Beginner’s Guide to Start Meditation

Giving space and time to your thoughts is very crucial and being able to control them is an art. Meditation is to mind is what exercise is to the body. Meditation is one technique that can provide you with ample benefits and can keep you going.

Few tips for beginners:

• Choose meditation to be the first thing in the morning. This sets a wonderful tone for the rest of your waking hours and also takes advantage of the receptive state of your mind before the rush of the day begins.
• Breathe effortlessly: Keep it natural and breathe easily. Close your eyes, take a few deep breaths and let it begin with shallow breaths. Take your time to develop a habit of breathing slowly.
• If you can’t relax into your meditation and feel too distracted, try counting your breaths for a while. This will calm your thoughts, guiding the brain into a more focused state.
• Let thoughts drift by, rather than trying to control them. It is natural to get distracted in the beginning; the important thing is to gently refocus your mind as soon as you noticed that it has wandered.
• Search for the right place: Look for a place which has minimum disturbance. A cool, dry place receiving some sunshine and air will be a good choice. Opt for a quiet environment free from noises of radio, television or loud music. Background noise could disturb your thoughts and may lead to distraction.
• What to wear: Wear comfortable and loose clothes. Too rigid or tight clothes could distract your mind. Go for easy and stretchable airy clothes to add flexibility and avoid discomfort.
• Start by sitting just for two minutes: Don’t force yourself to stick to one position or for longer periods of time. Try and explore until you find the perfect position. Gradually increase your time by adding five minutes to your meditation session. Generally, the regular position for meditation is with crossed legs and hands on your lap. However, if you struggle with this at first, find a position you are comfortable with. Just ensure that you are not slouching.
• Don’t worry that you are doing wrong: Getting stressed already at the start about how to do it or worrying if you are doing it wrong may only lead to causing problems. Try to release all those thoughts and concentrate.
• Focus on your thoughts: It may be difficult to concentrate, whether you’re a beginner at meditation or not, however, as you start to continually practice, your attention should gradually improve. If you find it easier, then use numbers to ‘count’ your breathing. Acknowledge each thought and learn to let it flow.

Over to you

Meditation isn’t always easy and beautiful, especially in the beginning but once you learn to control your thoughts, it comes from within. It is simple to learn and involves practice with concentration. It is good if you commit to meditating at least for a month to notice the change.