Mindful vs. Mindless (and what this means in movement practice)
Is it better to be mindless, rather than mindful, in some situations? Well, that would depend on what you mean by mindful vs. mindless – and apparently, we’re not all talking about the same thing!
Episode Details:
In this podcast episode, we will look at these terms – mindful vs. mindless – and how they might apply to movement practice.
I recently came across an article in Scientific American entitled “Sometimes Mindlessness is Better than Mindfulness” by Alexander Burgoyne. That statement definitely got my attention, but I soon realized that the author was using the terms “mindful” and “mindless” very differently than the way I would use them as a longterm practitioner of Buddhist Mindfulness Meditation.
The author’s point was how easy it is to get in your own head when you over-focus on a task that doesn’t require your constant micromanagement. One example was a golfer who has mastered their swing, and thus performs better when they don’t put all of their attention on the mechanical details of that movement.
But is it useful to label that over-thinking mode as “mindfulness,” and to suggest that the solution is to be more mindless?
Mindful vs. Mindless points I’ll discuss:
- how mastery of a task (automaticity) is not the same as doing it mindlessly
- how mindfulness involves paying attention, but it’s not really “thinking about” what you’re doing or feeling self-conscious
- qualities that are essential to mindfulness, like curiosity, non-judgment, and non-attachment to the outcome
- the “choiceless awareness” or “open monitoring” style of mindfulness practice, which goes beyond focusing on a single activity
Photo: © Leremy Gan via Canva.com
I will also give some examples of what I think mindless movement actually looks like: planning your grocery list during Tai Chi, competing with the person on the next yoga mat, or pushing past what you’re actually feeling in your body because of your expectations.
True mindfulness practice is not at odds with the value of automaticity or mastery of a skill. In fact, we teach and learn mindfulness through simple, repetitive, and easy-to-learn movements precisely because that allows us to let go of the mechanics and “drop in.” If you’ve ever felt really present while doing a familiar yoga sequence or Qigong flow, you know what I mean – the simplicity makes it possible for the mind to get quiet and receptive.
So, join me for this exploration of what it means to be mindful or mindless!
Resources & Links from this episode:
- The article I’m referring to as the inspiration for this episode – “Sometimes Mindlessness Is Better than Mindfulness” by Alexander Burgoyne in Scientific American, August 2021
- For more on different meditation techniques, this Frontiers in Psychology article discusses the distinctions between Focused Attention, Open Monitoring, and Lovingkindness Meditation (from a research point of view)
- A definition of mindfulness from the Greater Good Science Center at UC Berkeley
P.S. If you’re ready to practice some mindful movement, you can sign up for your MTM Library Card to access this month’s FREE practices in the Moved To Meditate Class Library!
