The state of mindfulness, conscious presence, is in a dynamic balance between aimless relaxation and the awake readiness to let go of whatever may arise in the space of consciousness.

This balance can be achieved through meditative repetitions – of sounds (mantras) or movements (meditative dance), for example. In the very repetition of the familiar lies a relaxation from having to invent something new. And in order for repetition not to become sleep-inducing monotony, one must be vigilant.

In this meditation, Martin instructs us on how, by counting our breaths, we are simultaneously supported in relaxation and heightened awareness.

This is a millennia-old, beloved and proven meditative technique.

The breath is at once so intimate and so close to our innermost being that just becoming aware of it has a calming effect. If you expand this awareness into a temporal sequence by counting ten inhalations and exhalations, as in this meditation, you add a playful alertness to the calming relaxation.