Poll: What's your favorite mind/body practice?
Why is mindful movement so different from just moving through your day?
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What types of movement practices do you do? If I don’t have it listed below, leave it in the comments.
My meditation practice is rich with movement techniques. I have a sacred dance which refreshes and grounds me. I know a series of Bön Buddhist movements which open my body and free my spine. I practice yoga and Pilates.
I’ve always been grateful to know ways to bring my body and mind back in sync.
Lately I’ve been considering what makes movement so important to mindfulness and why some movements work better than others.
Of course, just framing a movement as a “practice” means that you bring intention and awareness to what your body does. Perhaps on the cushion, the intention of being aware is what is different than your intention to get fit when you’re in a gym.
But this doesn’t seem like the full difference.
Maybe the difference is that mindful movement techniques have particularly strong effects on the subtle body. Many traditions stress that their movements free the subtle energy channels.
Still, it’s hard to believe that in the course of a normal day, we don’t create those same movements just being human. Who doesn’t twist or flex when you get in a car or chase after a toddler?
There’s something special about intentional, mindful, sacred movements—something different.
What are your thoughts? What are your movement practices and how do they support you? How are they different from just moving through your day?