So You Think You Can’t Meditate (Part 2): Practicing with Pain

Today’s episode is the sequel to an earlier one called “So You Think You Can’t Meditate, Part 1” (Episode 23), which covered some common obstacles to practice. Here in Part 2, I’m delving into the experience of pain and how it factors into meditation.

Episode Details:

Drawing from what I’ve learned from some of my meditation teachers who are more pain aware, and also from my yoga therapy training and experience working with students who have pain, I’ll offer some perspective on how mindfulness can help with this challenge.

We’ll cover:

  • the discomfort that is a normal part of the meditation process
  • meditating when the pain is more serious or ongoing
  • what the research says about mindfulness and pain
  • how the practice might need to be adjusted to accommodate pain

I also discuss the Teaching of the 2nd Arrow, which is a Buddhist perspective on pain vs. suffering. And, I’ll give some specific techniques you can use in your meditation to be mindful of pain without getting stuck on it.

Resources & Links from this episode:

  • “The Science of Mindfulness” – article summarizing mindfulness research (scroll towards bottom for section on pain)
  • The Sallatha Sutta, The Teaching of the Two Arrows – translation on Access To Insight website
  • A RAIN practice with me in the Moved To Meditate Class Library (enter coupon code PODCASTRAIN to access this video free, as thanks for being a podcast listener!)
  • RAIN practice with Tara Brach (renowned teacher known for this particular practice)
  • Book Living Well with Pain & Illness: The Mindful Way to Free Yourself from Suffering by Vidyamala Burch
  • Book Outsmart Your Pain: Mindfulness and Self-Compassion to Help You Leave Chronic Pain Behind by Christiane Wolf

You can find practices that align with and support these podcast topics in the Moved To Meditate Class Library.

And, we can connect on Instagram at @addie_movedtomeditate (for mindfulness, movement, yoga, and pictures of PNW nature and my adorable kitten, Mustache).

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