3 Ways to Meditate for People Who Can’t Sit Still

The Newsy Neighbour Magazine

June Issue 104

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www.thenewsyneighbour.com

  

There is no doubt any longer that the benefits of meditation are obvious and desirable. For centuries – heck, thousands of years – cultures and spiritual traditions from around the world have expounded the virtues of meditation as a clear path to self-awareness, growth and contentment. And with over 30 years of documented scientific observation now available, we know that the benefits are far reaching into many corners of our health.

Here is a list of some of the benefits gained from consistent meditation practice, including many that are scientifically documented:

• Improved cognitive functions including comprehension, memory, focus and decision making;
• Improvements in physiological functions such as adrenal health, strengthened neural pathways, body awareness and proprioception (control), and cardiovascular health;
• Increased sense of well-being associated with higher levels of the body's “feel good” chemical production that has been shown to ease symptoms of depression and anxiety;
• Effective pain management as alternative to or supplement for traditional techniques;
• Assists in forming new habits and breaking addictions;
• Better, more restful sleep

I could go on for pages on this, but I will stop here. Personally, I know that my meditation practice has become a place of solace in times of stress, a place where I can connect with the Divine, a place to find myself when I feel lost, and a place to quiet my mind enough to let the silt settle and clarity return.

So why doesn't everyone do it? Some don’t know how.... and others are pretty sure they won’t be able to! As a person to whom stillness doesn’t come naturally for – it has taken me a LOT of practice to develop a quiet I am comfortable in – I have found a few practices that I come back to regularly that don’t involve sitting still. Perhaps there will be a meditation practice here that you can adopt for yourself. Be gentle and patient in this process, and the benefits are yours to reap!

1. Walking Meditation: This is one of my favourites, especially at this time of year. If you are up for it (though it is not necessary) take your shoes off and walk with your feet touching the earth. Become super, hyper-aware of every step you take, the feel of your foot on the earth, the way your arms move in space, the way your breath flows as you walk, the smell and sights and sounds of the path you are taking. Strive to observe the machinations of the mind, rather than participate with it. Every time you find yourself thinking, gently come back to the present act of walking. If you are blessed to live near a labyrinth (ahem dear Strathmore Lions, shall we talk about an idea I have?) try walking that – the ancient pathway is truly profound. If you have a place in the outdoors that you love to be, a place that nourishes you - then go there to practice. But the only thing we need for this is room to move around - even walking a circle in your living room can become meditation.

2. Qi Gong: Many are familiar with Tai Chi, which is a form of Qi Gong, but there are several categories of the practice. Qi means “life force”, and Gong means “accomplished”. Each category has a focus: martial, medical and spiritual. Using postures that include both moving and still, along with breath and mental focus, this practice has been developed and taught for centuries. I have been lucky enough to have been introduced to this right here in our community and I would be happy to put you in touch with the instructor. There are lots of great resources online as well – gotto love You-Tube and Amazon!

3. Colouring: This is definitely trending these days, but it has been around for a long time. Monks in Tibet use coloured sand to painstakingly create stunning patterned images and then deliberately destroy them to represent the impermanence of this life on earth – in fact, they have to study for 3 years before they are allowed to participate in the practice. Colours themselves are proven to produce powerful physiological responses. They act upon us energetically as well – the Chakras are arrayed in the rainbow spectrum, and colour therapy is becoming a common healing practice. The act of colouring can be soothing, but when we focus solely upon the act and our breath, and practice quieting the mind, it becomes meditation.

The moral of the story is this: you CAN meditate, even if sitting still is not for you. The benefits are so far reaching that there is no doubt that it is worth giving these options a try. And even if you love to sit in stillness (as I do now, most days, after much practice) these are wonderful additions to explore too. Happy meditating!

Namaste, Becky