When you think of meditation you probably imagine someone sitting in stillness and silence, a look of serenity on their face. Well, Osho dynamic meditation is not that. Involving ‘chaotic breathing’, screaming, crying and shouting to celebrate your rebirth, it’s a far cry from sitting on a fringed cushion and loading up your Headspace app.
So when, at a relaxed dinner round her house, I tell my friend Rebecca how I‘ve been trying to stay with feelings of anger when they arise, rather than talking myself out of it or pushing them down, she tells me I should try it.
“It’s honestly changed my life,” she tells me, in between bites of the tacos she’s cooked for us. “I’ve known about it for years but always resisted going, as I thought it was too weird or ‘out there’ but then I tried it on a retreat, and I couldn’t have been more wrong. It’s given me a space to just be me and let all the difficult and uncomfortable emotions out. It’s better than Botox. People keep telling me how much younger I look!” I nod and ask her when the next one is.
The session begins at 8.30am on a Saturday morning – apparently the earlier the better when it comes to Osho - and I arrive to at the venue to new age mantra-style music playing and my fellow classmates dancing in a very sincere way while they wait for the session to begin.
Heads are thrown back. Eyes are closed. Arms are flung about. If you’ve ever seen the Peep Show episode where Mark and Jeremy go to Rainbow Rhythms, that’s definitely the vibe. I feel instantly self-conscious and internally repeat the Mark Corrigan mantra: “I’m not really here. It’s research. I’m Louis Theroux. I’m Louis Theroux.” Luckily, soon the blindfolds come out, and I relax, safe in the knowledge that nobody will be looking at whatever comes next.
It's so simple.
To kick off the practice, we’re encouraged to make our breathing intense, deep, fast, and without any rhythm. This, our facilitator Tara explains, is to help with energising the body and preparing it for the next stages. I’m surprised at how physically uncomfortable this is and how difficult I find it to make the breaths random without slipping into a pattern. I’m longing to breathe normally but push through.
Next, Tara tells us to go wild. If we’re feeling sexual, we can even start humping the floor, she says (which I find fairly alarming!). On cue, everyone around me begins screaming, shouting, crying, jumping, dancing, singing, and doing any movement that feels right in the moment. The idea is to express ourselves freely and let go of any inhibitions or fear of judgement.
I’m not sure whether it’s the impact of the chaotic breathing, the use of blindfolds or something else, but all my sense of being a Louis Theroux-style observer slips away. I find myself screaming as loud as I can, connecting with a feeling of fury. When I sense someone dancing close to me, I even feel like I want to push them over! Thankfully I resist and instead fall to the ground and burst into tears.
Just as I start to feel my voice is becoming hoarse from all the screaming and crying, we move onto the next part – raising our `arms high above our heads and jumping up and down shouting out “Hoo! Hoo! Hoo!” According to Tara, the sound should resonate deep into our sex chakras (lower part of the abdomen). This helps in grounding the energy and further releasing any remaining blockages.
Writing this all out with a bit of distance makes it sound completely ridiculous but, in the moment, I feel totally invigorated, filled with confidence, and as though nothing could be more normal than shouting “Hoo!” as I leap in the air.
Following all this excitement, the group drops into complete silence and stillness, all of us freezing in whatever position we are in. This more peaceful meditation is more what I’m used to. I lie on the ground and watch the light coming in through the large windows.
To close, the group is asked to celebrate the energy and aliveness we felt during the meditation by dancing, moving, or expressing ourselves in any way we feel called. After such an intense experience, I enjoy the opportunity to be more playful and let off some energy to the lively music Tara is playing. I end the session feeling more open, less held back and with a feeling of inner confidence.
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According to Bayu Prihandito, a Personal Development Coach who has experience with the practice it, “offers a unique mix of both physical activity and meditative awareness. The combination of movement, sound, and silence provides a complete and holistic approach to self-awareness and personal healing. It's not about doing it perfectly but instead showing up for yourself and just experiencing the present moment as it is.”
Other benefits he highlights include:
- Breaks old patterns: It’s a fast, intense, and thorough way to shift ingrained patterns in the body and mind that might be holding you back, deepening your connection with yourself.
- Physical and mental release: It allows for catharsis, giving an opportunity to let go of stuck emotions, energy, and any physical tension.
- Celebration of life: The final stage is all about celebration, allowing you to carry the joy and aliveness throughout your day.
“While I personally haven't experienced any negative side effects, like any intense physical or mental activity, it's key to be aware of your limits and make sure the practice feels right for you. If someone has specific health concerns or mental health issues, it might be a good idea to discuss it openly with the teacher first,” says Bayu.
For me, following the meditation, I noticed an increase in my energy and confidence levels. When something happened to ignite my anger in the days following, I was quicker to act in it in a more productive, assertive, and decisive way, instead of trying to ignore it or feeling guilty about it. And I also noticed myself being more honest with other people and less afraid of conflict, which in my mind, can only be a good thing.
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