Using the Five Senses to Meditate

If you’re interested in adding a meditative practice to your self-care routine, this post may be for you.

Meditation Music

At one of our yoga classes this week, we couldn’t get the music to work. Well, that’s not entirely true. Let me back up a bit.

For each class, we create a unique playlist. This is so that the music during class links up with what we’re practicing. It also helps me out because I can tell, based off of the music, where in the sequence we actually are.

So, I have specific music playlists for each yoga practice. Well, last night, due to some issues with cell service and connectivity, the music playlist wouldn’t work. I could play all of my yoga music on shuffle, but I wasn’t able to access my specific playlists.

Meditation in Action

As we were starting class, I noticed this. I sort of (quickly and quietly) panicked. I’ve never been without my playlist before, and it was going to be interesting.

I told the students what was what because I had to warn them that we might be jolted by a song that totally didn’t sync with what we were doing.

Of course, they were very forgiving and supportive, but I still worried a bit. Then I realized…. we could turn the situation into meditation in action!

Going with the Flow

I told the students that we’d just continue on with the music on shuffle. And if anything started playing that didn’t work, I would skip that track. I encouraged them to use this experience as a meditative moment.

Maybe I was secretly telling myself that??

Anyway, it was a good lesson in letting go and flowing with what is. Just being present to the now and releasing expectation of what we anticipate will occur. That’s meditation in action.

It got me thinking about our senses and how using the physical body is another meditative technique.

Using the Five Senses in Meditation

Part of our challenge with being human is that many of us live mostly in our heads. We ruminate, worry, plan, think, and replay conversations over and over again. Most people are actually out of touch with the physical body.

The five senses are a great way to practice meditation. At its most basic level, we can sit quietly, observing what we see, hear, feel, taste, and smell. In fact, there are meditative techniques, such as mindful eating, that apply this very concept.

Here’s a nice video with a short meditating practice that uses the five senses to stay mindful.

Meditation Supports Calmness

All in all, everything worked out. The music was fine during class, and nobody really noticed the lack of playlist.

In fact, one student even commented as we were cleaning up, “Hey, the music was fine the whole time!”

All that worry for nothing!!

Staying present and being with what is without attachment truly does create peaceful feelings.

Have You Tried It?

What do you think? Do you see any benefits in being present? What yoga poses help you feel mindful? Which breathing techniques work for you? How does meditation translate to your real life?

And, of course, we’d love to see you in a future class! Check out our yoga schedule and sign up for a future program.

About the Author: Elizabeth Scala MSN/MBA, RN, RYT (200) is a holistic nurse, registered yoga instructor, and reiki master.

Elizabeth received her dual master’s degree from Johns Hopkins University. She is a certified coach, nature lover, and avid meditator.

Elizabeth lives in Maryland with her supportive husband and playful pups. She enjoys gardening, jigsaw puzzles, baking, music, and hiking.