Active Meditations: Finding Stillness Through Movement

When most people hear the word meditation, they imagine someone sitting silently, cross-legged, trying to still the mind. Yet for many, that attempt quickly turns into a battle. The body grows restless, the thoughts refuse to stop, and the silence feels forced. Instead of peace, frustration takes over.

Osho, a modern-day mystic, understood this difficulty. He saw that modern people carry layers of conditioning and stress, the never-ending pressures from society (or our very own ego) to “succeed”, and emotions we have been taught to suppress.  In today’s era, multitasking—being physically present but mentally or energetically scattered—is a major source for feelings of futility that fuel stress and add to depression.  How can such a restless mind sit quietly simply by command? First the storm must pass, the inner clutter must be shaken off. Only then does silence arrive—not as discipline, but as a natural flowering.

This is the insight behind his Active Meditations. They are powerful methods that use movement, breath, sound, and expression to prepare the ground for stillness. Instead of asking you to suppress what is inside, they invite you to release it. And when that release is complete, silence does not need to be forced—it appears on its own.  

In truth, meditation is the art of being here and now, fully present, aligned with your whole being. For many of us in the West, this means learning not to fight the mind, but to loosen our grip on it. The constant chatter of thought is no more unnatural than the heart’s beating or the lungs’ breathing. Yet because we identify so strongly with the mind, we treat it as master rather than as one of many functions. Osho compared this to asking a hyperactive five-year-old to sit still: the more you insist, the louder and more restless the child becomes. The solution is not to force quiet, but to allow expression. Once the child has run, shouted, and played, silence comes naturally. In the same way, Osho’s methods give the mind and body space to pour out their energy. After this release, our emotions, body, and mind fall into harmony. We no longer struggle with thoughts—we become a witness, resting in awareness itself.

Dynamic Meditation, Kundalini, Nadabrahma, and Gourishankar are just a few of the techniques that transform restlessness into peace. Each has its own rhythm, but all lead to the same point: activity first, silence after.

As a facilitator of Osho’s meditations since 2004, I have witnessed transformations that words can hardly capture. People often arrive convinced they cannot meditate, that their minds are far too noisy. Yet after moving the body, giving emotions space, and opening the voice, something shifts. A quietness arises that feels effortless, even blissful. For some it comes as tears, for others as laughter, and for many as a deep relief—like the weight of years being lifted in a single hour.

What makes Osho’s approach so relevant today is its practicality. We live in a world of constant stimulation—the phone buzzing, the nervous system always on alert. In such a state, simply sitting still is nearly impossible. Active meditation takes this very restlessness and turns it into raw material for transformation. Instead of fighting the mind, it allows the mind to exhaust itself. Instead of suppressing emotions, it offers them a safe space for expression. And when this is complete, silence is not something you do—it is what remains.

The real invitation is to experience it for yourself. You may be surprised to discover that silence is not the opposite of movement, but its natural companion. It is already there, waiting beneath the noise, revealed the moment everything unnecessary has been released.

Osho called meditation “a love affair with yourself.” His active techniques are one of the most direct ways to begin this journey—the sweet silence of simply being.

How I Can Help

The way I work with individuals is by helping them choose the active meditation that suits them best and guiding them on how to practice it at home. I can teach at least twenty different active meditation techniques, each with its own rhythm and approach, which allows us to find exactly the one that resonates with you. In this way, meditation becomes a personal, experiential tool — not something abstract — but something alive, tailored to your own needs.

If you feel curious to explore which meditation could support you right now, I’d be happy to guide you. You can reach me at holisticlivingreiki@gmail.com or +306940628498

 

© 2025 Katerina Karakli. All rights reserved.