The hold and release practice: A new way into meditation and mindfulness

Abstract

I initially developed the ‘Hold and Release Practice’ (HRP) whilst working with enhanced-care service users in the NHS and private practice (between 2005-2009). The HRP was subsequently developed and introduced to BA(Hons) Psychology & Society undergraduates between (2011–2014) and to Interdisciplinary Psychology MA students at Leeds Metropolitan University (2013–2014), and to over 100 participants at various ‘Yoga Manchester – Meditation for Beginners’ workshops (from 2013 onwards). More recently the practice was offered as a workshop during the 18thAnnual Transpersonal Psychology Section Conference, ‘Contextualising Mindfulness: Between the Sacred and the Secular’ (10–12 October 2014). This short and seemingly simple practice, serves as an embodied and experiential introduction to the relationship between posture, breath and mind, and is also a potent ‘preliminary practice’, preceding and supporting any style of sitting meditation practice. In addition to outlining and describing the technique, this paper will provide transpersonally-informed, reflexive interpretations on the practice – inspired by traditional Daoist cultivation techniques, Kabbalistic and Vedantic perspectives. It is hoped that in addition to being of use to novice meditators that HRP will also serve as a useful supplement for those with an established practice.