Five Mindfulness tools for Pain
One Buddhist meditation teacher is fond of asking his students, “Why does your knee hurt when you meditate?” After entertaining a few answers, he smiles impishly and laughs, “Because you have a body!”
Human bodies feel pleasure and pain. It’s what they do. Whether it’s a minor ache or chronic pain, unpleasant sensations are an unavoidable, universal, and completely natural part of being alive.
Most meditation involves sitting still for extended periods of time — a perfect recipe for pain. In some ways, the practice is designed to reveal the nature of our bodies. We can always mindfully shift postures, but we also want to investigate discomfort and learn from the experience. After all, some pain can’t be alleviated…
Meditation Resources for Pain
For a meditation group specifically focused on working with chronic pain and illness, check out Denise Bardovi’s excellent group here.