Most of us who have not tried meditation yet think that it is something quiet complicated, and requires a lot of effort to successfully do it. Yet, it should be kept in mind that nobody started their meditation journey like a pro.
In this blogpost, we will be trying to clarify the ambiguity on this matter. So, get your coffee or tea and let’s dive in!
First things first: What is meditation?
It is defined by American Psychological Association as “profound and extended contemplation or reflection in order to achieve focused attention or an otherwise altered state of consciousness and to gain insight into oneself and the world”
Although it used to be practiced as a form of spiritual and religious exercise, today it is practiced as a mind-body exercise in which a person focuses on something (mantra, breath, thought etc.) in order to minimize the effects of stressful and uncomfortable feelings and improve the mental well-being.
It sounds like all of us need it right?
So, why don’t you start it now? Is it your prejudices that are keeping you distanced to meditation?
Come on, let’s unfold your biases about meditation.
”You need a fully silent room to meditate”
No, this is not true. Meditation practice does not dictate a certain form setting. As long as you enter a flow state and focus your attention on your breath, you can even meditate in a crowd.
”Meditation’s sole aim is clearing the mind”
Meditation connects the mind and body. The key here is that it should be a process of achieving a deeper control of the natural state of the mind in a pleasing way. Due to the increased awareness on the present moment, your brain chatter diminishes and in turn, your mind gets cleared. So, clear mind naturally becomes an outcome.
”Meditation is not for everyone because it is too hard”
Yes, we admit that it is not the easiest thing in the world if you are new to meditation, but believe it or not, once you start meditating you’ll get better and better at preserving your focus and start to feel the relaxation more. Meditation is for everyone, do not exclude yourself!
”You should be in a seated position to practice meditation”’
Meditation is a state which you achieve within your mind. So, do not restrict yourself to practice it in a certain way. In fact, moving meditations are proven to have additional benefits such as increased circulation and improved digestion compared to the seated meditations.
”Meditation should be as long as possible”
Some people think that meditation should take hours. No way, it is quality, not quantity what is important. Even a 5 minute break is enough for you to have a meditative moment in which you concentrate on your breath.
Now that we cleared our prejudices, it’s time to talk about why you would start to meditate
- If you suffer from anxiety,
- If you want to increase your concentration and attention span,
- If you want to improve your self awareness,
Then you might want to give meditation a try!
If you are confused with where to start, just set your intention, start, be patient to make it a habit. Then you’ll start to see the improvement in your meditation practice. Lotus Flow has various meditation classes which would accompany you in your meditation journey!
