Meditation is one of those kinds of things that you have probably heard about but you have never tried. Maybe you think it is one of those kinds of new-age type things that are all promise and very little substance, but you are genuinely curious to try it out. Or maybe you are indeed aware of the unique benefits of benefits of meditation, but you are not quite sure where to start. Either way, this guide to how to meditate for beginners should allow you to easily get started.
When a person meditates, the constant mental chatter starts to settle down, leaving behind a sense of peace and increased awareness. There a wide number of meditation methods, all with their own unique benefits, but in this guide I present to you a simple breathing meditation.
Find a quiet room away from bright lights, loud noises, and any other strong stimulation. If there are unwanted sounds nearby, you can put earplugs in your ears if you wish. Sit comfortably.
As you sit still, with your eyes still open, gently become aware of your breathing. Do not try to control your breathing, just simply become aware of it. Observe its natural flow in and out.
As you become relaxed, start to gently close your eyes, and continue observing your breathing. Also begin to observe any thoughts that may or may not pass through your mind. Try not to get too involved in them. Treat them as if they were merely clouds floating through the sky of your mind.
As you become more and more relaxed, you may find yourself experiencing feelings that you have never experienced before. These may come in the form of a floaty feeling, or a feeling of inner spaciousness, or even a feeling of being completely bodiless. Or you may just find that your mind goes completely blank. Or you may not experience anything like this. You may even find that your mind feels like it is busier than it was before you started meditating. This is all fine, and it just means that you have increased your awareness of whatever is going on inside you. The key thing to remember is that there is no particular experience you should experience whilst meditating. All you need to do when meditating is to sit and be aware.
After a while, gently open your eyes, and spend a few minutes sitting there relaxed but alert with your eyes open. Gently become aware of the room again, but without any judgement or thought. Try to make time to do this simple meditation practice at least once a day, but preferably twice, and over time you should start to notice the benefits.
For more help on how to meditate for beginners take a look at these easy to follow beginners meditation tips.
