Some observations about meditation

I'm a mindfulness teacher so I facilitate meditation. These are really good points ad I've often thought that there should be some specific courses for ND people.

With meditation options should always be given anyway (for example - if that doesn't feel comfortable you can try XXX) and after a meditation there should be a chance to feedback and talk about what worked for you and what didn't so that future meditations can be amended. If you feel uncomfortable with the nature imagery I suggest ignoring what they say and just imagining yourself somewhere which feels soothing for you.

Unfortunately a lot of people who facilitate meditation aren't actually trained in mindfulness so they don't know how to adapt it to different people. 

Tamarinda said:

With meditation options should always be given anyway (for example - if that doesn't feel comfortable you can try XXX) and after a meditation there should be a chance to feedback and talk about what worked for you and what didn't so that future meditations can be amended

How can this be done in a group which is what I was thinking of in my reply?

I personally have only seen group meditation classes advertised (and only been to group mindfulness classes) where for practical purposes 'one size fits all' is more the thing.

The teacher would say this before the meditation- ie give options about what to do if something feels uncomfortable. Then afterwards the teacher would ask people to share their experience and make personal suggestions. I taught 8 week mindfulness courses in small groups so as the weeks went on people got to know each other and get more comfortable sharing their experiences. 

People can feel a bit nervous or shy about saying that they found something difficult or didn't enjoy the meditation, so usually the first person to speak would say something positive (like they found it relaxing). I would then encourage people to say other points of view by asking something like 'did anyone have a different experience' or 'did anyone find the mediation difficult?' Once one person opens up usually others follow and share their genuine experiences. This is great because it gives the teacher a chance to give them some suggestions. 

Some people find certain things hard such as paying attention to their breath (this is triggering to some) or feeling different parts of their body. Some suggestions could be holding an object you like (such as a teddy or crystal) and focusing on the feel of it, looking at an object in the room that you find comforting or listening to the sounds around you (all depends on what senses people find most soothing). 

On an 8 week mindfulness course most of the meditation is done at home on your own anyway (the class is only once a week) so the class would start with a discussion about how people got on with the meditations at home. 

By the end of the course people have found out what works for them.

Sorry this is a special interest which is why I'm writing so much!

The teacher would say this before the meditation- ie give options about what to do if something feels uncomfortable. Then afterwards the teacher would ask people to share their experience and make personal suggestions. I taught 8 week mindfulness courses in small groups so as the weeks went on people got to know each other and get more comfortable sharing their experiences. 

People can feel a bit nervous or shy about saying that they found something difficult or didn't enjoy the meditation, so usually the first person to speak would say something positive (like they found it relaxing). I would then encourage people to say other points of view by asking something like 'did anyone have a different experience' or 'did anyone find the mediation difficult?' Once one person opens up usually others follow and share their genuine experiences. This is great because it gives the teacher a chance to give them some suggestions. 

Some people find certain things hard such as paying attention to their breath (this is triggering to some) or feeling different parts of their body. Some suggestions could be holding an object you like (such as a teddy or crystal) and focusing on the feel of it, looking at an object in the room that you find comforting or listening to the sounds around you (all depends on what senses people find most soothing). 

On an 8 week mindfulness course most of the meditation is done at home on your own anyway (the class is only once a week) so the class would start with a discussion about how people got on with the meditations at home. 

By the end of the course people have found out what works for them.

Sorry this is a special interest which is why I'm writing so much!

Tamarinda said:

Sorry this is a special interest which is why I'm writing so much!

Thank you for taking the time out to explain.

You are clearly very thoughtful and professional when you teach.