A few months ago, I started using the sadhu board in my daily practice. After trying it at a friend’s place, I knew I had to incorporate it into my regimen. The challenge of starting with it reminded me of the process of getting used to cold showers many years ago. In the beginning, the sessions were short, unpleasant, and challenging. However, with time it all became not only easy but a second nature and a habit.

Beginning Of Practice

I am not quite at that last level yet but I have noticed a very measurable progress throughout the couple of months I have been practicing with it. At first, the sensitivity was so high that I was able to stand on them for only a few seconds. I would ring a singing bowl and see if I can stand the duration of the sound. This created an interesting organic challenge as the bowl reverberates for quite some time but not such a long time that it would last many minutes. I am yet to reach the end of the bowl’s song in a single stand but I am gradually getting there.

What I noticed recently is that the pain of standing on the boards changed. Now I don’t get off the board because the pain is intolerable but because I get anxious about being able to stand on it for so long. That is a curious sensation. It reminds me a bit about the process of getting a nice crisp thoughtless focus in the middle of a meditation session when you are still not used to being in that state for prolonged periods. The mind goes into a sort of panic as it is not used to such experiences. With time and repeated effort, one gets used to the experience and can go deeper into it and into the states beyond.

Next Steps

That is my next milestone for the practice with the sadhu board. I’m going to get more comfortable with standing around for a minute and then beyond. Meditation on the sensations is my primary focus for now but with time it may change as the intensity of sensations subsides. Currently, it centers the focus with the intensity very well but I try to balance it with the relaxation while on the board.

I noticed that after a good meditation session when one is in an optimal state of mind standing on the board is much easier. If I feel off or weak, I can’t remain on it for long at all. This is an interesting correlation between the mind and the body that highlights the connection between the two. No matter how one looks at it, our well-being and thus the quality of the practice is very much influenced by our physical and mental health.