5 Reasons why Dynamic Meditation will take over Mindfulness

A timely essay by Swaram on why it is difficult to start the inner journey with Mindfulness.

Dynamic Meditation is the meditation of the future. It is inevitable and it’s already happening. Even celebrities in the world of sport, fitness and well-being are starting to discover its power. Former NFL football star Keith Mitchell and fitness guru Elliott Hulse, are just two “big names” who will help make Dynamic Meditation popular, due to their celebrities’ status and large social media following.

Does Mindfulness work for you?

I started my meditation journey with what was known before as Vipassana Meditation – i.e. Mindfulness in modern-day terms. I was advised to start a Mindfulness practice to tackle anxiety and depression. But I have to candidly admit that it didn’t work for me. And I am not alone. Despite what neuroscientists and media say, many people who try Mindfulness don’t experience its acclaimed benefits. Why is that? In my case, and the same is possibly true for many others, I just couldn’t sit still for few minutes. My mind and emotions were so out of balance that forcing myself into a quiet, sitting position was a torture. Our modern lifestyle is leading us to such levels of restlessness, that starting a meditation practice with a passive technique like Mindfulness is not a good idea. My understanding is that Mindfulness is a very advanced technique, suitable for Buddha’s contemporaries, but definitely not helpful for twenty-first century urban folks approaching meditation for the first time.

Don’t lose hope

Thankfully I came across Osho Active Meditations. If it wasn’t for Osho Active Meditations, I would have struggled a lot more to find peace and calm. I fell in love with a particular technique called Dynamic Meditation. It’s a truly transformative method with the potential to change people’s lives. Here are my 5 reasons why Dynamic Meditation is the ideal starting point for any modern meditator and much more helpful than Mindfulness:

The body needs movement – Our modern sedentary lifestyle means we are likely to sit for many hours per day. That’s unnatural, it’s not good for health and it doesn’t help in meditation. If the body is static, the mind will be even more active. So it’s crucial to incorporate body movement into a meditation practice and avoid starting meditation with sitting still.
The mind needs relaxation – We live in the most stressful time in history. Our minds are constantly stimulated and all our energies are used up by mind activities. So when we attempt Mindfulness, which requires focus and concentration, it may be counter-productive. Better to start meditation with some sort of body activity to release mental pressure and shift the energy from the mind back to the body.
Emotions need expression – People nowadays are overwhelmed, so much so that they can easily blow up for petty reasons. Repressed emotions become uncontrollable and can manifest in dangerous ways. We are sitting on a volcano ready to explode. And negative emotions are a contributing factor to health issues. So before meditating, we need to express emotions and unload the burden so that it will be much more natural and easy to relax and be aware.
Energy needs balance – Most people feel drained and chronically low on energy. Others are hyperactive. Meditation is about being energetic but not neurotic, vibrant but relaxed. It’s just pointless to sit in meditation if the energy is not balanced. Either you fall asleep or you fidget. So start meditation by moving your energy, let it flow and re-establish its natural course, and only then it will be possible to settle down and find inner balance.
Meditation has to be fun – Meditation is not a serious affair. Incorporate dance and celebrate as part of your meditation practice, it will make the whole process lighter, more enjoyable and easier. Meditation doesn’t have to be about struggling with your wandering mind and loss of focus. Move your body, relax your mind, dance, laugh and then meditate. Enjoy it!

Dynamic Meditation comprises all these five aspects and can really help modern people approaching meditation for the first time. I am very happy to see how Mindfulness has become mainstream. The natural progression of this process is Dynamic Meditation. I am convinced that all those who are not getting the benefits of Mindfulness will start looking for alternative ways. Ultimately, through meditation we aspire to become mindful not just during a formal practice, but in every moment of our lives: eating, walking, driving, talking, etc. But to reach that level may take a long long long time. Take a shortcut, start with Dynamic Meditation!

First published on Swaram’s blog (meditarebene.it)

Swaram studied Philosophy in Rome and has worked for many years as a Head of Business Development in the Health & Fitness industry. He took sannyas in 2000 in Poona, India. meditarebene.it