5 Tips To Know Before You Begin A Meditation Practice

So you’re thinking about starting a mediation practice? Amazing! There are many fabulous benefits to experience from your practice. But how do you get started? Do you need a special cushion, New Age music, mala beads? What if you can't stop thinking of all the things you. need to do? What then? Can you still meditate? You bet your sweet seat you can!

Whatever your goals are in your meditation practice here are 5 tips to get you started.

1. You don’t have to declutter your mind.

2. Your position should be comfy & stable.

3. Repeating mantra can direct your focus

4. Using hand mudras can help focus your energy.

5. Sound can help you stay present.

GETTING STARTED

1. You don’t have to declutter your mind

Meditation is a practice. It‘s about focus, or the ability to concentrate your attention. Clearing mind clutter is a sticky process for many people who meditate, yet they can still enjoy the benefits (stress management, awareness of emotions, deep relaxation, increased focus, etc.)

Mind clutter: thoughts, emotions and physical fidgets will pop up. The trick is to be the observer of these snags, and not engage with them. By practicing and training your focus, you will cherish the perks of meditation! Give yourself a break, you have to start somewhere!

2. Your position should be comfy & stable

You don't need to sit in full lotus pose to meditate (gosh I would never meditate if this was the case!) All you need to do is keep your spine vertical (hips aligned with shoulders, shoulders aligned with ears). This allows your diaphragm and lungs the space for proper breath and an easy circuit for energy to flow.

Try sitting on the floor, up on a cushion, in a chair, up against the wall or simply lay down! You can just literally sit down and chill out!

3. Repeating a mantra can direct your focus

Mantra is a Sanskrit word that means a sacred utterance, a word or sound repeated to aid concentration in meditation. Now, you don't have to use a mantra, but you can. You can select a word or phrase that helps you stay present.

My simple go to is “now I’m breathing in, now I’m breathing out.” You can remix it however you like. Remember it‘s your practice, bring in your own brand of peace.

4. Using hand mudras can help focus your energy

Mudra is a Sanskrit word that means a “seal”, “mark”, or “gesture”. The fact is, there are many types of mudras, however “hasta mudras” (hand mudras) are the focus here. Gyana and Chin Mudras are popular in meditation.

In both cases the tips of the index fingers gently touch the tips of the thumbs, and the other fingers are extended. Palms face up for Chin (receiving universal energy) and face down for Gyana (grounding your energy). Do a little experimentation and see what serves you the best.

5. Sound can help you stay present

Sound is another tool to use in your meditation practice. It‘s an easy way to direct your focus so that you can stay present. This can be a guided meditation, playing soft instrumental music, using sound bowls or chimes, heck even humming or chanting can work.

Experimentation will help you find your groove with sound. You might switch it up too! Sometimes I even just like to tune in to the sounds in the air around me.

You've got this, now go "check in" with yourself

So you see, starting a meditation practice isn‘t as daunting as you might think. You can‘t mess up. If you get off track, just bring your attention back to your point of focus and give yourself some grace.

*Bonus Tip* Schedule Your Practice

This is probably the most crucial thing to remember: this is your practice, & practice is key. Set aside 5-10 minutes of your day for your practice, commit to it and schedule it. Bringing a feeling of calm and peace to each day of your life is entirely up to you! You can do it!! Oh and here's a little gift for reading my blog 💝. My guide to creating your sacred space for meditation and yoga at home. 👉 Clickety click or tappety tap here👈 and I'll send it to you.