Meditation is one way to get away from the stress of everyday life, overcome depression and of course, get connected with our spirit guides. However, meditation is not as simple as being in the traditional cross-legged position and breathing in and out. Meditation is a serious business but again with good rewards. Whether you are taking that to get away from the hustles and bustles of life or to get acquainted with your higher being, here are some basic steps to say Namaste to a better life:
Set a routine. Treat meditation as a spur of the moment and you’ll get into none of your goals. It takes time, practice and a proper schedule for you to have an effective meditation. Carefully plot your sessions each day for 20-30 minutes preferably in the morning. You can gradually increase these sessions once you get better and better at it.
Pick up a solitary place. You don’t have to travel to faraway forests to be able to set your mind free. Any place is a good meditation spot as long as it is quiet enough to get you concentrating. You can be sitting on a chair, on your backyard, on the porch with no loud TV’s, mobile phones that might ring any moment or buses that can cut your concentration into pieces.
Choose a good position. The lotus position is the most ideal way to meditate. However, first-timers rarely make it through without suffering a strained knee and lower back. Try to have flexibility exercises to prepare for this stance. For your first sessions, try to sit on a pillow for a more relaxed and comfortable position. You don’t have to be on a lotus right ahead but make sure to straighten your back to avoid dozing off during the process.
Be calm. One way to concentrate is not to get stiff. Try to relax and care about nothing else but your breathing or your mantra. Adjust your posture from time to time to get better alignment, but try to limit your movement. Also relax your face muscles as this too can get stiff over time.
Focus. Block away your thoughts by focusing on your breathing or your chosen mantra. Try to count 1-10 while you breathe. Mantras can be anything from the “aum” word or something like “I want to see my spirit guide”. You can even practice meditating with your mantra while doing daily chores. Some people like to meditate while washing up, doing the ironing or even slight more “out there” things like going through their daily hair removal routine! In fact, I came across these no no hair removal reviews in which the reviewers both talk about how they find their tedious beauty tasks to be much more enjoyable if they meditate at the same time! Don’t be too conscious of your time either. Even if you have set aside 20 minutes, going over your scheduled time is much better. Another way to concentrate is by imagining the calmest places you want to be. It could be on a faraway beach, in the meadow and even in the outer space!
Finally, remember to meditate with an empty stomach. Studies show that digestion interferes with the positive effects of meditation and you will more likely fall asleep if you meditate right after lunch. So, remember to be at the same place at the same time, relax in your chosen position, concentrate the best way you can and no food please. Happy meditating!