com/daily-practice to receive daily email reminders.
Can you find a few times today to be aware of your breath and to practice breathing on purpose? Even pausing a few times and taking 3 breaths will reset you. Give it a try!
Reminder: You are invited to practice with us live via Zoom Monday-Friday at 9:30am EST. Visit www.chantalgarneau.com/daily-practice to receive daily email reminders.
You are invited to wonder how you would feel if you felt 1% or a teensy bit more loved and supported. Don't try to answer with your mind. Simply wonder and feel.
Reminder: You are invited to practice with us live via Zoom Monday-Friday at 9:30am EST. Visit www.chantalgarneau.com/daily-practice to receive daily email reminders.
You are invited to become aware of the web of life and all the layers of it that you belong to and imagine it like a hammock and settle into it. Rest, settle, be held. Notice how you feel.
Reminder: You are invited to practice with us live via Zoom Monday-Friday at 9:30am EST. Visit www.chantalgarneau.com/daily-practice to receive daily email reminders.
While you are out in the world today consider that the plants, trees, birds, and insects are your friends, and they love you.
Reminder: You are invited to practice with us live via Zoom Monday-Friday at 9:30am EST. Visit www.chantalgarneau.com/daily-practice to receive daily email reminders.
Please note that this session ended a bit abruptly as my son needed my attention. With this in mind, you are invited to wonder if interruptions, surprises, and unexpected situations could be a little less overwhelming? What if you were a little more gentle with yourself and others when things don't flow as planned? How would that feel?
Reminder: You are invited to practice with us live via Zoom Monday-Friday at 9:30am EST. Visit www.chantalgarneau.com/daily-practice to receive daily email reminders.
As you move through your day today, try to notice moments when you feel tight, stuck or overwhelmed. In those moments observe your breath. Turn your awareness to it and feel how it's flowing, become aware of your body and your thoughts. Remember you are part of the web of life and can invite connection with your breath. If you like, choose to inhale long, slow, nourishing breaths - in through your nose and the let go and allow as you exhale with a gently sigh through a soft and relaxed mouth. Repeat as necessary :)
Reminder: You are invited to practice with us live via Zoom Monday-Friday at 9:30am EST. Visit www.chantalgarneau.com/daily-practice to receive daily email reminders.
As you move through your day today, notice your breath. Turn your awareness to it any time you feel anxious, overwhelmed, tight, or hurt. Notice the flow of your breath and choose to inhale long, slow, nourishing breaths.
Reminder: You are invited to practice with us live via Zoom Monday-Friday at 9:30am EST. Visit www.chantalgarneau.com/daily-practice to receive daily email reminders.
You are invited to find two or three times today to pause, observe your breath, and choose long, deep, connected breaths.
Reminder: You are invited to practice with us live via Zoom Monday-Friday at 9:30am EST. Visit www.chantalgarneau.com/daily-practice to receive daily email reminders.
You are invited to find two or three times today to pause, observe your breath, and choose long, deep, connected breaths.
Reminder: You are invited to practice with us live via Zoom Monday-Friday at 9:30am EST. Visit www.chantalgarneau.com/daily-practice to receive daily email reminders.
Today you are invited to share love and gentleness to our collective pain.
Breathe in long deep nourishing breaths while remembering - bringing into awareness - all the people, animals, land, and living systems that are affected either directly or indirectly through war and violence. As you exhale share that love and gentleness out into the world with the intention of easing some of that collective pain.
Also, continue to schedule 2-3 times today to pause, observe your breath, and choose long, deep, connected breaths.
Reminder: You are invited to practice with us live via Zoom Monday-Friday at 9:30am EST. Visit www.chantalgarneau.com/daily-practice to receive daily email reminders.
Today you are invited to listen to your inner wisdom. Start with finding your centre then ask your body a question or think about something and notice how your body reacts. Does it open, close, remain neutral? What if this is how your body communicates what is good for you? Listen. Observe. And take action that matches your feelings. Notice how it feels as you do.
Also, continue to schedule 2-3 times today to pause, observe your breath, and choose long, deep, connected breaths.
