Find peace and exercise, too is a great way to do both.  Combine movement and meditation techniques give you a lift and get your heart pumping.

Before I jump into today’s newsletter post, let me give a plug for my newest podcast which is being released in the next few days. Here’s the link to a great show: Meditation with Blair Abee.

In keeping with my recent series of various practices that you can undertake to raise your consciousness, today’s post is on moving meditation techniques. Moving meditations are done with the eyes open. It is challenging for the mind and body to reach a meditative state while in motion and can be practiced for a lifetime.

I focus on two types of meditation in my books, sit-down meditation and mindfulness meditation. I would like to include this additional “type” of meditation for your consideration. I’m speaking of moving meditations which speak to a way of meditating while moving rather than being still.

Here are some of my favorites.

Yoga, for me, is such a wonderful way to stay loose–physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. I began doing yoga over 45 years ago. It has a “stretching exercise” component to it and a sitting meditation component. I think yoga is best begun by taking a class. I particularly like the more traditional Integral Yoga Institute system which I first learned, but there are dozens of types of yoga available today. From Iyengar, which has a strong healing component to it, to Bikram, which is done in a hot environment and is more like a gym workout.

My advice: Do yoga. In the morning. First thing. If only for 10-15 minutes. Then a 4-10-minute Higher Consciousness Meditation. I know, I know–regular yoga class takes 60-90 minutes. But after you’ve done it for a while you can pare it down to 6-8 poses that you like best. I especially enjoy the Salutation to the Sun. Yoga has the potential to help us increase our vibration as we learn to breathe, meditate, and move more consciously—all at the same time.

Tai Chi is my most recent moving meditation practice. Both Lynne and I went once or twice a week to a class at our local fitness center for a year. Like yoga, it is a moving meditation. It also throws in balance and moving across the floor slowly and gracefully.

It’s practiced by millions in countries all over the world. We took the class with an outstanding teacher, Peter Paul. Emphasizing the moves, in sequence, with proper technique, and being aware of the breath is part of the routine.

Through Tai Chi, I have learned how to get more deeply into the “Zone”, which is said to promote peak athletic performance. Being able to get into the Zone is what enabled elite athletes like basketball great Michael Jordan, football wiz Joe Montana and tennis legend, Arthur Ashe (who meditated on the court during tennis matches), to perform at their peak when the pressure was on, and the game was on the line.

I apply the concept of meditation and the Zone to my tennis. It’s suitable in any sport where focus and physical activity without a lot of mental effort is desirable. In tennis, to watch the ball coming toward you, and notice the spin and the bounce can be helpful in “letting the body hit the ball” as author Tim Gallwey put it in The Inner Game of Tennis.

From time to time, I can get into the Zone, a transcendent experience, and play significantly better than usual. The trick is to get into the Zone at will. I’m still working on that and my ability to be aware of my breath before I serve is improving.

There is also a splendid book called The Legend of Bagger Vance: A Novel of Golf and the Game of Life by Steven Pressfield on this same subject of getting into Zone. He calls the Zone “the Field” and has detailed instructions on its application to golf. These are principles you may apply to your favorite sport.

It’s through tai chi and tennis I have learned that Higher Consciousness is a learnable skill. It is a lifelong endeavor, of course, but not just a matter of a stroke of blessing from the angels. I suppose it’s not a stretch to say that the pursuit of Higher Consciousness has become a lifestyle for me. The more I do this type of inner work the better I get at it (bringing consciousness into the moment); and the better I get at my physical activity and performance.

Lynne and I went for a retreat to Spirit Rock some months ago and found the walking meditation particularly intriguing. The instructions from Anna Douglas, the workshop leader, were to go out and walk the grounds, silently and with mindfulness.

“Start by being aware of your body moving. Your feet taking you step by step down the path. Be aware of the movement of the feet in your shoes. Notice what part of the foot contacts the ground first and last. Listen to the noise of the gravel with each step. Begin to be aware of the noises around you. The birds and other animal life. The grass and the sun sparkling off it. The leaves of the trees and their rustle. The trees themselves. See if some don’t have an aura you can pick up on. Feel the sun on your face. The breeze ruffling your hair. Do this for 20 minutes and we will ring a bell to call you in.”

It was during one of these walks (we did several over the period of a day) that I had a realization that I shared with the group, “My Buddha Mind was taking my body for a walk, much like taking my dog for a walk”.

I frequently use the Sacred Breath technique, mentioned earlier, when running in my neighborhood–breathing in Spirit on the inhale and radiating light out into the neighborhood on the out-breath, spreading goodwill.

Conclusion

Moving while being at peace is a real art. Moving and loving the movement in the moment is bliss. Realizing, “I am the Universe, moving” is the highest form of being one’s Self.

When you are ready:

Blair Abee is an author, poet, YouTubist, and ordinary mystic. His 6 award-winning book series is available at Amazon Books (use This Link to get there), and his YouTube videos can be viewed at Blair Abee Higher Consciousness Meditation.