Arianna Elizabeth Guided Meditation For Powerlessness Review
This 10-Minute Meditation From Arianna Elizabeth Had Me in Tears — in a Good Way
The newest meditation video from yoga instructor Arianna Elizabeth, RYT 500, had all of the ingredients to make me cry: guided relaxation, rain-filled instrumental music, and gentle affirmations about owning your power and settling into a state of ease amid powerlessness. So, yes, tears did in fact well up behind my closed eyes about a third of the way through this 10-minute session.
The tears came as an emotional release because the quick meditation was exactly what I needed and, admittedly, I haven't had too many periods of pause lately. I felt relief, and I sunk right into it. If you've had a similar feeling of deep surrender, you'll know what I'm talking about. It takes over without warning, and you welcome it after avoiding it for so long.
Elizabeth began by inviting participants to sit in a comfortable position of their choice — I propped myself up cross-legged against pillows with my neck falling forward to stretch out my spine. Step by step, she led us through relaxation of the physical body starting at the crown of the head, reminding us to breathe.
My favourite aspect of the meditation was the way that Elizabeth recited words of wisdom to us rooted in reassurance and encouragement for when we are seemingly lost. "You have been given the power of authority over your life," she states, adding, "Believe it, and feel empowered to own what's yours."
"We either make ourselves miserable, or we make ourselves strong. The amount of work is the same."
Elizabeth mentioned God briefly at the halfway mark (she does describe her practice as faith-inspired after all). I'm not exactly a religious person, and though her tie-in to religion didn't bother me, it was unexpected and briefly broke the sense of focus that I had slipped into. I was able to regain my eased state, and I quite enjoyed the minutes of silence where I could simply be with my emotions.
Elizabeth ended with a quote from the late writer Carlos Castaneda: "We either make ourselves miserable, or we make ourselves strong. The amount of work is the same." Remember that.
