Not everyone experiences physical sensations when they meditate, but those who do are often perplexed since they do not know what is happening to them. There again, the few who simply accept the occurrence of an expanded awareness of their body and go with the flow, seem to enjoy the way areas of their body become the focus of their attention.
What type of sensations might you experience?
You might feel a sense of being at one with the universe, which in a way, is the opposite of concentrating on your body. You may feel as though your consciousness doesn’t reside in a physical form.
You might feel lightheaded, or experience a tingling sensation. Some people report having involuntary movements, such as a hand rising, while others say that their body twitches.
What causes sensations during meditation?
The jury is out regarding why some people experience sensations while they meditate. According to some meditation teachers, the phenomenon are caused by the release of stress as part of a healing process that taking place. Others say that sensations occur simply because the brain is relaxed. What we do know, is that people tend to become more aware of physical sensations while they meditate.
Instead of focusing on the outside world as is typically done, meditations brings the attention to our inner-world, including our body. By concentrating on the process of breathing, on your heart or perhaps, on your chakra points, your attention will be directed to the way your body feels. You might become aware of sensations that regularly occur, but that you don’t usually notice when not meditating.
What should you do when you have sensations?
If you experience sensations, you can visualize yourself breathing into the areas of your body in question. Alternatively, you can just allow them to happen without paying them any more or less attention.
It can be normal to discover that you become aware of your body and of specific sensations while you meditate. Instead of letting them worry you, you can make them part of your practice purposefully, or allow them to simply happen.
This article was originally published on Ipnos’ blog, associated partner of Expo Yoga 2018.
