Spending inordinate amounts of time commuting—especially here in the United States, where public transportation often pales in comparison to much of Europe—can be incredibly draining. One year, I drove from New Mexico to Boston and New York City, and back—four times. Along the way, I stopped in Kentucky, Chicago, Kansas City, and Oklahoma. Sitting behind the wheel for what felt like an eternity during those long trips often felt like a massive waste of time. By the end of that year, I thought to myself, “No more cross-country drives—I'm flying from now on.”

All those hours on the road could have been far worse, but carrying a notebook full of CDs made the experience more bearable, even enjoyable at times. Now that we have audiobooks, I find my time on the road far more productive—as I'm learning something valuable as I drive. Before CD's and audiobooks, though, so many of those hours felt unbearably long and boring.

Late one evening, while commuting from Santa Fe to Albuquerque, I started breathing into the sense of deadness and loss I felt within my heart that arose in response to a former girlfriend completely severing ties with me—her then-fiancé had threatened to leave her if she continued our friendship. At first, I didn’t feel much, other than faint itching sensations. But night after night, as I continued to practice, the feelings and sensations grew stronger. Feelings of emptiness, longing and sadness began to pour from my heart, and soon I felt my entire chest cavity aching. Over time, as I continued to work with this practice, I could feel these profound emanations of warmth flowing from within, along with a growing sense of connectedness to a higher power.

Since then, I’ve continued to work with this practice during long drives, especially when traffic isn’t too heavy, following any feelings and sensations that arise and allowing them to go through their progression, often continuing for hours at a time.

Important word of caution here: Drowsy driving is one of the leading causes of accidents, so prioritizing safety is critical. If you’re feeling tired, pull over at a rest stop or even a parking lot and take a nap. Allow yourself to rest until you’re fully alert and ready to drive safely.

If you’re going to practice meditation while driving, make sure you can stay fully alert and focused on the road. In a sense, driving meditation is a form of multitasking—much like listening to music while you drive. For me, it heightens my awareness, making me even more cognizant of what’s happening around me: other cars, potential road hazards, the highway patrol or a speed trap up ahead, a stray dog, deer, raccoon, skunk, squirrel or some other wild animal on or near the road, or even a bird suddenly flying into the path of my car, along with the overall flow of traffic. Not only do my senses become sharper, but my response time improves. However, if you feel that meditating while driving compromises your ability to drive safely, stop immediately. Shift your focus back to music, your thoughts, or whatever else you were doing before. Your safety and the safety of others must always come first.

Having done so much meditation practice over the years, I usually breathe into any feelings or bodily sensations, any kind of conflict or stress that arises, no matter what I’m doing. That said, I don’t even attempt the practice if I’m on the freeway or navigating heavy traffic. I’m not trying to get into deeply relaxed states, especially when people around me are speeding, rapidly changing lanes, or otherwise driving aggressively. I'm totally fine with being hypervigilant in these moments.

Driving meditation works best for me on open stretches of road with little traffic. I’ve also found it much easier to practice in the evening hours, after dark, when the world feels a bit quieter. I start by bringing as much awareness as I can to any feelings or bodily sensations present in the moment—breathing softly and deeply, fully immersing myself in those sensations, and following them as they naturally progress. When specific concerns or issues arise, or if another person or situation is evoking an emotional response that needs to be addressed, I bring all these elements to the forefront of my awareness. I'll then breathe gently into any feelings or sensations that surface in response, allowing myself to explore and process them fully.

How you breathe during driving meditation is critically important. I make a concerted effort to remain mindful, breathing deeply, drawing air all the way down into my abdomen while allowing my rib cage to expand fully. On the exhale, I release the breath completely, making both the inhale and exhale as slow and deep as possible.

What happens is that there’s a deepening—I can feel myself descending further into the depths of my feelings. At the same time, I sense my body and mind shifting into a processing mode. The feelings and bodily sensations grow stronger, and I can feel a sort of digestive process taking place—a sorting through of any issues that have been on my mind.

In addition to the deep level processing of my lived experiences and emotional responses, I can also feel myself becoming more connected to an inner source—a source of nourishment that helps to sustain me. As this happens, the feelings and sensations become much more pleasant. Long drives are transformed into a valuable time for both reflection and introspection—reflecting on external events and experiences, while also delving into my inner thoughts and emotions. And as a bonus, the drives seem to pass much more quickly.

At times, you can also gradually expand your awareness to include your surroundings. For example, if you're driving through an area filled with natural beauty, bring your attention to the surrounding elements—the mountains, deserts, trees, and other vegetation; the wildlife; or streams, rivers, lakes, and oceans. This practice not only deepens your sense of connection to the Earth but also allows you to draw in its nourishment, grounding and replenishing you as you drive.

The idea of meditating while driving might sound unusual—or even unsafe—to some, but this practice is not about zoning out. Driving meditation is about heightening your awareness. By cultivating focused attention, you can reduce stress, tone down the road rage, and improve your situational awareness. While it may take some getting used to at first, it becomes more natural with continued practice. Remember to work with this practice on open roads, where traffic is lighter. The benefits extend far beyond the road, spilling over into other areas of your life—improving patience, reducing anxiety, and helping you enjoy the journey itself, both behind the wheel and beyond.

Driving meditation is just one of the powerful meditation practices I teach—each designed to awaken your body and mind's innate healing intelligence. Ready to take your mindfulness journey to the next level? Click the link to call or message me today to learn more or schedule an individual session. Let’s explore what’s possible together!