There are so many reasons to meditate, from getting to know your inner self better to simply quieting your mind and achieving a peaceful state, or even for the purpose of hashing out a problem you’re having. Whatever your reason, if you’re just starting out, keep it simple. Meditation can be an incredibly powerful thing for the mind, body and spirit as long as you’re willing to commit to it regularly. Here are some tips to help you get started.
7 Tips on How to Meditate
Wear comfortable clothes – Make sure you are wearing comfortable, loose-fitting clothing that will allow you to relax. You do not want to feel restricted during this process.
Find a quiet space – Find an area free of noise and distractions. If you’re listening for outside sounds, it will be harder to quiet your mind. If you like a particular scent, light a candle. You can also play soothing music (without lyrics) at a low volume in the background to help you achieve a calm state. Make sure it’s a dim room or area. Trying to relax in stark brightness can be more difficult.
Lie down or sit cross-legged – Whatever is comfortable for you is fine. However, in the beginning, it might be beneficial to sit cross-legged with a straight back to promote proper breathing and concentration.
Block out some time in the morning or evening – Set aside 15 to 30 minutes at the beginning or end of your day. If you can only do 10 minutes to start, that’s fine. Eventually, you’ll find it easier to devote more time to it. As with most things, the more practice you give it, the better. So try to make it a daily ritual.
Close your eyes, take a deep breath and relax – Be still, close your eyes, and focus on your breathing. Start by focusing on relaxing each muscle in your body, including your face. Keep breathing in and out slowly, counting out your breaths from one to ten.
Allow the thoughts to come and then imagine pushing them away – Thoughts will continue to come to your mind, and that’s fine. It’s a natural thing. When you do have a thought, try focusing on your breathing again or imagine swatting the thought away. Do this for as long as you can.
When you’re ready, open your eyes – After you’ve had some practice, you will see answers or symbols starting to manifest themselves in your meditative state. But don’t be frustrated if at first you don’t see anything. Sometimes, it helps to just continue practicing and wait for the process to naturally take its course. Once you’re done with your session, take a deep breath and slowly open your eyes. You should feel refreshed and relaxed. Keep at it, and it will become easier.
