Adding meditation into your life will bring a world of benefits to you emotionally and physically. Many people feel confused and overwhelmed when beginning to meditate, preventing them from really making the most of their meditation experience. These little tips will help ensure that you get the most out of your meditation time and make it work for you.
1) Make it Your Own
Expectations can ruin almost anything in life, including meditation. Lower all your expectations and try to avoid thinking about what meditation should be for you – instead just let it be whatever it is. As you feel more comfortable and confident with your meditation, it will evolve.
2) Set Aside Some Time Each Day
Meditation is one of those things that certainly won’t happen unless you set aside some time each day. If you have ever practiced meditation, you will know that the stress relief and clarity you can get from it is completely invaluable. As such, setting aside some time each day, even it’s only 10 mins in the morning while you are getting ready for work, driving the kids to school, or even while you get a swedish massage in Clermont, FL, will do you the world of good.
3) Try Yoga
If you find that traditional “sitting” meditation is a bit too much for you to start out with, why not enjoy a whole body meditation? Yoga is a great form of moving meditation for those who are new to meditation. You will be guided by your teacher and you’ll also get a bit of exercise along the way. At the end of most yoga practices there is a silent and still part that generally lasts around 5 mins, where you’ll enjoy many of the benefits of traditional meditation.
4) Focus on Your Breathing and Your Spine
Many people get the focusing on breathing, but neglect their spine. It’s important to sit properly during meditation as it will open you up and allow you to get the full benefits of meditating. If you sit, hunched over, you will be negating any of the benefits of meditation by negatively impacting your spine. Be mindful of your whole body during meditation, not just your breath, and you’ll feel the difference.
5) If You Are Struggling, Add Music
Some people prefer to meditate in silence, others simply can’t. If you find yourself struggling with silent meditation then why not find some music to help you through it. There are specialised meditation tracks you can listen to that will guide you through meditation (you can find a bunch on YouTube). Otherwise you can just find some relaxing music, such as bird song or rainforest soundtracks. Whatever will help you relax the most, is probably the best type of music to use alongside your meditation.
Meditation should be something that you enjoy, something that brings value to your life. Avoid putting too much expectation and pressure on yourself to meditate a certain way and just relax into it. Your practice will evolve as time goes on and you become more experienced so just enjoy the ride.
