Mowditate
Mowditate
Understand and practise meditation
Clear, calm, and scientifically grounded articles about meditation, mindfulness, and the questions that arise in practice.
Basics
What is meditation? Meaning and getting started
Meditation is a practice in which you deliberately direct your attention to a particular anchor, such as your breath, sounds, physical sensations, compassion, and so on.
Read article BasicsWhat is mindfulness?
Mindfulness means consciously noticing the present moment: with kindness, openness, and, as far as possible, without immediately judging it.
Read article BasicsHow to meditate: a simple place to start
You do not need special equipment or a perfect posture to meditate.
Read article BasicsWhy does the mind wander during meditation?
Almost everyone finds that thoughts arise and attention wanders during meditation.
Read article BasicsHow long should I meditate?
There is no perfect duration for a meditation!
Read article BasicsMeditation posture: sitting on a chair or cushion
First things first: there is no ‘right’ posture. In general, though, your posture should be comfortable, help you stay attentive rather than fall asleep, and be sustainable for…
Read article BasicsShould I meditate with my eyes open or closed?
This, too, varies from person to person. You can absolutely be mindful with your eyes open. During walking meditation, your eyes will usually be open as well.
Read article BasicsDo I have to focus on my breath to meditate?
The breath is particularly useful because it is always there, making it a good place to begin.
Read article BasicsDo I need a meditation anchor?
That depends on the technique. In research, meditation techniques are often divided into two broad groups: Focused Attention Meditation (FAM) and Open Monitoring Meditation…
Read article BasicsWhat does non-judgment mean in meditation?
When we talk about mindfulness, we often encounter the idea of avoiding judgment as far as possible.
Read article BasicsWhy meditation is so hard to turn into a habit
You would really like to meditate regularly. Perhaps you have decided to sit for ten minutes every morning. It works quite well for the first few days.
Read article BasicsHow to make it easier to start meditating
In the article ‘Why Meditation Is So Hard to Turn into a Habit’, we looked at why ten minutes of meditation can have surprisingly poor odds against five minutes of social media.
Read articleDuring Meditation
I can't concentrate during meditation
As we have mentioned several times already, concentration is not something you have to maintain throughout the entire meditation.
Read article During MeditationWhy do I get tired during meditation?
Getting enough sleep should generally be a firm goal in a healthy lifestyle. Adequate sleep is also an important foundation for meditating well.
Read article During MeditationWhen you feel restless during meditation
As long as the restlessness still feels tolerable, it too can become an object of attention. Where do I notice it? Does it change?
Read article During MeditationWhen your body hurts during meditation
If mild discomfort develops during meditation, you do not have to change your posture immediately.
Read article During MeditationCan I move during meditation?
Absolutely. Keeping still is not necessarily a feature of meditation. What matters most is being mindful as you move.
Read article During MeditationShould I block out sounds during meditation?
No. Sounds are just as much a part of your experience of the moment as everything else.
Read article During MeditationWhat if I feel an itch during meditation?
An itch rather reliably produces the impulse to scratch. That is exactly what you can observe for a moment during meditation. Where exactly does it itch?
Read article During MeditationWhat if I fall asleep during meditation?
It can happen, especially if you are tired or meditate while lying down. Sleep and meditation are not the same, however.
Read articleScience
What happens in the brain during meditation?
During meditation, your brain is anything but switched off. Different networks are involved depending on how you meditate.
Read article ScienceMeditation research: what do the studies show?
Meditation has now been examined in hundreds of controlled studies. There is evidence of positive effects, particularly for mindfulness-based approaches, including for stress…
Read article ScienceMeditation, thoughts, perception and the self
When you meditate, your thoughts will eventually wander. We have covered that more than enough already.
Read article ScienceThe default mode network and meditation
The Default Mode Network, or DMN, is not a single area of the brain, but a network of interconnected regions.
Read article ScienceHow quickly does meditation work?
Some effects can arise surprisingly quickly. Even a single short meditation may, for example, influence your current perceived level of stress.
Read article ScienceWhat meditation can and cannot do
Meditation can help you deal more consciously with thoughts, feelings, and physical sensations.
Read article ScienceMeditation and stress: what can change?
Stress is part of life, and meditation will not change that. But it can influence how strongly you experience stress and how you respond to it.
Read article ScienceHow are meditation and sleep connected?
Meditation can help with sleep—but it is not a substitute for sleep.
Read article ScienceMeditation and pain: what does research tell us?
Pain does not arise only where it hurts. The brain processes and evaluates signals from the body, and our conscious experience of pain arises from that.
Read articleWhen Meditation Gets Difficult
When meditation brings up sadness
That can happen. During meditation, there is less external distraction. Thoughts, memories, or feelings that are quickly overlaid by the next task in daily life can become more…
Read article When Meditation Gets DifficultWhen anxiety comes up during meditation
Anxiety can also arise during meditation. When external distractions fall away and attention turns more strongly inward, thoughts, feelings, or physical sensations may become…
Read article When Meditation Gets DifficultMeditation: when to seek professional support
For most people, meditation is a safe practice. But unpleasant feelings, memories, or thoughts may sometimes arise during it.
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