Meditation
What is meditation?
Meditation is the experience of being fully present in the present moment. Meditation can last as little as 60 seconds or for as long as you like. Generally speaking, though, fifteen minutes is a comfortable time for beginners, while forty minutes to an hour may feel more comfortable for someone more advanced.
Finding a length of time that feels comfortable to you is more important than anything else.
In meditation, most people sit upright with legs crossed while sitting on the floor, a pillow or a chair. You can position your body any way that is comfortable to you.
You are the expert on your body. The position most comfortable for you is the one to use, especially when getting started.
After a few cleansing breaths, the meditation experience will begin. One inhale and one exhale counts as one breath. The cleansing breaths are used to settle your body and mind into the current experience and become present.
Once present in the present moment, the meditation begins.
When meditating, some people choose to focus on their breath, while others may choose to focus on a particular spot in the room, an object, a peaceful sound or mantra. Focusing on your object/method of choice, you fall below your thoughts and internal chatter, entering new levels of conscious alertness.
In meditation, you are always awake, but may feel like you are in a calm trance. Once here, you will find peace and experience a sense of stillness. If thoughts come to you, dismiss them without judging yourself or telling yourself, “I’ll never be able to do this.” Having thoughts is part of the human experience. It’s okay.
Stay in the meditation as long as you are comfortable being there. At the conclusion of the meditation, you are quietly and gently brought out of the experience.
What are the goals of meditation?
There really aren’t any specific goals. This is about you finding calm, whether its 30 seconds or 30 minutes, it’s in there.
When meditating you aren’t problem-solving, but finding clarity is common. Solving problems more effectively will happen with continued practice too.
With a meditation routine in place, you will also feel less anxious, less worried, less frazzled and more in control. You will also discover new insights about yourself, while learning to let go of fear, anger, resentment and worry.
The physical benefits of meditation are also plentiful. Reduced muscle tension, improved energy, improved chronic disease management, fewer headaches and improved cholesterol are just a handful of physical symptoms that improve with Meditation.
Do you struggle with meditation?
- I don’t have time.
- My mind won’t shut down.
- I can’t sit still for that long.
- My house is too busy.
- My job is too demanding.
- I don’t have a quiet place.
- My house is too cluttered.
- My co-workers will think I’m weird or something.
- I’m a single parent.
- I’ve tried meditation before and I couldn’t do it.
- I just can’t be quiet for that long.
Sound familiar? It’s okay. I’ve been there too… and so has everyone else.
Can I learn meditation?
Yes.
Everyone can learn how to meditate, including you. Life is busy. Jobs, caregiver responsibilities, kids, pets, commutes and chores all demand our time. By choosing meditation, you give back to yourself and make yourself more available to be a parent, caregiver, coach, employee, spouse and sibling. Invest in yourself, find inner peace and develop resiliency through Meditation.
