Paul Anthony:
Right - so the more fundamental question is what's the limitation as compared with traditional walking practice or whatever. Is there any reason why this wouldn't be a substantial part of someone's practice - the reason I ask is that I don't see much mention of it here or elsewhere and that's interesting.
It's just easier to do noting practice while in sitting meditation rather than having to also pay attention to where one is jogging, street noises etcetera, and whatever other distracting occurrences arise. Meditation, in general, is a solitary activity designed to help one become more familiar with the gross and subtle movements of the mind. It therefore greatly facilitates this process if one is able to just sit quietly and undisturbed without having to be anxious about anything.
The discourses describe it thus: "Here, monks, a monk abides contemplating body as body,
ardent, clearly aware and mindful, having put aside hankering and fretting for the world..."And how, monks, does a monk abide contemplating the body as body? Here a monk,
having gone into the forest, or to the root of a tree or to an empty place, sits down cross-legged, holding his body erect, having established mindfulness before him. Mindfully he breaths in, mindfully he breaths out...."
Paul Anthony:
Often for me in the midst of work and family life it's much easier to find a place to work out than a place to sit quietly or walk slowly.... Perhaps because our society accepts exercise as a legitimate activity and leaves people alone to get on with it. Not always the case with an activity perceived as esoteric.
Find a quiet church to sit in if you aren't able to at home; or a vacant park out in nature. There are any number of quiet places one can find if one applies one's ingenuity. Also, don't be embarrassed by sitting in meditation while in public. Most people passing by could care less.