Body Scan

[JonW]

The obvious answer would be simply to acknowledge that you feel nothing in that particular part of the body, then move on to the next part. As I understand it, it's not uncommon for people to feel very little in the way of sensation when they start doing the body scan. Over time I would imagine that more feeling reveals itself.
Anyone else in a similar situation to jowathan?

[FeeHutch]

Hello and welcome to the community

Are you following a guided body scan meditation? The one featured in Finding Peace In a Frantic World talks about not always being able to feel every part of your body and to try not to worry or force any sensation just notice what is there and what isn't.

I am sure you aren't alone in your experience

[piedwagtail91]

hi jowathan, you just register as not feeling anything there, it's pretty common.
it's nothing to get worried about.
don't wiggle your toes or tense muscles, that's putting a sensation there that wasn't - if that makes sense.
the body scan is about being aware of what is there in that moment and if that's no sensation then that's ok.
mindfulness is about patience and accepting what is, not what you'd like it to be.
it does take practice and trying not to judge yourself,.
if you're using guided body scan and you're having real problems with this you can briefly focus on your breath until the guidance moves on.
this returning to the breath until the guidance moves on is used if people have real problems with certain areas of the body, possibly because of abuse etc.

learning about body sensations using a body scan is really just the start. by accepting what is and getting used to sometimes very subtle sensations in the body helps later on when you start working with difficult emotions and the sensations they bring to the body.
mindful movement/yoga helps you experience slightly more intense sensations, possibly as intense as very strong emotions.