Mindfulness Practice – Awareness of Physical Actions

We are all familiar with the concept of body language. For example, it is commonly said that when someone crosses their arms they are being defensive. When someone looks away in a certain direction they are being evasive, and so on.

This is a far too simple a way to understand the complexity of human interaction and experience. Nevertheless, this scrutiny we apply to unravelling the strangeness of others becomes even more interesting when applied to ourselves.

Generally we take our body for granted. Our body responds to automatic directions from our unconscious thoughts. We have become accustomed to being busy, doing something else with our minds while we’re completing the ordinary tasks in life. The mind is always on the next project, the most recent irritation, the next problem waiting round the corner.

The mind is so busy there is no space left to see, or feel, what we are actually doing. This is one reason why meditation practices will often focus on simple tasks like breathing. Almost automatically, drawing attention to our physicality results in our being in the moment and
less focussed on the chaos of our minds.

That is this week’s task, to observe the physical actions of the body. Consider every physical activity, from how the body moves, to how it stands and walks, to how it eats, and be particularly aware of how it breathes.

Observe how the body stores tension in the muscles and organs, packages anxiety as fidgets and mannerisms. Listen to your body. Observe what it has to say.

This text is taken from Yoga With Attitude by Swami Vimalratna. The book is available from the Yoga Association of Victoria and Satyananda Yoga Academy Australia.