Meditation in Motion: Can arm balances become effortless?
What is meditation?
Everyone seems to have their own idea of what meditation is supposed to be and feel like---except those who never practice it.
Believe it or not, I was part of the latter group for quite a while.
The first time I thought about medtation, I was downright confused.
”I don't know how to meditate. I don't meditate. What is this meditation shit everyone is talking about? Do I have to sit with my legs crossed on a cushion and close my eyes, while pretending I am not filling out today’s grocery’s shopping list in my mind? What am I supposed to feel when I meditate?”
Yes, that was me for a really long time. At least until I started practicing yoga and got a glimpse of the true meaning of meditation.
Most people think that meditation requires you to turn off your brain, stop your thoughts, be in a soft, colorless bubble. But that is actually a misnomer.
You'll never be able to turn off your thoughts.
Your thoughts are your thoughts. They do what they do.
They are like fish in an aquarium, moving around and passing by, sometimes just a quick swoosh, sometimes they stay and stare right at you and, no matter how many times you tap your finger on the glass, they do not move.
They are your inner roommate that never finishes blabbing about what you need to or should do, reliving experiences of your past and the decisions you should have made instead, or worrying about what will happen in the future...the constant chit-chat that cannot leave you alone.
So, what do you do with your inner roommate's chatter while meditating?
Your job as a meditator isn't to ignore your thoughts, but to become aware of them.
Meditation is anything that clears your thoughts and calms your mind.
Period.
It's telling your relentless thoughts, “Okay, that's cute, I see you, but I don’t want to focus on your right now. My attention is here.”
The practice is to place your attention on one single point and sustain that focus until it becomes effortless. Eventually, you become just a witness to your thoughts, able to move your focus where you want it to be.
If you're just starting out on your meditation journey, guided meditations are a great way to dip your toes in.
But here's something important to remember: as you meditate and keep your focus still, your body doesn’t have to be still.
You can find meditation in motion, too.
Imagine your fingers dancing on a guitar's strings as you strum your favorite chord, walking in the woods to the sound of the birdsong, moving fluidly through the kitchen as you're preparing your favorite meal, or flowing through asanas on your yoga mat.
Anything that asks you to put all of your focus in the here and now--even when you are moving--is a form of meditation.
And no, I am not saying this is easy! Like anything else, it takes practice.
Even advanced body movement can be meditative, and I fully believe that,
Arm balances and inversions are a form of meditation.
In fact, they're my favorite way to practice meditation. Why? Because while you’re practicing them, you can’t think of anything else.
At first, your focus is scattered amongst a million thoughts: how to find balance, the fear of falling, and even the thrill of nailing your first pose.
You are laser-focused on what your brain needs to tell your body to do--until you can just breathe.
Initially this shift requires effort, but over time it becomes part of who you are both on and off the mat, and the practice becomes effortless.
But be careful--practice does not mean random repetitions. Just like meditation, it helps to be guided before you can do it alone and eventually leads to effortless execution.
And when the effortlessness comes--when your body knows what to do and you focus is only on your breath--everything becomes quiet and the world feels just right: your world.
Have you ever experienced this form of meditation? Are you curious about how it's possible?
If you are struggling with your arm balances and wondering how Yogi Flight School could change your practice, check my free training here!
