Mindful Meditation, The Body Scan

      My break from blogging has been filled with dealing with our blizzard last week and recovering from being so tired.  This past weekend I started working on a Photoshop project to blog about, but I did not complete it and still need to keep working.  It is hard for me, since I have not mastered this technique, but it is great fun.  I realized that I did not finish describing my meditation experience, so, this is the best thing to do right now, as I try to finish my project tonight. (Wish me luck!)
     Early in the MBSR program at U-Mass Medical School, we were introduced to the body scan meditation.  We all were asked to lie on our mat on the floor, get comfortable, close our eyes, focus on our breathing, then think about our little toe on our left foot.  I felt amazed that when I focused on each toe, I was able sense it and feel it.  We did this all over our bodies, very slowly. It took a good 45 minutes to experience your whole body.  I found this technique very relaxing.  This CD became our daily homework and our leader wanted our feedback.  It seemed like half of the class did not like this meditation at all, but I think it was the recording and the voice that bothered everyone the most.  When I was young and having trouble sleeping, I had been taught to ask each part of my body to relax and go to sleep, I felt this was similar technique, but not about going to sleep, but being more aware.  I like this meditation, anything that gets me to stop and lie down to rest feels good.  Has anyone done the body scan meditation?