{"id":16840,"date":"2023-07-21T18:42:15","date_gmt":"2023-07-21T18:42:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.yogajournal.com\/?p=112750"},"modified":"2023-07-21T18:42:15","modified_gmt":"2023-07-21T18:42:15","slug":"why-i-dont-meditate","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/yogacourseware.com\/index.php\/2023\/07\/21\/why-i-dont-meditate\/","title":{"rendered":"Why I Don\u2019t Meditate"},"content":{"rendered":"
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I\u2019m not a habit-driven person. I wake up at a different time each morning. Sometimes I head to the gym, while other days I go to yoga. Even my working hours are varied. Depending on the day, you can find me typing away after dinner or arriving first at happy hour.<\/p>\n

So, it\u2019s not a surprise that when it comes to setting a meditation routine, I\u2019ve failed. Like, really failed. When I\u2019ve attempted to carve out 10 minutes in the morning for meditation (whether it\u2019s screaming<\/a>, silent, or in song<\/a>), I ended up skipping it. (I\u2019ll admit that what often drives me to yoga class after a sleepless night is the late cancellation fee.) But I\u2019ve never honed in on my inability to set aside the time to set with myself.<\/p>\n

A Reframing <\/strong><\/h2>\n

I\u2019ve always considered meditation to require 10 (long) minutes. I\u2019m not sure where the arbitrary time came from, but it stuck. Sure, 10 minutes might feel like nothing in the scope of the 24-hour day. But, during my rushed mornings and afternoons and evenings, 10 minutes means time to empty the dishwasher, respond to five emails, or listen to \u201cAll Too Well (10 Minute Version) (Taylor\u2019s Version).\u201d<\/a> So I sacrifice my meditation practice for these other tasks or interests. But, lately, I\u2019ve reconsidered my approach to meditation\u2014and what it requires. <\/strong><\/p>\n

Neeti Narula, a YJ contributor,<\/a> often posts her morning meditation practice to her Instagram. In her Reels, she discusses the challenges of making the time to come to her mat. This surprised me. I\u2019d assumed that Neeti, an accomplished yoga teacher, had no trouble finding the time for mindful practices. In my head, that was an issue that only non-yoga teachers dealt with. The \u201clackluster\u201d practitioner I identify myself as. But that wasn\u2019t the case.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere are mornings where I\u2019m up against the clock, knowing the kids might wake at any moment, and sometimes that makes me question whether I should even attempt to practice,\u201d she writes in a recent post.<\/a> She goes on to speak to the value inherent in setting some time aside for tuning into her mind and body. It\u2019s something I\u2019ve experienced, too, when I\u2019ve been, well, forced to find the time.<\/p>\n

In a recent meditation class hosted by Balance\u2019s meditation coach<\/a>, Ofosu Jones-Quartey, he revealed his own struggles to keep a consistent meditation routine. As he led us through the practice, he reminded us that wandering thoughts were okay. Self-deprecation was not. I left questioning myself and my own relationship to the practice. Why was I so hung up on an arbitrary number? Was there a different way to approach it?<\/p>\n

\u201cFor me, the progress is the commitment,\u201d Neeti writes in a recent <\/a>post. \u201cI\u2019ve never been a morning person, but I love the way starting my day through connecting with myself has shaped my life. It all began with a spot on my rug, a 2-minute timer on my iPhone, and my breath.\u201d<\/p>\n

I\u2019m taking my lead from Neeti. Instead of thinking about it as a 10-minute obligation to check off my list, I\u2019m reframing it as a 2-minute break to breathe. All I have to do is inhale and exhale for 2 minutes. That I can do.<\/p>\n

This article first appeared in our member newsletter. To receive these emails and access unlimited articles on Yoga Journal, Outside<\/a>, Women\u2019s Running<\/a>, and more, sign up for an Outside+ membership, here.<\/a><\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

\"Why<\/figure>\n

The answer may surprise you.<\/p>\n

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