Should we always seat to meditate?

Seated meditation...hmmm? 😎🧘‍♀️🧘🏽

.

Are we glorifying seated meditation, as part of the only portal, at all times, to the exploration of the Self?

.

A controversial question probably, in the land of yoga, meditation and self-development....🤷‍♀️

.

My answer could be as controversial as my question, but I just cannot help. The unique routes were never too much my "thing" in my lifelong enquiry for greater ease in Being.

.

Obviously, the virtues of meditation are not to be proven anymore. There is clear evidence and facts around the practice when well taught in a safe way & space. Seated meditation offers obvious possibilities of slowing & calming down and are generally beautiful practices for self-awareness and self-enquiries. I love teaching seated meditation practices softly in my yoga classes too, though I would never start a class with a seated meditation and would rather prefer to hold space for this moment at the end of a movement practice, but that's me. 🧡

.

So, now, here comes my enquiry....

.

I do feel that there could be a glorification of seated meditations (so many dogmas attached to these practices too, but that's another topic).

.

As I dwell increasingly in the sphere of the nervous system and somatics, I realize that seated meditation is not for everyone, and not for all times.

.

If you have a fast brain, a tendency to ruminate, stress or anxiety, this is unlikely to be the easiest practice for you. And there is no guilt to have please! I must write a word about guilt, as the yoga world can be subconsciously full of judgements about what a yogi should do or be, and personally I want to break away from all the "should's". There is never one size that fits everyone, only propositions.

.

I know so many people and myself included when I have had some hard moments of Life, for whom it is just impossible to sit “quietly” and “meditate” when you have to deal with emotional crisis of some sort. Sometimes the simple fact of closing eyes sitting in silence could even bring more triggers if we are experiencing deep traumas or emotional crisis. First, we must secure stability into you and a sense of safe release….Brain-resting. Brain securing.

.

Seated meditation always works for some regardless of circumstances, and it just does not work for some....AND, THAT's OK. We are all different.

.

There is no protocol when we meet the diversity of Humanity.  How we find ease and calm is immensely different for each of us.

.

The more I study somatic & nervous systems (and our different life stories), the less dogmatic I become about anything, including seated meditation. "Whatever works for you, just do that" I tend to say…but, please do not preach what has worked for you as the only way...

.

If sitting in sukha asana does not bring you joy, calm nor interest, please enquire…and do feel free to explore what could work best for you...at least for now...

.

Movement can be your way to meditate…it is certainly my way! 💃🏽🕺

.

Meditation is not always meant to be in crossed leg positions….Meditation is a moment when the observer meets the feeler, and this can also happen in many practices we have in our daily lives. From the seated meditation (with all kinds of techniques available to us), to body movement, painting, nature, cooking, writing…..Create your own feel-good calming cocktail of dopamine, serotonin, GABA and self-enquiries.🤸‍♀️

.

Life is always in movement anyway....what works for us now could be changing any minute, and I bow to the infinite possibilities.

.

Lovingly, in contemplation.