Sit and Do Nothing

In this time of deep winter, I find myself drawn towards Yin nourishing practices: going to bed earlier, doing less, spending more time in meditation, reflection and contemplation, and the like.

One of our deepest yin practices is to Sit and Do Nothing.

Simple in concept, yes, but depending on your energy type, it's not necessarily easy.

I am by nature more kinetic than still. Moving my body is the way I metabolize emotions. Some of my most creative ideas come to me when I am in motion. And I am a doer. Doing things feels good to me.

Sitting and doing nothing is not “natural” to me. Initially, this idea was a bit scary. But I have come to both love and appreciate this practice.

How to sit and do nothing? It's pretty much self-explanatory, though not entirely.

Sitting and doing nothing might sound like mediation, but it's not. They are related, but different. There is no right or wrong way to sit and do nothing. No particular attention to your breathing, no attempt to “let thoughts go.” No effort to do or be in any way in particular.

Just sit. Do nothing.

You may be a jumble of thoughts. You may feel twitchy because you have a long list of things you “should” be doing. You may long for the distraction of your phone. You may feel tense. You might feel relaxed. There is no point other than to do nothing.

Initially, it helps to set a timer. Even 5 or 10 minutes is a wonderful practice. You may find yourself stretching into longer and longer sessions. I was in a contemplative class this past weekend and one participant mentioned he has been sitting and doing nothing for hours at a time. Wow - that’s deep, deep yin.

I particularly enjoy sitting and doing nothing outside or inside with a window to the sky. Watching the sky, the play of light and shadows, and the movements of the trees is quite wonderful.

Be prepared to feel uncomfortable. Sitting and doing nothing goes against the grain of our societal value of productivity. When feelings of discomfort come up, be kind and generous with yourself. This practice is not about being a certain way, not about achieving Zen or anything else.

It is about doing nothing and noticing how that is. Sit with whatever arises. No right way, no right feelings.

Whether the idea of this practice sounds luscious or frightening, try it on.

As always, I welcome hearing from you. Let me know your thoughts, reactions and experiences with this practice.

Deep yin, deep stillness,
Kirstin Lindquist