This Mindful Movement Practice Will Help People Who ‘Hate Meditating’ Find Inner Tranquility

The main complaint amongst people who “aren’t meditators” is that they hate the idea of sitting still with their thoughts. But considering all of the benefits associated with the practice—it boosts creativity, calms anxiety, and helps with focus, to name a few—it may be worth reconsidering. And in the latest episode of Good Moves, BK Yoga Club co-founder Paris Alexandra proves that sitting still is not a pre-requisite for inducing this inner peace.

In the video, she leads viewers through a 12-minute moving meditation that combines mindfulness with some light stretching. You’ll start by writing down a reflection based on the prompt “What is holding you back right now?” (so you’ll want to bring a pen and piece of paper or journal with you to the mat), then you’ll spend a few deep breaths focusing on those thoughts. For the remainder of the practice, you’ll cycle through a series of prompts and stretch-based meditations, and the idea is that you’ll really be able to use the session to focus on what you want to let go of.

For those who don’t love meditating, what’s great about this session is that you’re really only sitting still for a few brief moments. That stillness is punctuated with written intention-setting and light movement so that you don’t run the risk of getting bored or burning out on your own thoughts. As Jamie Price, wellness expert and co-founder of the Stop, Breathe, and Think app, previously told Well+Good, “You can still practice being present and aware while incorporating movement.” Plus, other meditation pros have confirmed that you only really need three minutes to reap the benefits of meditation, so this 12-minute practice is more than enough to get you there.

Keep in mind that this is really your practice, so feel free to put on some music, light a candle, or do anything that will make it feel most comfortable for you. By the time the 12 minutes are up, you may realize that you are a meditator, after all.

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