Water is all around us and one of the best ways to experience meditation is to perform a water meditation. We hear about this a lot but it can be difficult to understand how to take part in this practice if you have not done it before.
Water meditation is done by using water to either submerge the body or aid meditation and there are many benefits to this. Many people feel a connection with the earth and will include it in their meditation practice but since we are made up of 70% water, we have a connection with this element that goes much deeper.
In this article, we are going to be looking at how you can meditate with water and bring a feeling of calm and a sense of clarity through the power of water.
Benefits Of Meditating With Water
There are many ways that this type of meditation practice can benefit your mind and body. Primarily, it is thought that water meditation has the power to enhance your thoughts and when lying in the bath or another body of water, many people claim to get a greater sense of clarity.
What’s more, water is thought to be a symbol of washing away negativity. In a guided meditation this flow is one way to ridding the self of blockages and is a great way to help with healing.
Did you know that water is not only effective in the above ways but is also something that can help improve the intensity and effect of a mantra. As you chant with your body in the water, the sound current of the mantra is amplified around the human body. This can have various effects including a feeling of weightlessness as well as inducing a state of calm, particularly for those with an overactive mind.
Is It Good To Meditate In The Bath Or Shower?
Meditating in the bath or shower is a great way to include this type of meditation in your life. This is a time when you can take five minutes of peace from the stresses of the world; your job, your children, or anything else that demands your attention, so it is a prime opportunity to play with meditation. You might see this as a chance to spend time with the self and escape from reality for a little while.
Anne Koller is famous for leading water meditations at her school in New York City, particularly one that was created by Hari Kaur Khalsa. Hari is the joint author of a book designed to teach women about the benefits of yoga, the book was also penned by Machelle M Seibel. It talks about how yoga can have incredibly positive effects on the mind and body.
The meditation that Anne Koller leads can be found on this yoga site and is a session that is designed to be done in water that comes no higher than the belly button so it is perfect for when you are in the bath.
The water should be warm and you will need to sit with a straight spine, close your eyes, and allow yourself to make a connection with the water. Feel it on your skin and allow it to heal your soul.
Alternatively, you could spend some time in the shower meditating. Simply close your eyes and allow the water to fall onto your head, chest, shoulders, and accept the healing flow.
Meditation For The Shower
Everyone likes to meditate in different ways and the good news is that meditating with water can be done anywhere; the ocean, a lake, a stream, or even under a waterfall. But the comfort of your own bathroom is also an excellent choice. When we stand under running water, our bodies think that we are about to be submerged and the heart rate naturally drops, calming us.
You do not need a yoga meditation teacher to help you, simply follow each step of this shower meditation.
- You will need about 15 minutes. Set the scene by creating a nice light, perhaps light some candles, and make sure the room is warm and comfortable.
- Begin by closing the eyes and allow yourself to clear your head. The mind is usually whirring as we go through life but this is a moment where the mind can settle.
- Now focus on the breath. Take slow breaths in and out and feel the chest and the belly rise and fall.
- You might repeat a mantra, this is a few words that mean something to you. With each breath, repeat these words.
- Indulge the feeling of the water on your skin and continue to allow the mind to clear.
Conclusion
Meditating does not necessarily have to be done sitting cross-legged on a cushion and chanting ‘aum.’ There are many ways to enjoy this type of practice and one such way is by incorporating water.
We have a natural connection with this element and while you can perform this type of meditation in a natural body of water, you might also do it right from your own bathroom, in the bath, or the shower.
You will notice many advantages including a calm mind and great stress relief. So, next time you go to freshen up, why not take the time to meditate as well?
