Meditation alternatives

Hi I'm new here and I'd like to know if anyone who has alternatives to meditation, I used to meditate a lot and part of that takes focus and control over my breathing but my health hasn't been at it's best lately and controlling my breathing is very difficult. was just wandering if anyone has used any other techniques for meditation other than controlling breathing.
Thank you, Jordan Walters.

In the morning I do contemplation over coffee and just sit in silence

A common practise is to use the visual sense to practice focus onto a point location, to meditate.

I used to use incense in a dark room, but its got smoke, ash etc, so instead I find that little red LCD standby light on most TV's works just as well in a dark room - without the smell though!!!

The idea is usually to become 'aware of' (by using that single pointed focus), instead of being wrapped up in, the mental grasping of thoughts as they emerge. Looking at them almost like an observer. By focusing in this way, its like looking on the nature of thought. From which one might be able to develop an understanding of how we process and relate to the attributes of each thought, but also importantly by learning how to become detached from that stream of thought it can in theory lend an experience of accessing a perhaps purer state of awareness... but in more accessible practical terms it can eventually help arrest a busy mind or overbearing feelings like some emotions. In this you can leave the breathing to the Autonomic Nervous System to manage.

Actually...Meditation can help you improve your breathing

However Meditation isn't always about the Breath Meditations is the Peaceful Contemplation of things and being blissfully aware. Reading a book, for example is a form of Meditation. Or when a Scientist "Thinks" over their formula's...is considered Meditation. Walking in the park or even just doing a hobby that brings you to peace. Meditation has a very wide variety of methods. Breathing and the control of breath is just one practice of it. (not particularly my favorite either.

My suggestion would be to determine what exactly it is you are trying to Achieve when you Meditate? If it is the common "Clearing of mind" or "Focus" Then you can research further from there My purpose for meditations are quite often to come down from the stress of the day. I hate going to sleep with everything else itching around me. So i simply lay in bed, turn on meditation music and just sort of allow myself to absorb into the sounds. Binural Tone's are awesome (With a series of warnings)

And when all else fails? Go enjoy a nice shower

Good luck!

Darogan wrote: Hi I'm new here and I'd like to know if anyone who has alternatives to meditation...

The funny thing is that almost every alternative to meditation is, itself, meditation. The word is not confined to sitting in a particular posture counting our breaths, but any activity or state of mind wherein we are fully immersed in the world at that very second. There are many "non-meditative" ways to meditate. I'm sure this thread will rapidly fill with suggestions. In the end, though, it's just a different path to the same mountaintop.

thank you to all of you I will definitely will try some of these, in general I try to meditate to become more focused and grounded without meditation my mind wanders a lot I'm a big day dreamer :laugh: . thank you for all the help

Dar, I'm ADHD, so I do meditations that involve any sort of visualization.

I cook eggs make soup read sit still, there are many alternatives, have you taken time to study any different methods? One of the many Joys of being Jedi is our gift of choice. We learn and cam choose our own path. Take some time to study, learn how others do it and try it. Let me know what you think and what you find

My suggestion? Go walking. Take note of the sounds, sights and smells around you. If it's in a park or other natural area, hear the gentle movement of the trees, the birds twittering and so on. Pay attention to those details and, if you can, try to set everything else aside until you've finished walking. If you can't in that moment, certainly let your mind wander and explore where your thoughts go, without judging them. That is a perfectly meaningful and valuable way to meditate.

Just remember to pay attention: you don't want to walk into a tree/lamp pole/other object/person!

I have done some research on mindfulness meditation and moving meditation such as tai chi, sorry if I came across as lazy by asking others I didn't mean it like that just wanted peoples opinions on which forms worked best for them and would see if those options would work for me.

thank you all for tips and advice looking forward to try the many things mentioned in the posts above.