Meditation Tips for Beginners
Like so many other journeys of discovery, the hardest part of meditation is taking that first step and committing to it. You may have been telling yourself for months, if not years, that meditation is something you want to incorporate in your life. You read every new article about the multiple health benefits, or how successful people use meditation in their daily routine and you vow that you’re going to start, one day.
One day should be today. Overcome your fears, set your reservations aside and embark on your journey of discovery through meditation. It doesn’t have to be as intimidating or complicated as you may think. Start small with these helpful meditation tips for beginners and you’ll start to see your outlook change in unexpected ways.
There are no rules when it comes to meditation, so do what works for you. Think about your schedule and when you feel the most rushed and when you feel the most relaxed and at ease. Pencil in your meditation for those times that you feel relaxed. While a daily meditation practice is a commitment, it should not become a dreaded chore.
Remember, very few people have extended amounts of time to spend in meditation and that the many benefits of meditation are evident after only 10 minutes of daily meditation. Find 10 minutes in your day and extend your session only when you feel that is no longer enough time.
Get comfortable before meditating. You don’t want to be distracted by pangs of hunger or an uncomfortable seat. Make sure that you sit down in a safe and comfortable place where you can let go and fully surrender to your meditation.
The other thing you need to do is pay attention to your posture. You want to be mindful of the needs of your body and that you aren’t sitting in a way that will aggravate any sensitive or injured areas. If being seated for a period of time puts strain on your back, try lying down or place pillows to support your back.
It is unrealistic to think that your mind will immediately become an oasis of Zen calm when you start meditating. Be gentle with yourself when your thoughts start to wander. One way to stay focused on meditation, and not everything else that you have going on in your life, is to pay attention to your breath. Follow your inhales and exhales. When you start to think of what’s going on elsewhere, bring it back to the breath or just passively observe your thoughts and let them go as you exhale.
Approach your meditation the way you would approach training for an athletic event. It’s called a meditation practice for a reason—you’re not going to get it overnight and need to stay committed to it to see real results. And don’t get discouraged when you have a less than ideal meditation session. There is much to learn from meditation, even when it doesn’t come easy or goes well. Keep it up and pretty soon you’ll be the one encouraging your friends to give it a go.
