Movement Meditation
Do you struggle with the idea of sitting still in meditation? There are many forms of meditation to try, but practicing an Active may be something you should consider trying when first starting out. It’s not something many people are aware of, but a type of meditation that is becoming more known. This type of meditation is for those people who struggle with sitting still or can’t empty their mind for whatever reason. Active meditation wants you to be more aware of your body and use movement, relaxing your body and being more physically present. That can mean many things, such as going on nature walks, or even dancing. You can even take a long shower and get similar results. There are so many different ways to make meditating a daily practice that's uniquely yours. That's one of the amazing things about spirituality, you don't have to do everything to hit a level of enlightenment, you can take bits and pieces of what you know and turn it on its head.
Active meditation was created by a spiritual guru named Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh in the 90s. He recommended you jump or chant as a form of meditation instead of standing still. Sometimes you can even do martial arts, yoga, etc. Movement is powerful. Have you ever had that feeling where you did something very physical, and you felt a sense of calmness afterwards, being tired but being hyper aware of your body in that moment? That's meditation. A place where your mind is just calm, and your body is achy, and you just feel accomplished. Sometimes even doing nature walks to breathe in the trees or stare at the moon and stars is enough. Or putting on your favorite song to dance or sing. It can be slow and sensual if you feel like it, or even wild and reckless. Just feel your body, the way your ass claps when you twerk, or even just putting your hands above your head and singing your head off. That’s a form of magic in itself.
What about those people that can't do something more physical and don't feel comfortable doing passive meditation? Actively meditating doesn't necessarily mean that you have to move your body and exert your energy. It can also mean you can color; the repetitive movement can be almost trance-like for some people. Or, if you are more well-versed in types of handicrafts, that does the same thing. Such as knitting, or drawing. Gardening works as well in meditating and can have multiple uses. The process helps in grounding you as you dig your hands and tools in the dirt for the next harvest or reconnecting to earth if you are feeling overwhelmed and giving your inner child the chance to play in the dirt again if that's what they want.
Overall, whether passive meditation or active meditation is something you are interested in. It can be a powerful tool that can be as short as three minutes of your day and can have lasting results. It also doesn't need anything to get started except time and can be beneficial for anybody who wants to try it. You can even try an Active meditation for 5 minutes and then move into a passive meditation for 3 minutes following.
-Shanti Amar
