How to Meditate, the Basics

This article will tell you all you need to know to get ready to meditate

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• loose-fitting clothing
• a quiet place
• 10 minutes or more of uninterrupted time

1. Find a quiet place and a comfortable position.

2. Take a few cleansing breaths -- allowing your stomach to expand with each inhale. As you inhale, breathe in love, peace, and joy. As you exhale, release anything that is not love, peace, and joy.

3. Just sit and allow yourself to be. Try to feel gratitude and appreciation for the stillness and silence.

4. When you are ready to end your meditation, slowly allow your focus to return to your surroundings. Wiggle your fingers and toes, and when you are ready, open your eyes.

5. Before you return to your other activities, take a moment to savor what you just experienced.

Tips & Warnings

• If you sit on the floor, try putting a cushion under the back of your tush to give you a little forward tilt at the base of your spine. If you sit in a chair, try having your legs uncrossed with your feet flat on the floor in front of you.
• As you meditate, try to hold yourself in a place of no judgments – there is no ONE right way to meditate.
• It is really all about intention, the intention to meditate, the intention to find stillness or peace or a shrugging off of life’s stresses or whatever you are seeking in your practice. Having the intention is more than half of what you need to get you there.
• You can reassure yourself that you are on the right track by thinking: “I am here; all is well.” This is always true.
• Be gentle; do not push. There is no “right” way or “wrong” way to meditate.
• If your mind wanders, gently allow your thoughts to pass through your mind and turn your focus to your breathing or the beating of your heart.
• You are in charge of your own meditation. If it veers off in a direction that you do not wish to explore, then bring yourself back to your breathing, consciously substitute a different thought, return to a mantra or a flower, whatever feels right and works for you.

Resources

• For more information on meditation, including free guided meditation audio, click here.

[agelessguru]

on 4/26/2009 Mediation is more than just a tool to relax . Its a by product or side effect of meditation . Buddha attained enlightenment doing only "Meditation"Mediation will make you focus on the gap between two thoughts . Eventually the gap becomes more and more and you enter the state of thoughtless mind and ageless body

[christy45]

on 4/17/2009 I love that you allow others to find what feels comfortable for them. Thank you.

[dcole]

on 3/13/2009 A nice simple approach. Thank you.

[KatherineCHE]

on 8/25/2008 You are welcome, QuackJack! I've read many, many books on the topic of meditation, and I nearly always learn something new or have something "old" click with me in a new way! I just love learning and expanding that way! Enjoy!

[QuackJack]

on 8/24/2008 Thanks for filling in a gap in my relaxation procedure.