Do you Meditate? Or as I like to call it “sit quietly”?
I meditate because I use to be controlled by my mind it would have me in a constant state of anxiety and negativity, have me making up scenarios and conversations in my head about things in the future, it would have me trying to figure people out all the time, have me dwelling on the past and going over conversations that I should have had. Judging people, talking me out of my true desires, and it would love me to lay awake all night tossing and turning because it went into overdrive and sometimes even giving my a panic attack. Yes, the power of our thoughts and the mind can be absolutely draining.
So we can either choose to live by our mind and its craziness keeping us in stressed out busy states and the more this becomes a habitual way of living the more it will fight us to become still and calm and when we begin mediation the hardest thing to accomplish is mind stillness. But with some practice and your experience maybe just a second of stillness AMAZING you will feel the benefits.
My favorite time to meditate is first thing in the morning before my day and routines get going and after savasana at the end of my yoga practice and I really recommend you make it a life habit too.
Here are a few of my tips that could get you reaping the benefits of this wonderful practice. It takes a little patience, but it is free and all your need is your good self and a comfy seat.
1. Start with 2 minutes a day. Now you make be like What! 2 minutes that’s easy! Well yes, it could but we will start here for a week then when you feel comfortable increase it by 1 or 2 minutes each week until your reach 10 minutes. But remember less is more!
2. Meditate first thing in the morning as soon as you awake. Why because I have been meditating many years and still some days are harder than others to get to the mat and its really easy to say, “I’ll meditate every day,” but then forget to do it.
So wake up have a good stretch and sit up in a comfy cross-legged position.
So wake up have a good stretch and sit up in a comfy cross-legged position.
3. Choose your mantra. Ok, so you might not know what a mantra it but for me when I began this was the most effective way to get me away from my crazy mind. A mantra is a word or phrase that you silently repeat to yourself during meditation. I use the mantra ‘Let Go’ so when I inhale I say ‘let’ and when I exhale I say ‘go’
4. So maybe set you alarm for 2 minutes and let’s give it a try. Sitting comfortably gently close your eyes. In meditation, we breathe in and out through our nose so gently your attention and become aware of your breath flowing in and out of your nostrils.
4. Begin repeating your mantra silently to yourself without moving your tongue or lips. The repetition of your mantra is soft, gentle, and relaxed. There is no need to force it. Inhale let exhale go. The repetition of your mantra should be almost effortless.
5. Now thoughts WILL try and disrupt you and you WILL find that you drift away from the mantra. This is normal we simply acknowledge our thoughts and come back to repeating your mantra. Again and again and again.
6. Smile when you’re done. When you’re finished with your two minutes, smile. Be grateful that you had this time to yourself, and lovely 2 minutes of self-connection and that you stuck with your commitment, and took the time to get to know yourself and make friends with yourself. That’s an amazing gift to self and two minutes of your life.
Jo <3
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