I’m a real thinker, so usually my mind is quite busy. Not so much a chaotic kind of busy as an analytic, active kind of busy. It has changed a lot in the past few years – my general state of mind is a lot more balanced now. Yoga has something to do with that – it has helped to streamline my thinking processes, made my thoughts more cohesive. But yes, my mind is still busy.

The Meditation for the Most Restless Mind brings me down out of that analytic thinking mode. I’ve found it to be a really nice morning meditation. First I practised it for 11 minutes but I found that a bit too short. I found that 22 minutes was better – it gave my mind more time to settle, and then you really get into a state of tranquility and stillness.

I didn’t have the instructions right for the first few weeks. I was focusing on the third eye rather than the nose. It was still good, it’s still a great focus after all – but it seemed to bring a higher energy and it was difficult to find tranquility in that. When I shifted the eye focus to the nose as it says in the instructions, it was much more grounding. There wasn’t the high-level mental activity and it was here that I discovered the calm tranquil state that the Meditation for the Most Restless Mind might promise.

It’s quite a unique experience. With the tongue pressing up on the upper palate and the eyes rolling down to the nose, you’re isolating your sensory experience to the nose and the roof of the mouth, which creates a platform for the stillness to happen. It’s a very warm, cosy kind of stillness, or rather calmness, that comes with this meditation. A real comfort.

In the mornings after the meditation, I felt much more active, alert and focused. My mind didn’t feel drained at the end of the day, either. It was always very clear. It’s a very subtle feeling but my mind definitely feels clearer after this experience. I’ll keep going with it a little longer, I think.

Nishad Kala teaches hatha yoga in South London

MEDITATION FOR THE MOST RESTLESS MIND
(From I am a Woman)
Posture: Easy pose, straight spine, light neck lock.
Mudra: Relax in any meditative pose.
Eye focus: Focus on the tip of the nose.
Breath: Open the mouth as wide as possible. Touch the tongue to the upper palate. Breathe through the nose.
Time: Start with 3-5 minutes with a maximum of 11 minutes. With practice, it can be done for 31 minutes.