Meditation And Flinching: Why It Happens And How To Stop It

Meditation is supposed to be a relaxing experience, but sometimes it can lead to some odd physical sensations, such as twitching, trembling, or shaking. This can be quite intense, but it's a sign of progress in meditation and is caused by the release of energy from stored-up stress and tension. During meditation, we learn to accept this type of sensation while investigating it. If it is too intense, it can help to observe your breath for a while.

Twitching can occur when we meditate because we are giving our minds and bodies the chance to process our thoughts, feelings, and experiences. This means that the internal processes can fire more, increasing the level of chemical reactions in our body. This gets distributed as energy throughout the body by the central nervous system and can sometimes appear as muscles twitching, trembling, or shaking.

It is important to remember that these sensations are just the body releasing stress, inner conditioning, and habitual tensions and knots. As the body relaxes during meditation, chemicals such as serotonin are released into the bloodstream, which aids in breaking down stress hormones such as cortisol. If we don't give our central nervous system time to release stored-up energy, we can end up feeling stressed, which can lead to various illnesses, diseases, and even panic attacks.

Twitching is a sign of progress in meditation

Twitching during meditation is a common phenomenon and can be a sign of progress in your meditation practice. It is characterised by involuntary muscle spasms and bodily movements, which can range from light tingling sensations in the arms or legs to more pronounced jerks and spasms throughout the body. These sensations are generally not painful or uncomfortable but indicate that the mind is relaxed and at ease.

Twitching occurs as the body is allowed to relax, releasing energy from stored-up stress and tension. The central nervous system controls the fibres that make up your muscles and is constantly sending signals to them. These fibres can only expand or contract, which is what you notice when you meditate. When we meditate, we give our minds and bodies the opportunity to process thoughts, feelings, and experiences, and this can lead to an increase in chemical reactions in our body, resulting in energy being distributed throughout the body by the central nervous system, sometimes manifesting as twitching.

Twitching can also be a sign of spiritual awakening, often due to the release of Kundalini energy, which has built up in the body over time. This energy is typically released through deep breathing and physical movements such as twitching or trembling. Many meditators report feeling more relaxed and energised after experiencing these sensations.

If you experience twitching during meditation, it is important to stay aware and equanimous with it. Observe the sensation with a detached mind, as you would with any other sensation. Try to observe the twitching as a doctor would, exploring any underlying tension, heat, or vibrations. Bring a sense of curiosity to this exploration, noticing how the sensation is constantly changing.

If the twitching is too intense, you can try taking a few deep breaths through the nose, breathing directly into and out of the part of the body experiencing the sensation. As you breathe out, let that part of your body relax and allow the energy to flow. You can also focus on your breathing, observing the feeling of the breath at the belly or nostrils until you can comfortably sit with the sensation again.

In conclusion, twitching is a common occurrence during meditation and can be a sign of progress. It is the body's way of releasing stress and tension, and by skilfully handling these sensations, you can continue to progress on your meditation path.

Twitching is caused by the release of energy from stored-up stress and tension

Twitching during meditation is a common occurrence and can be quite intense. It is caused by the release of energy from stored-up stress and tension. When we meditate, we give our minds and bodies the opportunity to process our thoughts, feelings, and experiences, allowing the internal processes to fire up and release energy throughout the body. This energy release can sometimes manifest as muscle twitching, trembling, or shaking.

During meditation, the body relaxes, and chemicals such as serotonin are released into the bloodstream, breaking down stress hormones like cortisol. This process of the body coming back into balance can be intense if one has been overactivating their fight-or-flight response. It is essential to allow this energy to be released rather than stored, as suppressed energy can contribute to various illnesses, diseases, and even panic attacks.

To manage twitching during meditation, it is crucial not to react to or run away from the sensation. Instead, stay aware and observe it with a detached mind, investigating what else might be underlying the twitching, such as tension, heat, or vibrations. Bringing a sense of curiosity to the area and noticing its constant change can be helpful. If the sensation is too intense, one can take a few deep breaths, breathing directly into and out of the affected body part. As you breathe out, let that part of the body relax and allow the energy to flow.

Additionally, engaging in yoga asanas, baths with Epsom salts, acupuncture, or massages can help release muscle tension. Socializing with friends and laughing can also be a universal solution to managing stress and tension.

How to deal with twitching during meditation

Twitching during meditation is a common occurrence and can be quite intense. It happens because the body is allowed to relax, which releases energy from stored-up stress and tension. The central nervous system controls the fibres that make up your muscles and is constantly sending signals to them. These fibres can only expand or contract, which is what you are noticing during meditation.

• Stay aware and equanimous. Remember that it is a completely normal phenomenon and what you are experiencing is just undigested emotional energy.
• Observe the sensations with a detached mind. Ask yourself, "How does it really feel? Let me have a real good look at it." Try to divide and dissect the sensation to see what else is lying underneath the twitching. Maybe there is some tension, heat, or vibrations?
• If the sensation is too intense, take two or three deep breaths through the nose, breathing directly into and out of the part of the body that is experiencing the sensation. As you breathe out, feel that part of the body relax and let the energy flow as it wants to.
• Keep breathing into the sensation as you breathe completely naturally. Stay aware of both the breath and the sensation, allowing the body to relax as much as possible.
• If the sensation is still too intense, come back to your breathing without any dislike or aversion to the sensation. Allow it to be as it is while keeping your attention on the feeling of the breath. Keep doing this until you can comfortably sit with the sensation again.
• Practise Calm Abiding or Samatha Meditation to calm the body and achieve deep states of relaxation and concentration.
• Do not get caught up in man-made concepts, theories, or ideas about what this means. Let nature's processes take care of themselves and do not react. Trust that your body knows what to do.

Twitching could be due to carrying stress in the body

Twitching during meditation can be caused by the release of energy from stored-up stress and tension in the body. The body is allowed to relax during meditation, which can lead to twitching, trembling, or shaking. This is because the central nervous system controls the fibres that make up the muscles, and these fibres can only expand or contract, which is what is noticed during meditation.

In addition, when one meditates, the mind and body are given the opportunity to process thoughts, feelings, and experiences. This can lead to an increase in chemical reactions in the body, resulting in energy distribution by the central nervous system, which may manifest as muscle twitching. If one does not allow this energy to be released, it can lead to various illnesses, diseases, and even panic attacks.

To deal with twitching during meditation, it is important to stay aware and equanimous. Observe the sensation with a detached mind and try to divide and dissect it to see what else is lying underneath. Bring a sense of curiosity to the area and notice how it is constantly changing. If the sensation is too intense, one can try taking a few deep breaths and breathing directly into and out of the part of the body that is experiencing the sensation. It can also help to do some yoga poses before meditation to release tension from the muscles.

Twitching during meditation is a sign of progress, as long as one knows how to skilfully handle it. It is important to remember that these sensations are normal and are simply the body's way of releasing undigested emotional energy.

Increased flow of energy in the body's energy field

Twitching, trembling, or shaking during meditation is quite common. It happens when the body is allowed to relax, releasing energy from stored-up stress and tension. During meditation, we learn to accept this type of sensation while investigating it. If the sensation is too intense, it is recommended to observe your breath for a while.

Noticing these types of sensations is a sign of progress in meditation, as long as we know how to skilfully handle them. It is important to not react to these sensations or try to run away from them. Instead, stay aware and equanimous with them.

The body's "energy field" or "aura" starts to move "blocks". As the energy dissolves these blocks, the body may spontaneously shake or twist and turn since everything that happens in our energy field is reflected in the body.

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