Sitting still can be productive! Even if it doesn’t feel like it because your to-do list is running wild through your brain.
My favorite is when I remember something I completely forgot to do, even though I meant to do it last week. Great.
If you’ve tried to meditate before, you’ve probably had a similar experience. You also may have enjoyed it at the same time!
The most difficult part of meditation is that most of you know all of the reasons why it is important and helpful, yet it’s still a challenge to make yourself do it.
Let’s get to the bottom of what it’s going to take to make meditation a part of your routine. Jot down a list of all the types of meditations you remember doing. Now, ask yourself these questions:
Which ones did you love?
Which ones weren’t as great?
Were there any that you did more than once or that inspired you to begin a meditation?
Now, begin to look for the common threads about why you liked certain meditations and what kept you from enjoying others.
I can give you a list as long as my forearm as to the benefits of certain types of meditations. However, if you don’t like it, you’re not going to do it. Part of meditation (and yin yoga) is creating a practice that you look forward to. It’s less about intellectually knowing why you should do it and more about feeling the effects in your body and on your mental health.
If you’re brand new to meditation, or are looking for a new, simple practice. Here are a few tips:
Create a comfortable seat. It’s hard to sit still when you’re uncomfortable, so take your time to find the best position when you start. To do this, elevate your hips by sitting on a bolster or pillow and make sure your knees are supported by something soft. I love to sit in bed on a pillow, leaning against a bolster with my knees supported by the bed blanket. Another easy way to sit is simply with your feet grounded while you sit in a chair. Try all of the ways until you’re comfortable, then begin to meditate.
Set a timer. As much as I would love to have infinite time, I don’t. I doubt you do either. I love Insight Timer (free) because you can customize the bells that sound and if you want any reminder bells. You can also add friends (like me, here)!
Keep it simple. My favorite meditation is the counting meditation. Every round of breath (1 inhale, 1 exhale) equals the count of 1. Count 10 rounds of breath and begin again. If you lose your place, simply start at 1 again. There’s no real “goal”, but it’s an activity that keeps you present with your breath. And we all begin again at 1 regardless of making it to 10 or not, so you can’t “fail”.
Schedule your time in advance. We all get distracted or forget our best intentions, even moments after we set them. You’ll experience this during your meditation, when your mind wanders from your breath or mantra and you find yourself in full blown mental to do listing mode. Especially when you’re adding something new to your routine, pick a time every day to make it a habit. I wake up a little early every day, brush my teeth, take Mosby for a quick walk and then come back in and meditate. If I don’t do it first thing, the day overtakes me. And just like letting the dog out and brushing your teeth, it’s a priority in the morning. It makes it even more ingrained into my life.
Now the hardest part is to start! Let me know how it goes.
Need a little more help getting started? Email me! I’m here to support you, encourage you and give tips when you are ready.
With gratitude,
Alex