There are a lot of misconceptions about meditation – what it is and how to do it. But it’s one of those things that people have been doing for thousands of years in all sorts of cultures and is really very simple.
What IS Meditation
A lot of people believe that meditation is getting into a complicated position and clearing your mind of all thoughts. In reality, meditation is about relaxing the mind and body and focusing the mind on a very specific chosen subject. This is how people can meditate ‘on’ problems, issues, and concepts. You want to meditate in a position that aligns your spine properly (ears over shoulders, shoulders over hips). This is actually considered proper posture and if you have any questions about how to do it, I suggest visiting your doctor or chiropractor an they would be happy to help you find proper alignment.
How to Meditate the Easy Way
- Sit or lie down in a comfortable position where you can relax easily.
- Close your eyes and take deep, relaxing breaths.
- Starting at the top of your head and ending at your toes, concentrate on relaxing your entire body.
- Concentrate on your breathing. Breath in to the count of 6 (one one thousand, two one thousand….) and exhale to the count of 6. Really focus on your breathing.
- If you find your mind wandering or your body tensing, shift your focus to bringing your mind back or re-relaxing your body. Be gentle with yourself, this is perfectly normal.
- Do this exercise for about 10 minutes.
- Slowly bring your attention back to your body and wiggle your toes and fingers.
- Take a deep breath and open your eyes.
That’s it! You’ve now meditated. With practice, you’ll find it easier to achieve this state and your mind will wander less and your body will tense up less often. Even for experienced meditaters I suggest re-visiting this exercise from time to time just to reconnect with that still, relaxed, focused feeling.
