Meditation can be done in many different places, lots of different ways. So many times we think of meditation requiring a dark room with a single candle burning with the smell of sandalwood incense, and chimes in the background. While that’s cool, meditation doesn’t need to happen like that. For that matter, it doesn’t have to be in a “meditation studio” or in a yoga studio. Meditation is not mysterious or complex unless you want it to be. Most of us already have a meditation practice only we never thought to call it that.
Like my visits to Maple Row Farm in Clarence, New York. Smelling the wonderful barn smells, running my hand along my horse, Annie’s, soft neck, hearing the wind waft through the trees, brings me back to center, where I’m simply being present, in the moment.
Morning Coffee As Morning Meditation
I’ll bet your morning ritual has many meditative moments. When you focus on pouring your first cup of morning coffee, you smell the aroma. You embrace the cup in your hands, feel the warmth and gaze into the dark brown depths. You close your eyes and take the first sip, feel the hot liquid of the coffee as it rolls across your tongue. Then you taste that unique blend of bitter and sweet. That’s a mindful meditation! It only takes a moment, and for that moment we find peace. We gather the strength to start our day; to put our best foot forward. We do our best to be our best.
The Value Of Micro Meditation
Sometimes it’s hard to believe but these micro-meditation moments are the things that get us through the day. If you’re interested in learning more about finding peace, finding the energy and the strength to carry on, even on a Monday, Explore What’s Next will be offering upcoming individual and small group mindful meditation classes at our soon to be opened Explore What’s Next Studio this Fall.
Grooming your favorite animal, having that first sip of coffee, are just two micro-meditation moments. What other micro-meditation moments do you regularly practice? I’d love to hear what each of you do!

Elvira G. Aletta, PhD, Founder & CEO
Life gave Dr. Aletta the opportunity to know what it’s like to hurt physically and emotionally. After an episode of serious depression in her mid-twenties, Dr. Aletta was diagnosed with a rare kidney disease that relapsed throughout her adulthood. While treatable, the cure was often as hard to bear as the disease. Later she was diagnosed with scleroderma, another chronic illness.
Throughout, Dr. Aletta battled with anxiety. Despite all this, Dr. Aletta wants you to know, you can learn to engage in life again on your terms.
Good therapy helped Dr. Aletta. She knows good therapy can help you. That’s why she created Explore What’s Next.
Today Dr. Aletta enjoys mentoring the EWN therapists, focusing on coaching and psychotherapy clients, writing and speaking. She is proud and confident that Explore What’s Next can provide you with therapists who will help you regain a sense of safety, control and joy.
716.308.6683 | draletta@explorewhatsnext.com