Why Meditate? A Meditation FAQ Blog - Part Three
22 Dec
Written By Sarah Akida
Why meditate?
In this four part blog I answer some of the most asked (and searched) questions about meditation. Although I prefer to gently suggest, rather than tell people why you should meditate, after reading the blogs you may have some solid reasons to include a meditation practice in your routine.
Why meditate in lotus position?
Although you don’t have to sit in lotus position to meditate, it has some benefits if it is possible and comfortable for your body.
Being seated in lotus position:
creates a stable, grounded seat
helps to create and maintain a good posture for meditation with the spine straight
opens the hips, knees and ankles and encourages flexibility
calms the mind
encourages blood to the stomach for good digestion
strengthens the spine and upper back
encourages awareness and attentiveness
If you find lotus position generally uncomfortable or uncomfortable some of the time it is perfectly acceptable to meditate in a number of different postures, including:
kneeling - most people find this easier with a prop such as a yoga block or a cushion under their sit bones
sat in a chair - be sure to sit forward with your spine erect and your feet firmly planted on the earth
sat against a wall or on the floor with the back against a couch - this supports the back whilst keeping an upright posture and is a good place to start if unsupported meditation postures such as lotus are your goal
lying down - although this is not the best position for an awareness meditation, for some bodies this is the best solution
However you are seated, be sure to find a grounded connection to the earth and allow your spine to be straight to encourage an easy flow of energy.
Why do I cry when I meditate?
Almost all people have repressed feelings and emotions within themselves during their lives. Whenever we have not been able to, or have not felt safe to, express and release something which is misaligned with our needs, our energetic and physical body hold onto this sensation. When we meditate we quiet our conscious mind and body to the extent that this repressed sensations can be felt, expressed and released. Crying in meditation is not a bad thing, it is the expression of our truth and a necessary healing release for many of us. Though crying and feelings of sadness can feel overwhelming, they are in fact normal experiences which it is not healthy to repress. If you have grown up in an environment where crying and/or sadness were not encouraged or accepted, this may be a challenging but necessary process for your healing. It may be helpful to enlist a coach who can guide you through this process with encouragement which will help you feel safe and secure.
Why does my head hurt when I meditate?
When we first begin to meditate the body and mind experience this as unusual behaviour that is very different from what has been expected of them throughout your life. Your mind is now being asked to be still, when for many years you have asked it to provide you with analytic thought, mostly at rapid speed without control. The body is also being asked to be still, most of us are used to being in a constant state of movement, even if this is just shifting position on the couch. In response to this unusual behaviour both the body and the mind will likely create some sensation to try to shift you back into normal behaviour - movement. As your meditation practice develops and the body and mind learn that stillness is healthy and safe, these sensations will likely dissipate, or become less regular, only occurring in sessions where you are not so close to alignment. Where this is the case - that you are a beginner or it is a rare occurance to feel ‘negative’ sensation - it is safe and beneficial to breathe through the sensation, remaining in your meditation with detached awareness until the sensations disappear and are replaced by feelings of peace.
If you are experiencing headaches whenever you meditate this may be a sign that you are concentrating too much focus to the upper chakras and/or mind; bring your focus down into your naval area or harra and allow the pressure to dissipate.
Headaches during meditation may also be a sign of some ill-ease in your mind that you have been repressing in daily life, the stillness of meditation allows your body to communicate with you more clearly. If you feel this is the case speak to a coach to assist you in working through this experience. There may be healing to do and this is your first signal.
It is always necessary to hydrate your body well for any energy work and this could also be a cause of your headaches.
As with any activity if headaches persist it may be wise to seek professional advice.
Why do my eyes twitch when I meditate?
Meditation alters the state of your brain waves which may lead to eye movement, much like sleep can create this sensation. Meditation also heightens our third eye openness and connection and some people find that focus on the third eye stimulates fluttering in their two physical eyes. There is no need to be concerned about eye twitching. Buddhist monks tend to meditate with their eyes open and their gaze lowered; this may work better for you if your eyes twitch when close and you find it distracting. If meditating with eyes open, begin by sitting in front of a plain wall to assist maintaining focus. You may also try flame gazing meditations or meditating on an image, such as a deity or something you wish to manifest into your life.
Why do my eyes open when I meditate?
The desire to open your eyes when you meditate is most often due to feelings of fear, distrust or insecurity. This is nothing to be ashamed of, in fact it is most beneficial to be loving towards yourself and these feelings to assist you in working through them. It is also sometimes the case that someone new to meditation will experience their eyes opening because their body and mind are unused to stillness and as you are not sleeping the impulse to do something is very strong.
Why do I twitch when I meditate?
If you twitch during meditation this is likely for two reasons:
energy is processing through your system during your meditation and is causing a slight physical response
your body is unused to stillness and is attempting to gain your attention so you remember to move and do something
In both cases there is no need to stop your meditation, with conscious awareness acknowledge the twitching as something that does not require a response and focus your attention on your breath or another ‘anchor’ such as a koan (a koan is a question that cannot be answered by your intellect and assist meditators in surrendering the mind).
The same answer applies to the question Why do I vibrate when I meditate?
Why does my forehead tingle when I meditate?
As above, when we feel tingling sensations during meditation this is most likely due to the movement of energy, in this case to the third eye which is stimulated by meditation, or because the body is trying to gain our attention to return to it’s comfort zone of movement. Nothing needs to be done, return to your focus and allow the sensation to disperse.
The same is true for the question Why do I itch when I meditate?
Why do I sweat when I meditate?
During meditation your system goes through a detoxification process, an energetic cleansing, which sometimes is experienced physically in the body as temperature changes and/or sweating. Sweating may also be a tactic of the body to encourage movement. Take long slow breaths and meditate on cooling thoughts, colours or visualisations.
Why do I yawn when I meditate?
Yawning is one of your body’s ways of releasing stress and exhaustion. This is a normal occurrence during meditation as the body relaxes and the breath finds a nourishing rhythm. Allow your healing yawns and feel yourself relax.
Why do I see colors when I meditate?
Many people see colours as a way of experiencing energy. Commonly people see purple tones which are connected to energetic sight and the universe or divine. God energy and healing energy are often perceived as white or gold. Many people experience green or pink, which is connected to heart energy and love. Each of your seven chakras is connected to a colour and this may be an indication of where energetic work is taking place:
Crown chakra - violet or white
Third eye chakra - indigo
Throat chakra - blue
Heart chakra - green
Solar plexus chakra - yellow
Sacral chakra - orange
Root chakra - red
Each of us is different in how we experience energy, talk to a coach if you would like assistance bringing meaning to the colours you see or any other experiences of meditation.
Why do I sway when I meditate?
If you are swaying during meditation it is a sign to focus on your grounding. Consciously focus on your deeply rooted connection to the earth through your seat. Sometimes the sensation of swaying can feel pleasant and if you are experiencing it in this way you can allow the swaying with detached observation, allowing the energy to flow around your system.
Why meditate - part three summary
Meditation is a physical practice that can result in some physical sensations and occurrences; one of the most important lessons of meditation is allowing what is without needing something to be different.
