Written by René Fay

“There is nothing about us fundamentally that precludes us from a meditation practice. Anything and everything about us as human beings can be worked with in our practice.”

As a teacher, I am always fascinated by the obstacles people feel stand in the way of a meditation practice. And, as a practitioner, of course, I can relate. I had my own list of things I had to reconcile to be able to come to the cushion. And a whole other list to be able to actually be with myself. Everyone’s list is their own. And there are always common threads.

Most of us have heard all kinds of variations of “I can’t meditate because…,” with some of the most common reasons being “I can’t quiet my mind” and “I can’t sit quietly with myself.”

And these do come up a lot for me as a teacher, generally. But as a person who lives with chronic physical and mental health conditions, my obstacles were (and are at times still) a little different than the most common. And because I am in community with people who share similar experiences and conditions, that sentence “I can’t meditate because…” often ends with a limitation relating to a physical or mental condition.

As I mentioned, everyone’s experience of their obstacle(s) is unique to them. It’s like some kind of personal quest. And there are always some common themes. One of those themes is the belief that there is something inherent about us, personally, that makes a meditation practice inaccessible. That something can be physical, emotional, mental, etc.

This notion is heartbreaking — and inaccurate. There is nothing about us fundamentally that precludes us from a meditation practice. Anything and everything about us as human beings can be worked with in our practice.

It’s also understandable why people have these beliefs. The way in which mindfulness is typically depicted is of someone on a cushion, usually cross-legged or in lotus position, looking very calm and peaceful. Of course, that wouldn’t look accessible to someone who is not able-bodied or is neurodivergent.

If no one tells you that sitting on a chair, standing, walking, or doing whatever is most supportive for your personal body in a given moment is part of the practice, how would you know? If no one makes it explicit that, if using the breath for an anchor causes a panic attack, you can shift it to another sense perception, how would you know?

If you are interested in learning more about working with your body, as it is, Susan Layden and I will be co-teaching an upcoming online training, The Body of Meditation. Susan brings decades of experience in somatics, yoga, and Buddhist practice, and together we’ll be exploring how to relate to the body — not as an obstacle, but as a powerful gateway into meditation.