Adding meditation to your life can offer many healthful benefits. Meditation offers more peace, balance, and clarity, potentially extending your life by reducing the effects of stress. Meditation practices can be very simple and can be effective no matter how much, or how little, time is available. The biggest hurdle with meditation is usually commitment.
Getting Started
Meditation can be done almost anywhere. One can simply start by counting breaths. Count “one” upon your first exhale and “two” upon the next and so on up to to “five.” Then start again at “one” counting up to “five” with each exhale. Continue this initially for about 5 minutes and eventually build up to 20 minutes, 6 days a week.
Mental Control
Most people think with meditation your mind has to be completely blank. This is a common misconception. Part of a meditation practice includes acknowledging a thought and letting it pass through. Listening to background music, focusing on a lit candle, or repeating a word can all help calm an active mind and can add an extra sense of relaxation to a meditation practice.
Making Time
A daily meditation practice does require some dedication. It is easiest when a set time is designated each day, such as first thing in the morning.
Getting Comfortable
Find a comfortable position to meditate, either sitting up or lying down. Walking meditation is another good option.
Committing
Meditation is a long-term commitment. Through daily practice, one can expect a deeper understanding of oneself, greater ease with relaxation, better concentration and clarity, and more even moods.
It is never too early or too late to meditate.
Contributor:
Acupuncturist, herbalist, Maya abdominal practitioner, and reflexologist Christina Morris is the founder of Element Natural Healing Arts. Writing about health and wellness gives her an outlet to express her care and concern for her beloved community. She believes everyone can achieve better health and happiness–emotionally, physically, mentally, and spiritually.