Many people hear about meditation and the benefits of the practice and think it may help them, but don’t know where to start. The idea of meditation can seem mystical, increasing the uncertainty surrounding beginning a practice.
It really is a lot easier to get started than most people think. The first step to beginning a practice is to select a time and space for your practice. This is an essential step because setting a regular time to practice is important to reap the full benefits of meditation and to become comfortable with the practice.
Meditation is like anything else, the more you do it, the sooner you will feel comfortable in the practice. The time of day you choose to mediate and the length of time in each session is up to you. Some like to start their day with mediation and others like to meditate in the morning and the evening. The time you practice can be ten minutes or thirty, depending on your schedule and preference.
You will need to decide on a posture to use when meditating. This could be a simple crossed leg posture sitting on a cushion. Yogis often use lotus pose for meditation, but you could also sit in a comfortable chair. This is a good choice if sitting with crossed legs or in lotus is uncomfortable.
As in the posture, most aspects of mediation are a matter of personal choice. This choice makes mediation easily adapted to fit the needs of each individual. The eyes can be closed or open and the hands can be rested on the legs with the palms facing the sky or resting on the knees. Choose the positions that feel most comfortable for you and know there is no right or wrong answer.
There are many techniques that can be used for meditation, such as breathing or relaxation meditation techniques. These will be discussed in detail in a future blog. Guided mediation is sometimes useful for beginners and can be found in yoga studios, wellness centers and on DVD or downloaded to your iPod for meditation anywhere.