Can’t Sit Long Enough to Meditate? Try Active Meditation [Video]

If you’re anything like me, you might be one of those people that fully embraces the significance and benefit of meditation but has trouble with those moments of stillness. For those who struggle with stillness, moments like Savasana, aka keeping your eyes closed and staying still. This can be pretty challenging. If this sounds familiar to you, I’d like to introduce you to active meditation.

Why You Can’t Sit Still

Having difficulty with stillness and silence can happen for several reasons, but is especially present with those who experience anxiety. And even though meditation can technically help with anxiety, reaching the point where one can absorb the benefits is integral.

Understanding Active Meditation

Also referred to as dynamic meditation, active meditation is understood varyingly throughout the yoga and meditation community. Pioneered by Indian mystic Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh, who was later known as Osho, the style was designed to fit the practicality of modern society. It was established on the basis that the mind should be stimulated through the body to reach the point of meditation truly.

Some believe that active meditation is only possible through particular movements or activities. In contrast, others believe that active meditation can be anything and everything.

The beauty of meditation as a whole is its ability to shift in purpose based on an individual’s insight and unique purpose. Yes, we as humans share common challenges as well as common ways of addressing them, but who is to say what truly works for any given person?

Try It Out for Yourself

For the sake of remaining open-minded, we will stick with the idea that active meditation is transient in its definition and may continue to evolve throughout time as the necessities of evolution change. The idea is to focus your mind while engaging in physical activity. While it should require you to engage in the physical sense—it does not necessarily need to be physically challenging.

That said, active meditation is most often associated with activities like painting or running. But it can also be done during a long commute or a mindful shower. Find the style that best suits you.