There’s so much focus, quite rightly, about the benefits of meditation but so often people have tried it and decided it’s not for them. But not all meditation means having to sit or lie down and be still.
If you’ve tried the stationary approach and found it tested your patience, felt impossible or you simply didn’t enjoy it, movement might be a very valuable alternative. As with so much in health and wellbeing, it’s all about finding things that make you personally feel good, rather than doing something because external sources tell you you should.
The benefits of meditation
The benefits of meditation are widely discussed and wide-ranging, touching on everything from anxiety and sleep to attention and self-awareness.
If you’re struggling with anxiety, meditation might seem counterintuitive but it calms the nervous system and helps your body to move out of being in a stress state.
The knock-on impact is that this helps clear your mind and reduce the buzzing of overthinking. This allows a break from the noise and makes it easier to be present in the here and now, not just when you’re meditating but afterwards too. Meditation also gives you time for yourself and helps build a calmer relationship with your own thoughts.
Moving meditation builds on traditional meditation by providing the added physical wellness benefits of movement. It can also be a helpful entry point for someone who just can’t sit still right now – unless they’re scrolling on their phone!
Two kinds of moving meditation
Moving meditation comes in different guises and I’ve split them into two kinds – the low effort, low thought kind and the flow state kind.
Low effort, low thought
These include a regular walk or slow movement practices like tai chi, qigong or yin yoga. In terms of walking, it’s all about keeping it simple. Think, a short 20-30 minute walk, one or two routes local to where you live or work that you can do without thinking before or after work, during your lunch break or when you just need some time out. Meanwhile, practices like tai chi, qigong or yin yoga involve low impact movements together with a focus on slowing and deepening the breath.
Flow state
The other kind of movement meditation includes activities that require enough concentration and effort that you enter what is known as a flow state, where your body and mind are working in unison and your mind quietens. Examples can include running, dancing or classes involving repetitive movements or unnarrated choreography that challenges your concentration and proprioception.
Low effort, low thought movement calms the mind and nervous system through simplicity and repetition whilst flow state calms via required focus. Both can get you to a similar meditative place by different routes. Try out some options and see what feels good for you. You may find you prefer one over the other or gain benefit from including a bit of both in your routine.
Why not give it a try and see how it feels
There’s no denying that meditation has a lot of benefits. I have found that people with busy minds often find that moving meditation is a more helpful entry point for them.
There are no rules to follow. This is about reducing a busy mind, not adding to it. It’s more about giving something a try and seeing how it feels. Thinking about whether you’d like some guidance via a class or just beginning with a regular walk and seeing how it impacts your headspace. Whichever you choose, movement can benefit your mental, as well as, your physical self.
