a little bit about how we are “supposed” to meditate
I’m not really a “supposed to” or “should” kind of girl. I never have been someone to see things in black and white. There are no absolutes. So when I hear the limiting phrase in a yoga class, it makes me a little bit itchy.
If I had a nickel for the number of students mentioning that they can’t meditate because they can’t quiet their mind, because someone told them they should do that. or they are supposed to do that. And when someone tells you how it’s supposed to be, but it never seems to be that way, it can be very discouraging.
There are many frustrations students mention in regards to meditation. In addition to feeling inadequate about their mental clarity, they feel that they can’t sit there and do nothing for 10-20 minutes at a time. It is daunting and can almost feel like time wasted. I have been around other teachers preaching the importance of keeping meditation (and yoga for that matter) as it was meant to be thousands of years ago. And this also feels a bit lofty and unrealistic to most householders in 2025.
The first evidence of possible meditative practices was somewhere between 5000-3500 BCE and the earliest written descriptions of meditation can be found in the ancient Hindu Vedas from 1500 BCE. Buddhist practices came about soon after, followed by many yoga traditions. Meditative practices are also described in Islam Mysticism (Sufi) and Jewish Kabbalah prayers!
If you went back in time to 5000 BCE, you might find that the customs, culture, priorities of the people of that time might be slightly different. Many meditators and yogis lived in communities focusing on nothing else. These were not householders with jobs, children, bills, social lives, and so on. Their entire lives were dedicated to these practices to bring them closer to the Divine.
Fast forward thousands of years, perhaps our meditation practices have and should evolve. Because we as a society have evolved. And most of us are looking for the divine connection to a little bit of peace. Some freedom from stress. Better focus. A reset.
Let me put this out there that I honor and value the roots of the yoga and meditation and think reading, understanding, and even practicing some of the ancient tools is vital to keeping what we do respectful and sacred. But I also value progress and adaptation based on individual needs and an ever evolving society. And that’s why “supposed to” does not fit into my vocabulary.
Now- getting back to what I mentioned earlier about quieting the mind. Or emptying the mind. I want you to delete those notions from your spectacular overthinking, creative, beautiful mind. Do you really want to stifle your superpower? OR do you want to find a way to focus on one or two of those innovative ideas at a time so you can do something with them?
I choose the second option. And it’s a mental game to learn how to redirect your thoughts onto things happening in the present moment. You learn how to decide what to focus on and there is no one size fits all style of meditation to get you there. Want to explore some simple, doable meditation techniques? Join me for a FREE 5 Day Meditation Challenge starting 2/1/2025! You will receive a daily one minute meditation in your inbox that explores a new style. You just might find the perfect practice for your beautiful, busy brain! Join me!