I have been working at meditation for about 6 years. TBH, can’t identify any ROI. In fact, starting to think it may have had a negative impact. I also do what I call a slow mo flow. If you were watching from a distance you would think it was a form of yoga but it’s not. ROI has been great! Have lots of thoughts about both but not sure what questions are top of your mind.
Discussion
I really enjoyed the style of meditation where the focus wasn't on just not having thoughts, but instead was about focusing on the sensation of vibration within the body around the mantra like aum. I really enjoyed Sadhguru's inner engineering program but your results may vary. To me stretching is very linked to this type of meditation because you can feel more vibrations when you are limber and well stretched!
I don’t feel any vibrations when I meditate. I think you’re doing it wrong.
When i say "aum" loudly I can feel vibrations at the back of my throat around the "a" sound, at the sinuses close to my ears at the "u" sound, and around my nose when I close my mouth for the "m" sound. It's subtle, but those vibrations are what's making the sound so it's for sure there. The subtleness of this vibration is what I focus on when I meditate 🥰🔊🥰
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I do something similar with muscle relaxation. You can literally feel it in muscles. It's a humming vibration type feeling. I didn't realize how tense I was in some places until I started doing this. It helps me fall asleep or ease pain too
I'm seeing now that meditation may have different meaning for some people. It could be that trying to do it according to a set definition is why it doesn't work.
Sitting with my legs crossed and all that stereotypical stuff actually hurts for me and I don't find it helpful. But sitting with a cigar and contemplating or just existing in the moment with the cigar has a calming and productive outcome for me. Is that meditation? I don't know, but it's worth thinking about if you have been at it for 6 years. Is it possible that meditation for you is something different than what you have been doing?
How I meditated to address anxiety probably isn't how I'd do it today. Lots to think about. I have no specific questions. Open ended conversation like this is what I'd hoped for.