Meditation, is it for me?

How many reasons have you come up with on why you can’t begin a meditation practice?    I had a list for many years and over time realized many of those reasons were because I didn’t understand what it was all about.  Over time I have learned that everybody’s practice looks different and that’s okay.  We don’t have to be become a Buddhist monk to have a meditation practice   We don’t have to do crazy yoga poses and chant Ohm (although chanting and humming offer great benefits.) Much of meditation and mindfulness starts with breathing, finding a quiet space and changing your mindset to give yourself some self care.

Mindfulness and Meditation

Let’s talk about the difference between Mindfulness and Meditation    Mindfulness is becoming more self aware, becoming an observer and noticing things about yourself and the space around you.  It’s all about being present in the moment. Meditation is putting all your attention on one thing.  You may use mindfulness to help you meditate and become highly focused on one thing, either way meditation and mindfulness can go hand in hand and can offer some amazing benefits to mind, body and soul.

Guided Meditation 

Guided Meditation is a great way to engage your mind and focus.  How many times during the day do you find your mind racing through thoughts.  You may have days when you can’t stay focused on any one task.  Starting a meditation practice can help to quiet those thoughts and help you stay a little more focused on activities.  The use of guided meditation is a great way to start your beginning practice and can be done in a class or following a recording.  In guided meditation the practitioner engages your mind on a journey.  The meditation is created in such a way that you are focusing on the images while allowing your body to relax and quiet the other thoughts that have been overwhelming your day. 

Yoga and Meditation
Many yoga classes begin with breathing and a short meditation to help you find your place on your mat and ready you for your yoga practice.  In many cases meditating after yoga will help you achieve a deeper meditation as your body may have already started to relax from the yoga poses.

Beginning your practice 

One of the first “rules” of meditation is just to do it.  Getting started and trying to keep up daily can be tough. So here are some things to try to help you achieve that success. Make sure you are seated comfortably. This can be the biggest issue for  people as they don’t know if they can sit still for very long.  Trying to sit still when you are not comfortable will make the practice harder.  You will focus on how uncomfortable your body is becoming and you will have a hard time calming your thoughts. Sitting on the floor on a meditation cushion may not be for everyone   Sometimes you need to start in a chair.  Meditation is a practice   The more you practice the easier it becomes.   Even the sitting part becomes easier .  If you sit on the floor use props to assist your body, blocks under your knees, socks to keep your feet warm.  There is no wrong way to practice, unless what you are doing is causing pain.  Try some different positions to find what works for you or go to a class and have the practitioner give some suggestions.  When you begin you don’t even need to have a time limit   As you become more comfortable in your practice you may challenge yourself to increase time   One of the best challenges is just to find time each day  

Benefits of meditation

There are so many benefits to a meditation practice. Some benefits are physical such as reducing your blood pressure, boosting your immune system and increasing efficient oxygen use.  Practicing on quieting your thoughts will help to reduce anxiety and depression.  For many people, finding a meditation practice will help to clear your mind so that you can focus on better decision making.  Depending on your intentions that you set at the beginning of each practice you can also boost your mood and help to prepare you for the day or relax you for a better nights sleep. 

Meditation with sound

Meditation doesn’t have to be in silence.  Think about the times you have been to the ocean and you sit quietly listening to the crashing of the waves or the times you have sat outside at night listening to peepers or in the early morning listening to the chatter of the birds    For some people having sounds in the background can help you to ground faster and settle into your practice    I know for myself I like to have some instrumental music playing in the background as it gives me something to anchor too if my mind starts to wander and I am having a hard time quieting my thoughts   Playing a specific frequency or tone can also help to settle your mind or even activate the natural healing process in your body. 

Local classes

Remember, the best way to start a practice is just to take the first step and do it. If you are still hesitant, thats okay too.  Come to a class at Three Feathers Healing in Hudson, MA and we can help you get started or check out a YouTube recording  Either way you will be taking the first steps to a healthier you.