Do you want to start meditating but can’t sit still and focused for a long time? Or Do you want to know how to start meditation effortlessly?
In this article, you’re going to learn practical ways to start your meditation journey and above all, be consistent on this path.
By the end, you will know the answers to questions you’ve been searching on the Internet about meditation and a clear idea of how to go about it
What meditation really is? Is it for you? How to focus during meditation? how to sit still? Practical tips and tricks for effortless meditation
Before diving in, here’s a beautiful quote by Sadhguru on meditation
“Meditation means realizing the beauty of your existence”
What meditation really is?
Meditation is not something that you do, it’s a quality which means you can’t do meditation; you become meditative.
Okay, let's understand meditation like this- imagine you are going out on a date with your crush and you realize that you are so engrossed in the moment that you didn’t realize how the time passed by. What a beautiful imagination right?
This is exactly what meditation is- being present in the moment, so much so that you don’t realize how time passes by!
Have you ever noticed how joyful you are when you’re present in the moment completely? Just imagine again that you’re eating your favourite food or enjoying a very interesting song/movie or even during showers when you’re so much into that one thing conducting it consciously, you feel happy- that’s meditation.
What are the benefits of meditation in our daily life?
There are endless benefits of meditation in our daily lives. Honestly answer these questions
- Do you feel you get stressed easily?
- Do you think you are less tolerant?
- Do you go through mental health issues like anxiety, panic attacks or depression?
- Do you think you’re less patient?
- Do you lack empathy?
- Do you have a lower attention span?
If you answered yes to even the majority of these, here’s a simple solution- Start meditating!
These were the psychological benefits of meditation. What about the physical health benefits of meditation?
Have sleep problems? Or a consistent headache? Or high blood pressure? Or a weak immune system? The same solution, start meditating. Meditation has a positive profound impact on our physical health as well.
Just like you work out in the gym to strengthen your muscles, meditation is a tool for our brain to work out.
Now that you’re clear about how meditation can help you, let’s understand the next important thing
How to really get started with meditation?
There are thousands of meditation techniques on the internet but one common thing in all of those is the breath, focusing on the inhalation and exhalation of the breath.
Isha Kriya is one powerful yet simple tool to start with meditation.
Practical Ways To Start Meditation
1. Find a quiet isolated place, preferably dark too
Distraction can be one of the things that ruin meditation practice. Since we want to move our attention from external to internal, it's important to sit in a place that is free of distractions like tv, mobile phones etc.
2.Buy meditation cushion
Here’s why it can become a game-changer in your meditation practice
To practice meditation, you have to learn to sit still for a duration of time and it's understandable how difficult it can be for most of us.
Meditation cushion by Prakriti Lifestyle becomes a support system in hassle-free meditation practice. It provides pressure relief indirectly by promoting spinal alignment.
Our mediation cushion protects your joints from strain during yoga practice and helps you sit on the floor comfortably for longer periods.
The cushion is filled with cotton and small in size which makes it easy to carry and use however you like. It is odour free, non-allergic, 100% cotton and washable.
It is so easy to maintain as it comes with a removable and washable cotton cushion cover. Wash it gently with hands or in a machine and sun dry. That’s it!
Using a meditation cushion underneath also prevents earthing of energies.
3. Shambhavi Mudra for meditation.
Shambhavi Mudra is a potent meditation practice described in the Yoga Sutras like Patanjali. The benefits of doing Shambhavi mudra are immense and deep. There are certain instructions you must follow for practising Shambhavi Mudra.
Learn here- Yoga For Inner Exploration: Shambhavi Mudra
Sitting on the floor in a crossed-legged posture or in sukh asanas can be difficult as we are used to couch and chairs now. You can use meditation cushion for convenience
4. Start Small
You do not have to sit for hours when you’re just starting out. Starting with 5 minutes of guided meditation will do wonders in the long term.
When you’re regular and consistent with just a 5-minute meditation, you will automatically want to switch for longer durations. Even then do not make a drastic change, keep increasing 5 minutes every time you feel like continuing for a longer time.
5. Do meditation after yoga
Yes, you can do meditation just after your yoga practice. In fact, this is the best way to get started with. Here’s why Yoga generates a sense of calmness in the body and mind and following up meditation after it will help you focus better simply because there are no extra efforts required from your end. Yoga becomes a great catalyst in your escalating meditation practice.
6. Don’t stop just because you don’t see benefits in a few days
Meditation is not a quick result. We know this question arises a lot- when will I start seeing the benefits of meditation?
It’s not wrong to ask this question but you must understand that by doing meditation every day with various support systems like a meditation cushion, guided tutorials like Isha Kriya etc, you will see results in no time. It depends on how conscious and consistent you are in meditation.
Wrapping it up
Meditation is not just for monks, old people or someone dealing with mental health issues, this divine practice is for everyone since we all are seekers and spiritual beings. We have all experienced joy, and happiness but our problem is that we are not able to maintain it throughout the day. Meditation is there just to realise that there is nowhere else to go and we all have countless moments of happiness and joy to experience from within.
Sure, it’s going to be a bit of a struggle in the beginning but using the pro tips given above with necessary tools like a meditation cushion by Prakriti, you’ll be on the way to start meditating effortlessly.