Reminder: You are invited to practice with us live via Zoom Monday-Friday at 9:30am EST. Visit www.chantalgarneau.com/daily-practice to receive daily email reminders.
Today you are invited to find some time to practice offering yourself love and gentleness. Whether it's 2 min or 45 min or somewhere in between, listen to your body and follow it's cues.
Also, continue to schedule 2-3 times today to pause, observe your breath, and choose long, deep, connected breaths.
Reminder: You are invited to practice with us live via Zoom Monday-Friday at 9:30am EST. Visit www.chantalgarneau.com/daily-practice to receive daily email reminders.
This weekend you are invited to wonder. As you inhale you could wonder "what if I felt 2% more relaxed right now? how would I feel? and on your exhale simply notice and observe how you feel. Other questions could be "what if I was a teensy bit more patient?", "what if I felt a little more nourished?" Remember you don't have to "answer" the questions. Simply observe how your body feels.
Also, continue to schedule 2-3 times today to pause, observe your breath, and choose long, deep, connected breaths.
Reminder: You are invited to practice with us live via Zoom Monday-Friday at 9:30am EST. Visit www.chantalgarneau.com/daily-practice to receive daily email reminders.
Today your invitation is to find or schedule 2-3 times throughout the day to pause, observe your breath, and choose long, deep, connected breaths. If you're already doing this 2-3 times a day, then increase it to 4 or 5 or even once an hour. The more often the better :)
Reminder: You are invited to practice with us live via Zoom Monday-Friday at 9:30am EST. Visit www.chantalgarneau.com/daily-practice to receive daily email reminders.
Today your invitation is to:
Find 2-3 times today to pause, observe your breath, and choose long, deep, connected breaths.
Reminder: You are invited to practice with us live via Zoom Monday-Friday at 9:30am EST. Visit www.chantalgarneau.com/daily-practice to receive daily email reminders.
Today your invitation is to:
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Become aware of your inhale and exhale and in particular the moment your inhale turns into the exhale. If the inhale represents receiving nourishment and the exhale represents sharing with the world what clues does the flow of your breath offer you about your relationship with receiving and sharing?
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Schedule 2-3 times today to pause, observe your breath, and choose long, deep, connected breaths.
Reminder: You are invited to practice with us live via Zoom Monday-Friday at 9:30am EST. Visit www.chantalgarneau.com/daily-practice to receive daily email reminders.
Today your invitation is to:
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Notice your physical connection with the Earth and imagine the flow of life pulsing and traveling within the Earth beneath you. As you inhale imagine that flow of life entering your body through your feet, legs, tail bone and breathe it up and through your body. As you exhale feel your out breath sharing that flow of life back into the world.
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Schedule 2-3 times today to pause, observe your breath, and choose long, deep, connected breaths.
Reminder: You are invited to practice with us live via Zoom Monday-Friday at 9:30am EST. Visit www.chantalgarneau.com/daily-practice to receive daily email reminders.
Today your invitation is to:
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Consider your ancestors and how their choices and life path have made it possible for you to be here. Breathe in a sense of gratitude and on your exhale share that with them.
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Schedule 2-3 times today to pause, observe your breath, and choose long, deep, connected breaths.
Reminder: You are invited to practice with us live via Zoom Monday-Friday at 9:30am EST. Visit www.chantalgarneau.com/daily-practice to receive daily email reminders.
Episode
Today your invitation is to:
- Float your awareness back to a time when you felt overwhelmed, disconnected, or alone and breathe the flow of connection to yourself at that time. Remember that the inhale is an invitation to receive nourishment, vitality, support and on the exhale we allow and let go of expectation.
2. Schedule 2-3 times today to pause, observe your breath, and choose long, deep, connected breaths.
Reminder: You are invited to practice with us live via Zoom Monday-Friday at 9:30am EST. Visit www.chantalgarneau.com/daily-practice to receive daily email reminders.
Today your invitation is to:
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Notice how it feels to bring conscious choice and gratitude to what you are doing in the moment. For instance if you are washing dishes acknowledge to yourself, "in this moment I am choosing to wash dishes", and you may want to add in why you are choosing to do so. Consider using the words get or got to rather than have or had to. "In this moment I am choosing to wash the dishes because I got to eat my lunch on them and now I get to clean them so they are ready for me next time" vs "In this moment I am choosing to wash the dishes because I had to eat my lunch on them and now I have to clean them so they are ready for me next time".
