Taking time to sit

Namaste

It can be overwhelming to think about sitting down to clear your mind, but the very point of meditation is to let your mind take a break from all that thinking! With a little preparation, I think you’ll find meditation a relaxing and important part of your day. Here are some practical tips that may help you start to meditate or refresh your practice.

Benefits

Regular meditation helps with the immune system, lowering your blood pressure and reducing stress levels.  Your brain pattern changes with a consistent meditation practice. After just a few weeks practicing 20 or 30 minutes a day, you can improve your cognitive functioning, self-awareness and empathy, along with other aspects of your humanity. (Source: In Search of Buddha’s Daughters: The Hidden Lives and Fearless Work of Buddhist Nuns)

When to Meditate

Probably the most important thing about starting your practice is finding a reliable time when you can realistically make the time to sit every day. A sporadic schedule makes things difficult. The easiest way to form a new habit is to tag your new task on to an existing responsibility you take on every day– like you could meditate every day before breakfast or you could meditate every night after you brush your teeth. You will always have that original responsibility to remind you to meditate. It takes 21-28 days to make a new habit so until meditation is one of your habits, it may help to attach it to an existing one.

Preparation

It’s also very important to set the stage for yourself. You need a comfortable clean environment that can become sacred for you. You want a spot that’s as distraction-free as possible. It helps if you have the time and space to make a meditation space– use a meditation cushion, candles, meaningful images, etc. Click the image to the right to see more about creating your own yoga and meditation space.

Take a moment before you begin to set your body up for the practice as well. Maybe take a couple of easy stretches. Maybe bow to each direction, acknowledging the universal presence around you. Definitely take a couple of calming breaths. – allow yourself to slowly succumb to the mood of meditation.

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