I would go into the New Year full of fire and start a practice wholeheartedly. However, somewhere over the course of the year the commitment would fade. I knew meditation was good for me and that it could do wonders for my mind, body, and spirit. I truly craved committing to a daily meditation practice. I had read countless books on how to meditate. Honestly, it took me years of having an on again off again practice to fully incorporate meditation into my daily routine.
Let me start by saying meditation is no simple task. We are constantly encouraged to:
That’s a tall order in a world that bombards us with demands, deadlines, and a whole lot of stress to manage. It can be overwhelming, but meditation is exactly what we need.
1. Create Space and Time-
When starting my practice, I found it very helpful to create both a physical space and space in my daily schedule for meditation.
2. Find a Comfortable Seat-
No need to be uncomfortable. It’s difficult to quite the mind when your body is screaming at you. I have a cushion and blanket I sit on. My husband likes to do his meditation in the chair in front of our fireplace, often with the dog sitting in his lap.
3. Just Breathe-
A great place to start is with the breath. Taking slow deep breaths into your belly. Exhaling, or letting go, with ease and your full attention is a beautifully simple form of meditation.
Breathing deep slows the heart rate, relaxes the body, focuses the mind and is an ideal way to begin your practice.
4. Start Small-
Set a time goal that is realistic for you. Start with 15 minutes a day. Supposedly, the average American watch 4 hours of TV/day. Lord knows how much time we spend surfing the web and engaging in social media. Fifteen minutes is not a lot of time. Slowly increase the amount of time you spend in your practice.
5. Find Community-
It is easier to maintain momentum in establishing your practice if you know you’re not alone. As a beginner it’s great to have a place to ask questions and share your experience.
You could simply ask a friend to commit with you or explore the many options in your community. When my sister began her practice she joined a meditation Meetup group. I have had my daily practice for many years but I still find it very helpful to meditate with others. Try your local yoga studio, as they often offer meditation nights.
6. Experiment and Explore-
There are countless ways to meditate and many different styles and traditions. Listen to CDs, MP3s, podcasts, read books or articles, or download an app.
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