Meditation in Movement: Stand Up Paddle Boarding on Lake Tahoe Glass
After being on vacation mode all week, waking up early is a struggle. We’ve been staying up late singing karaoke and playing games, and setting an alarm is totally taboo during vacay. But after hitting the lake on my stand up paddle board around 10am and being surrounded by people, boats, and jet skis, it wasn’t as peaceful as I hoped. I wanted to see that glass, and I knew that it meant some shut-eye sacrifice to get it.
So we set an alarm for 6:30 and hit the water by 7am. Once we parked and caught a view of the lake, I knew it was worth it. There was no one in sight. And the lake was GLASS!
Ria I. Rocker, my SUP
It looked like a dream and the stillness of the lake was my self-care and meditation for the day. At home, I meditate every morning, but for someone like me who thrives off of spontaneity and has a tough time sticking to something, these meditations became mundane and another thing to check off the list. But this time was different, and even though it was peaceful, I couldn’t help but feel so excited and alive!
Some people think that meditation looks or feels a certain way, but paddling through the clear waters into the glass-like horizon is as mindful as it gets. While I can't practice like this every morning right now, I made sure to soak it all in so I can reflect on it for my meditations back at home and feel more balanced when I get back to work.
How do you meditate through movement?
Think of something you love to do and get lost in the movement.
If your mind wanders, that's ok, and if you focus on the movement, that's ok too!
How does it makes you feel afterwards?
You can find these moments in activities like running or yoga, or something as simple as folding laundry or gardening. In that case, I meditate multiple times a day!
It feels good to add something new to my self-care routine. I used to get on myself for not sticking to a daily routine, but meditative moments like these remind me that self-care can vary day-to-day, and when you look at your routine on a wider scope, ie. on a yearly level, it's pretty exciting to say that I switched it up and took my meditation to the water a few times this year. It's all about your perspective!
