Body scan meditation helps one understand the physical, mental and emotional sensations of the body. How to place it into practice? Find out here.
Body scan meditation has grow to be a resource for establishing a greater reference to the body. Not only do you grow to be more aware of your physical and mental state, but you start to just accept yourself as you might be. What does this consist of?
This type of meditation promotes rest and leisure, especially at times when the body is hyperactive or on alert. It’s about pausing and exploring each a part of the body, one after the other, to acknowledge and accept its sensations. Let’s dig deeper.
What is body scan meditation?
Body scan meditation, also called, involves becoming aware of the sensations felt by each a part of the body. It is one of the used techniques to cut back stress, not just for its positive effects, but additionally for its simplicity of application.
It can be used to relieve anxiety, nervousness, feelings of fatigue and difficulty falling asleep. The technique consists of “scanning” the body, focusing all attention on each a part of the body, one after the other.
Although this meditation focuses on recognizing body sensations, it permits you to loosen up the mind and disconnect from the hectic pace of life. This permits you to adopt a slower and calmer pace.
Everyone can select the direction of the scanner. For example, top to bottom (head to toe) or bottom to top (toe to go). However, it is strongly recommended to not skip any body part.
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How to begin body scan meditation?
As already stated, this system isn’t difficult to use. At first, concentrating generally is a bit tedious. However, little by little it is going to grow to be natural.
- First, start by lying down on a soft surface – where you’re feeling comfortable – together with your body elongated and relaxed.
- The ideal is to shut your eyes, especially to avoid distractions. If you need to keep them open you may, but try not to have a look at anything.
- Next, grow to be aware of your body posture. Pay attention to its weight by scanning each of its parts.
- Then proceed with respiration; concentrate to its rhythm, without changing the best way you breathe. Just concentrate to the way you do it.
- NOW, start specializing in different parts of your body. Choose a meaning. If you begin at the highest, concentrate to your shoulders, how they feel, their weight.
- Do you’re feeling tense or drained? Do you have got any particular sensations like tingling, cold or heat? Stop for a couple of minutes at this place, grow to be aware of it.
- Now allow yourself to find how you’re feeling. Try to discover all these sensations in each a part of the body.
- Continue through the chest (are you listening to your heart?). Then the arms, first the left, then the appropriate.
- When you get to the hands, discover each of the fingers. Make movements, gently and quietly.
- Continue with the legs (left and right), knees, ankles, then finish with the feet. Make gentle, slow movements together with your toes.
- When you’re feeling ready, you may slowly open your eyes.
The idea of the body scanner is to make a recording your body, to be able to calm him down. This reduces anxiety and even certain ailments.
Some keys to body scan meditation
Ways to practice body scan meditation may vary for everyone. However, there are some general recommendations that promote correct practice. These are the next.
- Choose a quiet place, where you is not going to be interrupted.
- Focus your attention on each body part before moving on to the following.
- Adopt an attitude of receptivity and openness.
- Regarding duration, there isn’t a fixed advice. For example, there are guided meditation audios that last 5 minutes, but it is usually possible to do that for 40 minutes, depending on availability. Quality and concentration are more essential than quantity.
- It is beneficial to practice meditation every day, especially at night. If this isn’t possible, do it at the very least once every week.
- Imagine that you simply are inhaling healing, vitality and energy, and exhaling discomfort and stress. Visualization can be very fruitfulespecially to alleviate pain and anxiety.
- People who guide meditations generally recommend taking note of the sensations generated in each a part of the body. If in some parts the sensations might be fluid, in others there could also be some resistance. In the latter case, it is acceptable to ask whether this a part of the body is related to a specific story.
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An effective leisure technique
Body scan meditation is one of the effective tools for slowing down the hectic pace of every day life. It can be a way of recognizing that the body has something to say. This practice can grow to be a guide to understanding one’s feelings and lifestyle.
Above all, it’s about connecting to the body, which is rather more than a support; physical sensations are linked to emotions. So, knowing your body is decisive for living well.
All sources cited have been thoroughly reviewed by our team to make sure their quality, reliability, timeliness and validity. The bibliography for this text has been considered academically or scientifically reliable and accurate.
- Brito Pons, G. (2011). Stress reduction program based on mindfulness: systematization of an experience of its application in a semi-rural public hospital in southern Chile. Psychoperspectives, 10(1), 221-242.
- Gibson J. Mindfulness, Interoception, and the Body: A Contemporary Perspective. Front Psychol. 2019;10:2012. Published 2019 Sep 13. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2019.02012
- Martín Asuero, A., & García-Banda, G. (2010). The Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) program reduces psychological discomfort related to stress in health professionals. Spanish Journal of Psychology, 13(2), 895-903.
- Ussher M, Spatz A, Copland C, Nicolaou A, Cargill A, Amini-Tabrizi N, McCracken LM. Immediate effects of a temporary mindfulness-based body scan on patients with chronic pain. J Behav Med. 2014 Feb;37(1):127-34. doi: 10.1007/s10865-012-9466-5. Epub 2012 Nov 6. PMID: 23129105.