Introduction To Meditation

The world as a whole is going through uncertain times. We are all in this together and you are not alone, but understandably, you may be under a lot of stress. Whether you are working on the front lines, have lost your job, are stuck at home alone or are juggling working from home while managing a household, there is no denying that we all need a little peace and encouragement at this time. That’s why here is no better time than now to introduce meditation into your life. It is a great way to clear your headspace, focus on yourself, and find that inner peace when the world seems all too frantic.

What Is Meditation?

Meditation is a practice where an individual uses a technique to train attention and awareness, and achieve a mentally clear and emotionally calm and stable state. In meditation, you turn off all of the distractions from the outside world and allow your mind to do its work.

What Are the Benefits?

This practice has been used for many years and has successfully been linked to lowering stress levels, improving focus, building a stronger sense of self-worth, and offers powerful protection against cognitive decline. Some short-term benefits even include lowering blood pressure, improving blood circulation, and lowering heart rate and anxiety.

Let’s Get Started

• Set a Time – Pick a time of day to introduce yoga into your daily routine. Whether it be your morning or evening ritual, or smack dab in the middle of the day, choose which time you feel you will be able to keep it consistent throughout the week, month or even year.
• Set Your Limit – If you are just starting out with meditation, don’t try to be an overachiever. Set a time limit that you think is obtainable. Starting out with a five to ten minute session is perfectly fine and will get you in the right direction to building your perfect meditation practice.
• Get Comfortable – When you are practicing meditation, you want to be comfortable and not have your mind wander into thinking how uncomfortable you are at the moment. Find a chair that you can sit comfortably with your feet on the floor, sit on the floor cross-legged, or even lie down on your back with your eyes closed. This is your experience and you should practice it how you can most enjoy and embrace it.
• Focus on Your Breath – Take a deep breath in through your nose and out through your mouth. Begin to catch a rhythm with your breath as you try to point your focus on the breath and begin to lose sight of any outside distractions.
• Acknowledge a Wandering Mind – It is completely normal to lose your concentration on your breath and notice your thoughts wandering. Once you acknowledge that wandering mind, slowly try to reel back your focus onto your breath.
• Come to a Close – After you complete your five or ten minutes of meditation, slowly bring yourself back to reality. Slowly open your eyes, begin to notice the surrounding sounds, and notice how your body and mind feel.