Guided meditation when you are at sea

offshore sailing can be strenuous for some. Five minutes can feel like an hour and vice versa. The horizon is endless in this ever-changing liquid desert and all the bearings we have from land are out of reach, thus putting us out of our comfort zone. We might feel bored, tired, powerless in the face of mother nature maybe even trapped. Meditation is key to suppressing these negative thoughts that crawl into our brain to affect our concentration and performance as crew or skipper. I’ve given some thought about this practice that I would like to test out on our 10-day offshore trip on the Farr 65 (hopefully other crew would like to join in) Below are the details of the guided meditation that I have called “You are safe”. I hope this meditation practice will be useful for you on land too, and I will explain why at the end of this article.

—YOU ARE SAFE—

You are on the roof of the boat (only of the sea state is calm, otherwise, cockpit) sitting in a comfortable position with a straight back, joining index finger with thumb. This yogic “mudra” ensures we connect our individual consciousness to the universal consciousness. Here, we want to be connected with the elements around us.

Alert your consciousness to how the boat is keeping you safe, right here, right now. You trust her because she is in perfect synergy with the elements around her and so are you. Each wave and each gust of wind are bringing you closer to your destination, 5 knots at a time. There are many places you could be right now and you are not in your “natural habitat”.

Breathe in the ocean breeze and feel the wind on your face and hair. Listen to the swell stroking the hull of the boat, the halyard clonking on the mast, the wind howling in the shrouds and imagine all these melodious noises playing in unison with the wind and the sea in a perfectly orchestrated concert. You are the spectator, melting with this oceanic music. You are safe because you are part of them now. This piece of music is written for you only to enjoy, right here, right now. Now inhale deeply for 5s, hold your breath for another 5 and exhale as slowly as you can, feeling your lungs empty as you exhale. You can place you hand on your belly, to feel it expand as you inhale and shrink as you exhale. Do this 6 or 7 times and try to stay in that space.

How can this practice work for you on land?

Albeit you might hear the noise of traffic outside and be stuck in an office somewhere. Find a piece of music on your favourite media player with ocean sounds and practice this but imagining you are one with the sounds you are listening to. At a beach, swimming in the water … whatever rocks your boat

I hope this is useful. Be calmed and happy day ahead

Sea you soon