The Still Point
Standing Meditation for Daily Life
Hello family! I hope this note finds you well and thriving. As the year of the Fire Horse springs forward, I observe the seasons changing to balmy Texas summer, and see my son Bodhi (13 months old) growing more and more every day. These moments feel precious and I’m grateful I get to be present for my family, friends, and clients.
The ability to be present seems to be the defining feature of a joyful people. When we are fully receptive to the present moment, we can find meaning in challenges as well as wonderful events. The chase after future gains recedes into the background. The pain of the past fades away. We begin to clearly see the many small blessings happening all around us. This repeated acknowledgment of the little miracles is what makes life worth living.
In service of this idea, I’m thrilled to share a favorite practice that has changed my life in numerous ways and has brought me undeniably into the present. It may be that you experience it similarly.
The practice - standing meditation, also known as tree standing or post standing.
The entire practice consists of standing completely still, like an ancient tree, for extended periods of time, in a relatively small number of postures. You breathe in life itself, and exhale tension and stress. Your roots extend down into the earth and your branches extend up into heaven! If you think that sounds boring, think again!
Many of you may be familiar with seated meditation and its benefits, which are too numerous to list here. Notable ones include increased cognitive performance, more balanced blood pressure, better mental control, and improved sleep.
Now take all the benefits of seated meditation and add loads more. That’s standing still.
In standing meditation practice, all of the stabilizer muscles from the feet to the top of the head must be engaged but relaxed. This naturally aligns the spine and spreads tension evenly across the whole body. As a posture is held in stillness, various muscles that have been over activated or under activated will spontaneously twitch and release. I’ve seen multiple cases of chronic pain improve drastically after just one standing session. Standing practice, while seemingly easy, is actually a very powerful form of physical exercise.
The other major benefits of standing practice are mental clarity and mind-body connection. The average mind, which is conditioned to constantly seek new and interesting stimulation, is confronted with the stillness of the body. It is common for people to notice an almost endless string of thoughts come up. This is a natural release process that when finished often results in a sense of overwhelming peace.
These are just brief descriptions of the practice. The real magic is in daily life. I have noticed the positive effects flow into every activity in my life. Standing meditation has made me a better massage therapist, herbalist, IDF practitioner, astrologer and all around family man. Clients of mine report similar improvements in daily life, even after just a few sessions of standing still.
If you’re interested in learning more, I highly recommend The Way of Energy by Master Lam Kam Chuen, a wonderful book that really gets to the heart of Chinese standing meditation. It’s an easy read with lots of pictures, and the principles are sound.
If you want personal instruction, I am offering standing meditation sessions as a service that you can book HERE. I’m happy to add an introduction to standing practice to any bodywork session, herbal consult, or intrinsic data field analysis session that you book. I’ve also had the pleasure of teaching standing meditation in a group setting. If you have a group that you feel would benefit, or have further questions, you can email me at explorationsinhealth@gmail.com or text me at 512-644-4547.
Until next time - stand still, be present, and live joyfully.
Love,
Jason