Here’s an alternative approach to meditation that you might find interesting. Rather than focusing on simply observing your breath—the air moving in and out of your body—consider observing the act of breathing itself. This way, you engage with the entire body’s involvement in and response to breathing, making it a much richer experience.
Start by relaxing the muscles around your eyes. This changes how you observe internally and allows you to be aware of various sensations throughout your body at the same time. It’s like switching from a flashlight, which illuminates a small area, to a lamp that lights up an entire room.
Once you’re aware of sensations all over your body, you can just rest in that awareness. Thoughts will still come up, but they won’t grab your attention as much. You’ll find that it takes less effort, and it feels like you’re not “doing” meditation; it’s just happening.
To deepen this practice, allow yourself to feel as if your breath is observing you too. Recognize your body as a living, breathing entity with its own intelligence and awareness. Just as you are aware of it, your body is aware of you. Let yourself be seen.
At first, this might feel a bit uncomfortable because being observed can be unsettling. But think of this observation as a sensory experience rather than a visual one. Imagine your body as a warm, loving presence that embraces you.
This approach offers an opportunity to surrender further into your practice and experience meditation from a place of deeper receptivity. There’s no need to actively be present for the body since it’s always present for you. Even when your mind gets distracted, your body continues to sense you, always ready to welcome you back.
This might sound a bit unconventional, but I encourage you to try it and see how it changes your meditation practice. It may even have a transformative effect on your life.