Popular wisdom knows it, and research has confirmed it: meditation has the power to calm us down and clear our minds.
What could be more important in our lives than something that has the power to do that?
What could be more important in our lives than something that has the power to do that?But how many of us are ready, willing or able to log two hours in Lotus position every day?
The good news is, these mental benefits from meditation can be achieved in many forms of exercise, as long as you work out in a meditative frame of mind. Any workout that allows your mind to wander safely and that involves rhythm or repetitive motion, is well suited to meditation in motion and a meditative frame of mind. One clear example is yoga, which frees the mind while slowly stretching the body. Walking, jogging, running, and swimming lend themselves to this as well, as long as you can let your mind roam without putting yourself in danger.
Meditating while moving will allow some ADHD’ers to access the benefits of meditation for the first time. These typically include:
- Easing muscle tension in the neck, shoulders, jaw and back
- Releasing anxiety, frustration and conflicting emotions
- Obtaining a neutral mind frame
- Checking in with, and listening to, your inner wise voice – the one that knows the truth about who you are and what is best for you
- Reconnecting to your spirit or soul
- Creating time for private reflection and relaxation
- Adhering to a routine
- Increased ability to focus and concentrate for longer periods of time
If you’re interested in trying this technique, I recommend you plan ahead. It may take a few weeks to find the right fit for your activity, time and location. When you have found a routine that follows your doctor’s recommendations, allows you to exercise mindlessly but safely, and takes place at a time that will always work for you, now it’s time for the hard part: concentrating. Distraction is the enemy of meditation, and the hard truth of the matter is that distraction almost always wins for the first few weeks. Don’t be discouraged! When a distraction pops into your mind, write the thought down on your smartphone or on a piece of paper and go back to trying to clear your mind. Keep showing up, sweating it out and trying to let the rhythm clear your mind. The magic thing is that of you keep at it, one day it will work, and then it will keep on working.
Adding the habit of meditation to your life will remove tension from the body and stress from the mind. It offers special benefits to practitioners with ADHD: you’ll gain focus, develop a new strategy for handling distraction, and create a healthy sense of responsibility that you can put to good use in other areas of your life simply by showing up for your meditative movement appointment every day. Keep up with it, and you will find more in harmony in your life.
