How Static and Kinetic Meditation, with or without Guidance, Affect Autonomic Nervous System Activity in Novice Meditators

This study explored the autonomic nervous system responses and perceived experiences of novice meditators during kinetic and static meditation. Thirty-five participants completed both meditation types in randomized order. Each 20-minute session included 10 minutes of guided and 10 minutes of unguided meditation. Heart rate variability (HRV) was recorded using the Polar H10 and EliteHRV apps. A visual analog scale (VAS) assessed depth and focus, peace and calm, and drowsiness. Results indicated that depth and focus were significantly higher in kinetic than in static meditation and were also higher when guidance was provided. Static meditation induced greater drowsiness than did kinetic meditation, particularly in the unguided condition. All meditation conditions increased the heart rate (HR) compared to rest, with guided meditation showing a significantly higher heart rate than unguided meditation. The mean RR intervals were shorter under all meditation conditions than at rest. RMSSD and lnRMSSD were significantly lower during guided and unguided static meditation and guided kinetic meditation than at rest. Both guided static and kinetic meditation reduced high frequency (HF) power and increased the PNN50. Increased sympathetic nervous system activity during guided meditation suggests a higher cognitive effort among novice meditators, leading to heightened physiological arousal. These findings highlight how movement and guidance influence autonomic responses and meditation experiences, thereby contributing to the scientific foundation of meditation-based interventions.