Can Brushing Your Teeth be a form of Meditation?
I know what you’re asking…
“Brushing my teeth is a meditation?”
This is the exact question I have asked before when learning and being taught that, yes, brushing your teeth is a form of meditation…IF you let it be.
Years ago when I first began on my healing path and learning more about the power of meditation, brushing my teeth was one of the first methods I taught myself.
Meditation is the practice of being present, in that moment in time, without any other distractions to carry your attention away from the present moment with you. Meditation also teaches us the art of slowing down and doing one thing at a time, rather than trying to overdo it by multi-tasking.
Let’s start with being present, too often our brain is projecting us into the future with planning, organizing, etc. While these are admirable things to implement into your day, the body and mind require you to also take time to be present.
For example: if you go to yoga, then you want to be present there on your mat, moving through thoughts and emotions that arise throughout your practice. You’ll miss asana cues or lose your balance and fall if the mind starts taking over telling you what you need to do after class or bringing you back to something in the past.
Being present always coincides with the art of slowing down…
I call it an art because it’s just that, an art form that needs to be practiced and let it flow into being slow. In our modern-day society, we are not good at slowing down.
I’m from Houston, one of the state’s largest and most fast-paced cities, we do not slow down here until we lay our heads down at night. This, however, isn’t a lifestyle that’s very conducive at slowing down to be present when you’re environment pressures you to be in a rush of constant productivity.
Because the lifestyle of the average Houstonian doesn’t suit me, I began teaching myself how to slow down many years ago, beginning with brushing my teeth, so let’s get back there and into the meditative practice.
Meditative according to Ayurveda:
During the night, while you’re sleeping, your body is working through it’s natural detox and cleanse process. The toxins that are being filtered from the body and through the organ system make their way to the colon for your first-morning poo, and to the mouth, for you to clean out.
Ideally, the first thing you do in the morning is, BRUSH YOUR TEETH. First thing!
Why? Because through this act alone you’re helping your body to naturally process the toxins and remove them from the body by brushing your teeth. When you don’t brush your teeth first thing in the morning, the toxins begin to be absorbed into the bloodstream and back into the body.
This process will increase stress throughout the day, because the body has too many toxins building up and not able to get out. When you add exercise, food, or coffee on top of the toxins in the mouth from sleep, the absorption process begins taking in today’s AND yesterday’s toxins. Rendering you more prone to stressful responses to life as your day unfolds.
This ONE shift in your morning routine will more positively impact your day to your amazement, as it did mine!
Great! So, you’ve shifted perspective to make a point to brush your teeth FIRST THING, and see how you feel after doing this for ONE MONTH.
Now, let’s make this act meditative…
Mindfulness meditation and practicing slowing down.
As you wake up to brush your teeth, you have several options to make this meditative:
First, you can slow down just by brushing your teeth and looking into your eyes or gazing at your face. Just notice who you are in that moment, and find acceptance for what arises.
Second, you can close your eyes, count your breath and follow your toothbrush around in your mouth. Noticing how each section of your mouth feels and the method of your brush strokes, just be aware of the act itself.
Third, visualize your stress melting out of your body as you brush the toxins from your mouth. If you have health concerns in the moment, then give your body permission to process the dis-ease, while working to help yourself eliminate toxins, knowing the fewer toxins in the body the better for your health.
To finish up, after you replace your toothbrush, look at yourself in the mirror and announce the kind of day you will work to cultivate, and smile at yourself and the commitment to the day. Move on to the next morning task.
Putting it into Practice:
Let’s be honest, these methods sound interesting and cool…but it only benefit you when you put it into practice.
The easiest part of being willing to make changes in your life is receiving or being aware of the knowledge or the How To…the work comes in when you commit to the practice… with CONSISTENCY.
Consistency in practice will always improve you. The challenge is making the commitment…this one is easy though, isn’t it?
You already brush your teeth in the morning and evening, that’s TWO OPPORTUNITIES to practice mindful meditation. TWO. It’s just a matter of you choosing to implement something different into your life.
I always like to encourage clients to do one thing new for 3-4 weeks, see how it makes you feel after the consistency. If you feel great, keep it up! If you don’t feel like much hasn’t changed, then examine the situation again to make the necessary adjustments for your betterment.
Have more personalized questions? Email or comment below!
Happy brushing!
~ Johnna