We've put together some tips to help you get started on your meditation journey:
1. Decide what you want to gain from your meditation practice. Meditation can help with many things, like reducing anxiety, improving focus and concentration, or making a spiritual connection. Your reason for meditation can be whatever you want it to be but having a clear idea of this can help you choose the best types of meditation practice for your intention. This is not to say that you wont experience many other benefits along-side this but having a clear intention will help you with any kind of Self development work.
2. Find a suitable area to meditate. This is especially important if you’re just starting your practice. It’s ideal to have an environment that is free from distractions as far as is possible. i.e., turn off the TV, close windows, and doors, turn your phone to silent and dim lights. The fewer things there are to distract you, the better. It’s often also a good idea to let people you live with know that you are going to be meditating as this can prevent unnecessary interruptions. You may also like to light a scented candle or incense to create more of a relaxing, tranquil effect. You may also use a particular cushion or shawl to help you stay comfortable while meditating. Some people prefer to meditate sitting on the floor or a large floor cushion. There’s not harm in trying different things to see what works best for you.
3. Wear comfortable clothes. The main purpose of meditating is to relax your mind, body, and spirit, and wearing something comfy is a great way to help you achieve this. Try to avoid wearing constrictive clothing like jeans or tight pants, and opt for loose, breathable fabrics. Wear what you feel the most comfortable in, even if that means your pyjamas, which is a real favourite of mine, especially for my evening meditation.
4. Choose a suitable time to meditate. A s a beginner, meditating during the busiest parts of your day will be difficult to say the least. Help ease your mind and avoid distractions by meditating at a time when you’re less stressed and the home environment is quitter. Perhaps this is first thing in the morning or right before bed or once your children have left for school. You may find that when you meditate in the morning, your whole day seems to run more smoothly, or when you meditate in the evening, you sleep so much better.
5. Keep a meditation journal. This is a really good practice to get into as it will allow you to review your progress but also not to forget the benefits that you are actually experiencing from you meditation practice. Just a few lines detailing any feelings or emotions that came you, how you felt during the meditation. Which type of meditation you used etc. You can really note down anything that you feel is relevant to the session or impact on the Self or your life following the session.
6. Set up a timer. When you first start meditating, it’s always a good idea to allocate a certain amount of time for your practice. By using a timer on your phone or alarm clock, you won’t be distracted by how much time you have left, or if you are wondering whether you have meditated long enough. Start meditating for just 5 to 10 minutes per day and then increase it gradually as you become more comfortable with the practice.
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