Meditation: three things beginners should know
People meditate for many reasons, such as to relax and unwind, to relieve stress, or to feel a wakefulness and wholeness within themselves. There is an abundance of benefits that come from meditation, including improved concentration, an increase in self-awareness and the alleviation of anxiety. It is important to note that meditation works differently for different people, and whatever your reason for incorporating meditation into your life, there are three things that all beginners should know.
1. You won’t see results straight away
Don’t be disheartened if, on your first few attempts, you feel restless or uncertain. It can take a while to get used to the practice. While some results may reveal themselves straight away, it’s not uncommon for it to take longer to achieve your meditation goals. Just relax. With practice and time, you’ll soon begin to experience the many joys of meditation.
2. You don’t need to set aside hours at a time
One reason that people put off meditating is that they’re worried that they will need to commit large chunks of their time to it. This isn’t true. While it is advised to give yourself a routine, if you can only commit 15 – 30 minutes at a time then that’s okay. As a beginner, you may find that these shorter sessions work best for you anyway. You can always start to extend your time if you’re able to and want to, as you become more in tune with the experience.
3. Don’t worry about ‘thinking’
Many people worry that their mind simply won’t shut off while they’re meditating and this often causes them to stop or give up. However, there’s no harm in this. In the many stages of consciousness that you will experience in meditation, your mind will undoubtedly find itself lost in thought. Just let it happen. Meditation is all about being in the present moment and it’s okay to drift from thought to thought. The best thing is not to take your busy mind as a sign to stop but to keep going. It is only with patience and practice that you’ll be able to meditate easily and at any time.
You can find a meditation class near you in Healthypages Directory