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Schedule 2-3 times today to pause, observe your breath, and choose long, deep, connected breaths.
Reminder: You are invited to practice with us live via Zoom Monday-Friday at 9:30am EST. Visit www.chantalgarneau.com/daily-practice to receive daily email reminders.
Today your invitation is to:
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Remember that you belong and contribute to a vast system of life and that within you is a vast system of life. As you breathe in long deep breaths feel vitality and love flowing into you, nourishing, connecting, and activating your cells and pathways. As you exhale feel that flow of life moving back into the larger system. Smile.
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Schedule 2-3 times today to pause, observe your breath, and choose long, deep, connected breaths.
Reminder: You are invited to practice with us live via Zoom Monday-Friday at 9:30am EST. Visit www.chantalgarneau.com/daily-practice to receive daily email reminders.
Today your invitation is to:
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Notice where you're holding tight - like a closed fist - and invite your body to open - even just a teensy bit. What does it feel like to let go, a tiny bit, even just for one breath? Explore and experiment.
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Schedule 2-3 times today to pause, observe your breath, and choose long, deep, connected breaths.
Reminder: You are invited to practice with us live via Zoom Monday-Friday at 9:30am EST. Visit www.chantalgarneau.com/daily-practice to receive daily email reminders.
This weekend you are invited to schedule 2-3 times a day to pause, observe your breath, and choose long, deep, connected breaths.
Reminder: You are invited to practice with us live via Zoom Monday-Friday at 9:30am EST. Visit www.chantalgarneau.com/daily-practice to receive daily email reminders.
Today your invitation is to:
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Explore what it feels like to have enough. What does it feel like to be fully nourished? to feel satisfied? peaceful? Imagine you did feel that way, breathe it in, and expand the feeling through your body.
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Schedule 2-3 times today to pause, observe your breath, and choose long, deep, connected breaths.
Reminder: You are invited to practice with us live via Zoom Monday-Friday at 9:30am EST. Visit www.chantalgarneau.com/daily-practice to receive daily email reminders.
Your challenge/mission for today is:
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To notice your jaw and mouth. Are you clenching? Breathe and invite your jaw and mouth to relax, even invite your tongue to relax. Observe how you feel afterwards.
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Schedule 2-3 times today to pause, observe your breath, and choose long, deep, connected breaths.
Reminder: You are invited to practice with us live via Zoom Monday-Friday at 9:30am EST. Visit www.chantalgarneau.com/daily-practice to receive daily email reminders.
Your homework for today is to schedule 2-3 times to pause, observe your breath, and choose long, deep, connected breaths. If 2-3 times is already natural for you, then add in a few more times. Every hour? Each time you look at your phone? The more often we practice re-connecting the better.
Reminder: You are invited to practice with us live via Zoom Monday-Friday at 9:30am EST. Visit www.chantalgarneau.com/daily-practice to receive daily email reminders.
This weekend your challenge/mission is to:
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Embrace the exhale. Experiment with letting go and surrendering. Observe where in your life you are holding on or gripping to something and practice breathing in and letting go on the exhale. How does it feel? Remember: you can always choose to re-grip. So just play with it and observe.
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Schedule 2-3 times today to pause, observe your breath, and choose long, deep, connected breaths.
Reminder: You are invited to practice with us live via Zoom Monday-Friday at 9:30am EST. Visit www.chantalgarneau.com/daily-practice to receive daily email reminders.
Today you are invited to:
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Observe the animals, plants, clouds, soil etc as friends. Breathe in gratitude and on your exhale offer it to them. Recognize that they are part of the same life system as you and try to view them as a good friend.
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Schedule 2-3 times today to pause, observe your breath, and choose long, deep, connected breaths.
Reminder: You are invited to practice with us live via Zoom Monday-Friday at 9:30am EST. Visit www.chantalgarneau.com/daily-practice to receive daily email reminders.
