The greatest thing is meditation. It is the nearest approach to spiritual life — the mind meditating. It is the moment in our daily life that we are not material — the soul thinking of Itself, free from all matter — this marvellous touch of the Soul.- Swami Vivekananda
Doesn’t sound like your cup of tea? No worries. We’ve got you covered.
Meditation is simply a mind/brain cleaning tool. An exercise routine keeps the body fit. In the same way, a meditation practice keeps the mind fit. After all, it takes a fit body and fit mind to be happy, efficient, focussed and so on. As a matter of fact, If it is practiced daily it increases concentration and improves memory, significantly.
How to meditate? Let’s start with some simple steps.
1. Sit in a comfortable posture with your back straight at any spot which is as silent as possible. It could be your sofa, your bed etc.
2. Close your eyes. Focus on your breathing. Make no effort to control it. Simply relax and notice the way you breathe.
3. Focus your attention on the breath and on how the body moves with each inhalation and exhalation. Notice the movement of your body as you breathe. Observe your chest, shoulders, rib cage, and belly.
4. If your mind wanders, let it wander. Instead of forcing yourself to avoid any thoughts that come to you, take a deep breath and change your focus back to breathing. This may be tough at first but it would get easier with practice.
5. When you are done with your meditation, count backward from 5 and then slowly open your eyes.
Maintain this meditation practice for two to three minutes to start, and then try it for longer periods. As a beginner, don’t be too concerned with the quality of the meditation itself. As long as you feel calmer, happier and more at peace at the end of your practice, you will know that your meditation was successful.
If you looking for advanced techniques of meditation, click here.
