Meditation is the practice of deliberately converging your thoughts, inner vision and focus/concentration to one central point. This unique power of the mind is a result of repeated practice and carries with it numerous physical and mental health benefits. Meditation is very relevant in today’s hectic world where one is stressed out due to work load. This soothing activity is considered a natural healer of many ailments.
Meditation does not require a great deal of effort to get started. Once started. it had better be a life-long commitment. Even those with a 24X7work schedule will find that a miniscule portion of their day dedicated to meditation has improved their lifestyle tremendously. Here are a few guidelines for the complete beginner to get started:
Close your eyes: This seemingly simple act may actually be a tough job for amateurs. Meditating with eyes closed is the best way to do it. Some people practice the relaxation ritual with their eyes open, but this has not really proved to be effective in meditation for beginners.
Feel your body parts: A great practice for beginning meditators is to take notice of the body when a meditative state starts to take hold. Once the mind quiets, put all your attention to the feet and then slowly move your way up the body (include your internal organs). This is very healthy and an indicator that you are on the right path.
Get yourself in the mood: Whatever it takes to enhance the mood and make it easier for you to meditate is what you should do. Not sure what will help? Experiment. Try different combos of things like music, incense, candles, seating, location, etc. You’ll be sure to find something to get you just in the right mindset. However, disruptions are never conducive to a good meditative mood so try to minimize them whenever possible. For example, turn off the phone before beginning.
Find a focus:Â The best tool for meditation is a focus of some sort. Guided meditations, which are narrated by a friend or a recording, are excellent for beginners. They have a lot for your mind to do and you simultaneously get to practice visualization. If guided meditation doesn’t work out, simply focusing on a candle flame is also a really good method. Chanting Hindu mantras or your own prayers works well too. A very simple one is to focus on your own breath. If at any time your mind starts to act up, you simply bring it back to your focus point, and don’t panic, a wandering mind never means you’ve failed. Beating yourself up will only take you further from your focus and further out of your hard-won meditative state. With a focus, you always have something to go back to instead of “think about nothing.”
