What is Meditation?

Meditation is a simple practice that can help you relax, improve your focus, and reduce stress. In this article, we’ll help you get started, show you different techniques, and explain the benefits of this ancient breathing exercise!

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First off, here are some basic steps to get started.

How do you actually meditate? It’s not that hard! Essentially you’re telling yourself to just sit or lay down and ‘do nothing’.

1. Find a quiet place where you can sit or lie down comfortably.
2. Set a timer for the amount of time you want to meditate (5-10 minutes is a good starting point).
3. Close your eyes and take a few deep breaths, focusing on the sensation of the breath as it moves in and out of your body.
4. When your mind wanders (which is normal), gently redirect your attention back to your breath.
5. Continue focusing on your breath for the entire duration of the meditation.
6. When the timer goes off, slowly open your eyes and take a moment to stretch and bring your awareness back to the present moment.

Try to meditate for a few minutes each day, gradually increasing the length of your practice as you become more comfortable. You will develop the skills needed to meditate deeply and effectively with time and practice.

Why is it so important to pay attention to your breath?

Focusing on your breath is a common meditation technique because it helps to anchor your attention in the present moment. The breath is always with us, and paying attention to it can help us to become more mindful and aware of our present experience.

In addition to helping us to stay present, focusing on the breath can also help to calm and relax the mind and body. The act of deep, slow breathing activates the body’s relaxation response, which can help to reduce stress, lower blood pressure, and improve overall well-being.

Other Benefits from Meditation

It’s important to note that the benefits of meditation can vary from person to person, and it may take some time to notice any improvements. It’s also important to be patient and consistent with your practice, as the benefits of meditation often accumulate over time.

Meditation can help to improve focus and concentration by training the mind to become more present and aware. This process helps to strengthen the “attention muscle,” making it easier to focus and concentrate on tasks.

In addition, meditation can also help to quiet the “monkey mind” – the constant stream of thoughts and distractions that can make it difficult to focus. By calming the mind and reducing mental clutter, meditation can create a sense of mental clarity and spaciousness, making it easier to focus on the task at hand.

By paying attention to the breath, we can learn to let go of distractions and fully immerse ourselves in the present moment, which is a key aspect of many meditation practices.

What improvement do I notice if i meditate every day?

Regular meditation has a number of potential benefits, including:

– Reduced stress and anxiety, Meditation can help to calm the mind and reduce feelings of stress and anxiety.

– Improved focus and concentration: Meditation can help to improve your ability to focus and concentrate, which can be beneficial for work, study, and other tasks.

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– Increased self-awareness: Meditation can help you become more self-aware and attuned to your thoughts and emotions.

– Improved emotional well-being: Meditation can help to improve your overall emotional well-being and happiness.

– Improved physical health: Meditation has been linked to several physical health benefits, including lower blood pressure, improved sleep, and a stronger immune system.

What are the different Meditation techniques?

There are many different meditation techniques that you can try, each with its unique approach and benefits. Here are a few examples:

1. Focused attention meditation: This type of meditation involves focusing your attention on a single point, such as your breath, a mantra, or a physical object. When your mind wanders (which is normal), you gently redirect your attention back to the point of focus.
2. Open awareness meditation: This type of meditation involves maintaining an open and receptive awareness of your present experience, without trying to focus on any one thing in particular.
3. Loving-kindness meditation: This type of meditation involves silently repeating phrases of love and well-wishing towards oneself and others.
4. Body scan meditation: This type of meditation involves lying down and bringing your attention to different parts of the body, starting at the toes and moving up to the head. As you focus on each part of the body, try to release any tension or discomfort.
5. Transcendental meditation: This type of meditation involves the use of a mantra (a word or phrase that is repeated silently) as a focus of attention.

As you can see there are many different meditation techniques. We encourage beginners to start with the focused attention meditation, and go from there!

How do I find out which meditation technique is best for me?

There is no one-size-fits-all approach to meditation, as different techniques may work better for different people. The best way to find out which meditation technique is best for you is to try out a few different ones and see which one feels most comfortable and effective for you.

It can also be helpful to consider what you hope to gain from your meditation practice. For example, if you are looking to reduce stress and anxiety, techniques like focused attention meditation or loving-kindness meditation may be helpful. (Btw, we can absolutely recommend this herbal stress relief to supplement with this!) If you are interested in increasing your self-awareness, open-awareness meditation may be a good fit.

Keep in mind that it’s normal to feel a bit awkward or uncertain when you first start meditating, and it may take some time to find a technique that works well for you. It’s important to be patient and consistent with your practice and to approach meditation with an open and curious mind.

Here is a Youtube channel with guided Meditations, Try it out 😉

We hope this blogpost has shown you what Meditation is and how it can help you!

If you still have unanswered questions feel free to leave us a comment and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible. 
Good luck on your (new) meditation habit!