Our session today was interrupted by my son who was having computer issues. Interruptions, distractions, and upsets happen all the time. How do we move through them?
So today you are invited to:
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Observe how interruptions and unexpected changes affect your breath and tension in your body. I tend to get "up tight" body goes up and breath is tight. So the challenge is to notice what's happening and then choose long, deep, connected, breaths.
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Schedule 2-3 times today to pause, observe your breath, and choose long, deep, connected breaths.
Reminder: You are invited to practice with us live via Zoom Monday-Friday at 9:30am EST. Visit www.chantalgarneau.com/daily-practice to receive daily email reminders.
Today you are invited to
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Explore how it feels to breathe in as slowly as possible? Where is your full point? How does it feel to release the air on the exhale?
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Schedule 2-3 times today to pause, observe your breath, and choose long, deep, connected breaths.
Reminder: You are invited to practice with us live via Zoom Monday-Friday at 9:30am EST. Visit www.chantalgarneau.com/daily-practice to receive daily email reminders.
Your mission for this weekend is to:
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Wonder about what kind of nourishment you might be needing. So if you are feeling run down, depleted, overwhelmed, exhausted etc, pause. And wonder "what do I need right now"? It's likely that you need to breathe full deep breaths, and maybe you also need a nap, some water, a walk outside, a hug etc. Once you've identified something you need, offer it to yourself. Repeat as necessary.
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Schedule 2-3 times today to pause, observe your breath, and choose long, deep, connected breaths.
Reminder: You are invited to practice with us live via Zoom Monday-Friday at 9:30am EST. Visit www.chantalgarneau.com/daily-practice to receive daily email reminders.
Your homework for today is to:
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Try to be extra gentle and kind to the parts of you that are in pain. Listen to your body cues and offer the stuck, restricted, and tight places some love and gentleness.
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Schedule 2-3 times today to pause, observe your breath, and choose long, deep, connected breaths.
Reminder: You are invited to practice with us live via Zoom Monday-Friday at 9:30am EST. Visit www.chantalgarneau.com/daily-practice to receive daily email reminders.
Your homework for today is to:
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Notice where/how your body makes contact with the Earth beneath you. And wonder, do I feel heavy and held by the Earth, or do I feel up and tight (pulling away) and if you notice subtle of obvious holding away feelings invite yourself to settle down with each exhale. Invite yourself to feel supported and held (even if it's just a teensy bit).
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Schedule 2-3 times today to pause, observe your breath, and choose long, deep, connected breaths.
Reminder: You are invited to practice with us live via Zoom Monday-Friday at 9:30am EST. Visit www.chantalgarneau.com/schedule to receive daily email reminders.
Your homework for today is to:
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Challenge yourself to notice cues that you may be ungrounded from yourself and the web of life. Cues include short, fast, held breaths, tight body, mean thoughts about yourself and/or others. When you notice one of these cues check out your breath. It's likely you aren't breathing in a connected way. So when you notice this, choose to breathe in a connected way and notice what changes for you.
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Schedule 2-3 times today to pause, observe your breath, and choose long, deep, connected breaths.
Reminder: You are invited to practice with us live via Zoom Monday-Friday at 9:30am EST. Visit www.chantalgarneau.com/schedule to receive daily email reminders.
Your homework for today is to:
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Challenge yourself to be a little more kind to yourself. Wonder: "How could I be a little more kind right now? What would it feel like if I was a little more kind to myself?"
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Schedule 2-3 times today to pause, observe your breath, and choose long, deep, connected breaths.
Reminder: You are invited to practice with us live via Zoom Monday-Friday at 9:30am EST. Visit www.chantalgarneau.com/schedule to receive daily email reminders.
Your homework for today is to:
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Step outside and put your feet (try bare feet) on the ground and feel the earth beneath you as you breathe. If possible find a tree to breathe with, or a plant, or the grass. If you can't make it outside think of a tree as you practice.
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Schedule 2-3 times today to pause, observe your breath, and choose long, deep, connected breaths.
Reminder: You are invited to practice with us live via Zoom Monday-Friday at 9:30am EST. Visit www.chantalgarneau.com/schedule to receive daily email reminders.