I had a question from a student forwarded to me regarding various sensory, physical, and other experiences that can seem to occur in meditation.
My answer:
Every meditation experience is unique, even within the same person. In meditation, we are interrupting our normal thought patterns. Typically, we are holding on to our thought patterns but in meditation we find a letting go of these patterns. This can be felt in the mind as well as in the body. Our bodies and minds will release as the muscles begin to relax, so too the emotions will surface as well as unconscious material. It could be that we are dropping into a deeper state of meditation too.
Many people like to read into these experiences and bring a judgment to them. If we follow the philosophy of mindfulness here, we are having an awareness of a present moment experience that we do not judge as good or bad. It just is like this, right now. There are many types of experiences that meditators can have and I have experienced them all in 41 years as a practitioner. Just as thoughts and external sounds can be a distraction, focus or dwelling on these experiences can also be a distraction.
To solve this, stay with the meditation object, be it the yoga nidra script, the mantra, the breath, or whatever is used for concentration in meditation. One can be aware when these arise, acknowledge them, and then return to the meditation object with ease and without self-criticism. We must always be kind, loving, and gentle with ourselves in regard to our meditation practice. Students can certainly journal their experiences if that helps them to feel more at ease, yet remembering that every meditation experience is perfect no matter what occurs.
If you would like additional support in your meditation practice, you can join me in my mindfulness or my meditation classes throughout the week or if you would you prefer personal meditation instruction, I am happy to assist you through these practices. Contact me.
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