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Ronald this is a very common experience, it is a kundalini-related phenomena. I'd suggest don't worry it will pass. If it's uncomfortable or interferes with daily living you could slow down your practice for a week or two.

http://www.google.com/search?q=shaking+site:.aypsite.org

Hi Ronald,

I don't know exactly what approach you are using, but as others have said, this is reasonably common.

Mahasi Sayadaw, Practical Insight Meditation
http://aimwell.org/Books/Mahasi/Practical/practical.html


I had some moderate shaking (actually mostly swaying) for a few days on a retreat last year. My teacher was a little concerned that I might injury myself (by falling on something, especially if it happened while doing walking practice) but apart from that assured me that it would pass. He said he'd seen people sway so violently that they banged their head on the floor!

I know nothing about the theory behind stuff like kundalini (I've stuck mostly to Buddhist teachings) but I've noticed that often when I've had these sort of involuntary motion things that they seem to be the body kind of straightening itself out, getting rid of some sort of habitual bad posture that is causing cramping or pain, and eventually getting itself into a proper , comfortable posture (after possibly going through a bit of pain to get there...).

Mike

Look at the chapter 9 of "A path with heart" by Jack Kornfield. He offers some good suggestions to deal with it. Here is an excerpt :

"Early in one year-long training retreat, I experienced a period of very powerful release where my head began shaking back and forth for hours. Some days later my arms started to involuntarily flap like a bird's wings. When I would try to stop them, I could barely do so. If I relaxed at all, they would flap continuously. They did so for several days. When I asked the teacher about it, he inquired whether I was being fully aware, and I said, 'Certainly.' Later he said, 'You're not really being aware. Look more carefully and you will see that you don't like it. You subtly want it to go away.' When I saw he was right, he said, 'Simply go back and observe it,' and over the next two days the movement subsided, and I sat there feeling my arms throb, bringing hours of deep bodily release...

"...These spontaneous bodily releases are neither enlightening nor harmful. They are simply what happens when the energy being generated in our practice encounters blocks and tightness where it cannot flow... When these spontaneous movements appear, we can begin to respect how deep our physical patterns of holding can be. For many students, physical releases and openings take place over months and years of their spiritual practice. It is best to meet these movements by softening, especially relaxing the back and the area at the base of the spine. if the release is only moderately strong, it is often best to try to relax and yet hold the body still in the face of it and allow the energy to push open new channels in the body, rather than be released in movement. For stronger release this is impossible, though there are ways to temper and soften the buildup and flow of energy. As we become concentrated, the energy of our body system will follow a natural process of opening and balancing itself. We will feel how the heat, pulsations, and vibrations spontaneously move through our spine to open blocked energy channels and then radiate out to every nerve and cell of our body. We can discover that some of the deepest healing and body work can take place as we sit still and meditate. Remember that this can be a long process, so be patient with your body."

Hope this helps.