You Don’t Have to Be in Full Lotus to Be Meditating!

12 Feb You Don’t Have to Be in Full Lotus to Be Meditating!

The truth is there are many ways to meditate — here’s 5 to try!

I hear a lot of people say, “I don’t meditate” but I wonder if their definition just discounts any activity that doesn’t involve full lotus or mantras?

I also hear a lot of people say “I can’t meditate”, as if it is some ability that you either have or you don’t. Some gurus might want you to believe this, but actually, there are many ways to get into a meditative state.

The truth

There are many ways to meditate, and if you are trying to either passively notice your state, or actively trying focus your attention on something and affecting your brain state, then the good news is — you can call it meditating.

1. Noticing

The simplest thing I consider to be meditation is simply being. Whether sitting or lying or standing, just consciously checking in with yourself for a period of time and passively noticing what is going on. Purely stopping and mindfully watching the breath, body, the mind etc. Not trying to change anything, but just noticing.

2. Walking

Taking a conscious walk can be a form of meditation. See what is around you, smell the air, feel the ground beneath each step.

4. Writing

Writing stream of consciousness morning pages can clear the way for a better traditional meditation activity, or be a meditative activity in itself. This is a great read if you think writing meditation might be appealing to you.

5. Stretching

Otherwise, know as yoga. Yes, meditation is a limb of yoga, but I’m talking the liberty of suggesting that focusing on stretching or yoga is a meditative activity in itself, and definitely a gateway to deeper meditation (shout out to yin yoga in particular).

6. Breathwork (pranayama)

Focused breath control is a great meditation technique. Try breathing with a metronome, learn more from this post Have You Tried Meditating with a Metronome?