Do you find sitting meditation uncomfortable, restless or difficult to enjoy? You are not alone. Different practices suit different people, and difficulty sitting still does not mean you have failed at meditation.
What does meditation involve?
Meditation includes a range of practices. Some use a point of focus, such as a sound or the sensations of breathing; mindfulness involves noticing present experience without judging it. You do not have to empty your mind or achieve a particular body temperature, breathing pattern or feeling of energy for the practice to count.
Researchers are studying how meditation affects the brain and body, but the mechanisms and practical meaning of many findings remain uncertain. Claims that sitting meditation generally cuts off blood flow, disrupts the gut–brain axis or produces a specific healing state should not be presented as established explanations.
Finding a practice that suits you
If sitting does not suit you, you might prefer a shorter practice, mindful walking or gentle movement. The NHS notes that some people find gentle yoga or walking easier when their mind feels busy. There is no single practice that works best for everyone.
When meditation feels unhelpful
Mindfulness can help some people, but others find it unhelpful or feel worse. If a practice increases distress, pause and seek appropriate guidance. Meditation should not replace necessary mental-health or medical care.
Read the NHS guide to mindfulness and the NIH/NCCIH overview of the evidence and safety.
If you are interested in Simon Borg-Olivier’s moving meditation practice, you can check out these videos on YouTube:
Time codes for the video:
(1) Dedication to & Request for Help for the Flood & Landslide Victims of the Northern Rivers, Australia, Disaster, March 2022 (4 minutes) (2) Theory & Explanation of the 5-D Flow System (28 minutes, beginning at 0:04:18) (3) Visually & Verbally Instructed Class (32 minutes, beginning at 0:32:22) (4) Visually Instructed Practice 28 minutes, beginning at 1:08:00)
Comprehensive moving meditation training program for body and mind, click here.
If you’d like to do effective sitting meditation, check out this video:
https://yogasynergy.com/how-to-meditate/
If you are further interested in Simon’s teachings, please click here.
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