I believe meditating really is a personal thing and we all have different techniques that feel the most comfortable as an individual. I do understand where you are coming from though when you talk about distraction or an active mind.

Here are a few techniques that have helped me work at getting better in meditation. They may or may not work good for you but I'll give some suggestions anyway.

1.) Try to focus on your breathing as much as possible. Focus and feel the breath going in slowly and exhaling slowly. You could try to envision breathing in a glowing white light into your heart and then exhaling that white light throughout your body. If you can get into a habit of focusing on your breathing and just simply releasing a thought when it comes up and going back again to your breath, that is a big step forward in successful meditation.

2.) When it comes to noises that are distracting, you could buy some earplugs to give you a more silent and peaceful atmosphere. You could also find soothing music without words that you enjoy listening too. Anything from nature sounds, binaural beats, or anything that makes you comfortable and relaxed. There is an endless amount of this type of music on Youtube and it has come in handy for me on numerous occasions.

3.) There are also a decent amount of guided meditations on Youtube and there are quite a few handy apps on devices that are app accessible. I have a wide variety of apps that deal with relaxing music, guided meditation, binaural beats, etc. There are plenty of these all over the internet, so it shouldn't be hard to find a few that you like.

4.) There are also different variations of clearing your mind when you have unwanted or uncontrollable random thoughts that pop into your head while meditating. A simple one is to just say the word "delete" or "clear" when an unwanted thought comes up. A personal favorite of mine when I find random racing thoughts during meditation is to say...

"where will my next thought come from?"

I got that phrase from a book that I would like to eventually review here on IQ. It has been the most helpful phrase that I have ever used to clear my mind because you can literally feel your mind go blank and become empty after you say it. You could even try saying it right now as you read this and see if it works for yourself. Your mind should become clear almost as if the pause button what pushed, if even for a few seconds, but it is a helpful way to stop racing thoughts in the moment and concentrate more on relaxing and raising your vibration. Just use it when your thoughts are racing as much as you need to.

5.) I have had similar movements of my body during meditation and I can say that it is very enjoyable for me. I can't say for sure what this means, but I take it as being in a pure loving and joyous state of being. Almost as if you are in the zone of your natural self. I would embrace this feeling and just go with it. It could very well be a sign that you are lined up perfectly with your higher self.

As for posture and how you breathe is entirely up to you. The key is to be as comfortable as possible and just simply enjoy the experience. So if what you are doing feels good, then by all means continue the process.

I'd also like to add one other thing. There is a nice Guided Meditation book and cd put together by Abraham-Hicks called Getting Into The Vortex: Guided Meditations CD and User Guide. It is very well done if you are interested in their teachings or just simply interested in a well put together guided meditation. There is also an app version of this on Itunes available as well.

Good suggestions by Cory and Wade. I will add some points here.Sit comforably.Feel your body for some minute.just feel.Then try to focus on your breathing.say the word "SO" while inhaling and say " HUM" while exaling in your mind.just like this sooooooooo or hummmmmmmmm. Be gentle and relaxed.no constrains no coertion.dont try to forcibly empty your mind.Meditation happens on its own. The whole exercise should be enjoyable for you. Moving of body is nothing to afraid.its normal thing.

my answer to you is that you focus to much on thinking about nothing and that is why you think and cause a counter productive effect that result from your body moving.just focus on a spot in front of you that is not there.and see what happens. you will see the though and emotion in you that are not solve go by then you can slow them down and analyse them and once understood with no more duality put them to rest.experience and enjoy.

Witnessing the flow of mind: Witnessing your thoughts is a most important aspect of Yoga practice. Witnessing the thought process means to be able to observe the natural flow of the mind, while not being disturbed or distracted. This brings a peaceful state of mind, which allows the deeper aspects of meditation and samadhi to unfold, revealing that which is beyond, which is Yoga or Unity.

Are you willing to explore within?: The first question about your state of mind is to ask yourself if you are willing to explore your own thoughts and thought process. It does not mean a perfect or absolute readiness and willingness, but it does mean having an attitude in which there is a sincere intent to move inward. The problem comes when we don't want to do this, saying to ourselves that such inner exploration is not needed for the spiritual journey. This is one of the main reasons that so many people practice so-called meditation for years and decades, yet privately complain of not making progress.

Who I am, is beyond the mind: The fact that "I am not my thoughts" is one of the most fundamental and important of all principles of Yoga science. This is actually the way in which Patanjali introduces Yoga in the first four instructions of the Yoga Sutras. Paraphrasing, he says:

Now, after all the preparation of life and practices, begins the study and practice of Yoga.

Yoga is the nirrudah (mastery, control, regulation, transcendence, restraint) of the many levels of thought patterns in the field of mind.

Then, with that achievement, one rests in the awareness of their true nature as Self or pure Consciousness.

At other times, when not in this higher, truer state of awareness, one is falsely identified with those many levels of thought patterns contained in the mind field.

Not merely blind faith: If we only believe this, or have blind faith in this principle, then we will miss the opportunity for the direct experience of this reality.

Who am I? I am what is left after letting go of my thoughts.

Find out for yourself: In the oral tradition of Yoga meditation, it is said that you should never just believe what you read or are told, but that you should also not reject these things either. Rather, take the principles, reflect on them, do the practices, and find out for yourself, in direct experience whether or not they are true.

http://swamij.com/witnessing.htm

An Avatar exercise for meditating is to pick an object like a salt shaker or a door knob, anything you choose. You pick it then stare at it for five minutes, any time you catch your attention wondering bring it right back to the object. Allow yourself to relax as you slow your breathing down. Breath through your nose then hold and release from your mouth. Do not let your attention wonder from the object.

This builds your ability to control your own brain by your will, the more you can hold concentration, the more you can achieve.

What I'd like to add is that it's natural to have those thoughts come up during meditation - it's how we've trained our minds to work.

Imagine a forest where there is a clear well-trodden path laid down. Now imagine trying to make a new path through the thick bush... Not easy! It's much easier to return to the path and continue walking there. Just like anything else, you can make that new path in your mind, if you just keep going off in this new direction.

It's like learning a new language, very hard at first but it will get easier and easier. Like a language, there are so many levels of expertise too.

My last suggestion would be to try adding yoga - for me, the stretching and sensations of the body and the breath are a tool to train the mind to focus on something without needing conscious thought.

I like guided meditations, I know some advanced people that can not do conventional meditations. Get it, you don't have to do it. However, I liked Wade, Cory, And Zee answer much.
HINT: make a lot of noise when breathing, stare at a candle close to eye level. Keep staring at it then close your eyes and look through you third eye to see the flame. If the flame moves from your third eye view try to pull it back into view eyes closed. This may take a lot of practice. Some say the is a way to manifest. You uses a thought of abundance or what ever you want while looking at the flame. Don't do this tell you get good with the flame. Again Stare at the candle flame dead center, allow 2 to 10 minutes. The close eyes and view flame through third eye. This sounds too structured but is actual fun, Blessings In ten days let me know your outcome.