The Meditation Basics

Inspiration is what gets you started. Motivation is what keeps you going. So, while inspiration is great, a successful meditation practice will take commitment from you. You can start by committing to as little as 20 minutes a day. Many practitioners prefer a morning meditation, though the important thing is not the time of day, but what works best for you. You'll need to find a quite location were there will be no interruptions. Now, here's where the commitment comes in. A successful mediation practice is a lot like exercise, in that it requires consistent work, over time, to get the best results. Just like if you only worked out once a month, meditating just once a month won't get you the results you're looking for.

Once you get a meditation schedule set up, you'll need to start your practice. There are a huge number of meditation techniques to choose from. The best advice would be to start with a simple breathing meditation. As you progress you can try other meditations, but for know you'll want to learn the basics. Once you master the basics you'll be able to take your meditation skills into your daily life through present moment awareness. This life changing practice will usher in some significant--almost magical--life developments. So, the more you practice, the better you'll become, but it will come as a result of your work and commitment.

Learning how to meditate is not difficult, it just takes some patience. You'll want to find a quite and comfortable location were there will be no interruptions for the duration of your practice. Committing to a bare minimum of 20 minutes a day is recommended. If time permits, doing as much as 45 minutes a session is ideal. This is because it takes some time to settle into your meditation. 20 minutes is a good start, however, and allows you to build as you progress.

There are a few meditation positions that you can practice meditation in. You can lye down or sit in the cross-legged position. The cross legged, or lotus position is preferable. It helps you keep your concentration, where as some may find the lying position too relaxing. Many that try the lying position often have trouble staying awake. Mediation is not about zoning out or entering a sleep like state. Mediation is about concentration. This means your goal should be to remain completely alert, while you quite the mind. This can be achieved by concentrating on your breath. Breath counting is one of the most essential meditation types practiced today. It's simplicity makes learning how to meditate a snap.

Start by positioning your legs in the cross-legged position. Your back does not have to be rigid, but erect. You can rest your hands in the palms up position on your knees, index finger to thumb, or whatever your comfortable with. Begin your breathing with some long deep breaths to start the meditation. Let all of the tension out of your body. Breath in deeply, your out breath will release any inner stress or tension. Now that you're acclimated, start your breath counting exercise. You'll want to choose a predetermined number to count to. Some prefer to just count to four and then start over, others prefer counting to ten. Practice will help you determine your preference. To begin, count each inhalation and each exhalation, starting with one and working your way up to ten. Once you reach ten, or your number limit start the whole process over again. Do this, and only this until your each your time limit. Some people like to add the word "and" in between their number counts. For example, one "and" two, "and" three, and son on. This helps keep the mind from wondering. Breath counting is great for beginners because it gives them something to focus on, so that they're not distracted. Distractions are inevitable, and even happen to the most advanced meditators. You will get distracted, that's part of meditating. Don't get down on yourself, acknowledge the thought and gently go back to your breathing exercise. Some sessions you'll find your mind wondering like crazy, and others will come with minimal distractions. With a bit of practice you'll bring consistency, which will lead to success.

Once you get a good grasp on the meditation basics you can take the next step and try more advanced techniques. These will help in developing your discipline. More intermediate areas of your work may include more advanced concentration, mindfulness, and body meditations. If you're struggling or feel like you need some guidance you can find some excellent guided meditation resources on the web. These are an excellent tool that should not be overlooked. They provide expert guidance via audio, so it's just like being there in the classroom. And the best part is that many of them are completely free.

There are some things you'll quickly learn about yourself when you first begin to meditate. It may seem difficult to quite the mind. Chances are that if you're new to this, your mind has had complete control of you your entire life. Stifling it takes time, and work through concentration. A great teacher once equated the mind to an unbridled horse. And that's about how much control most people have over their minds. Once you start a meditation practice you'll soon be acquainted with the constant chatter of the mind. We have great control of our extremities; we control our legs, arms, and hands without even thinking about it. If you had as much control of your extremities as you do your mind, you would never make it out of bed. This is what we're going up against with meditation. We seek to take control back from our minds. The ego driven mind will not go easily. Once it does, however, the benefits can be monumental. You'll see the world in a new light. You'll see things for what they are, not what your ego wants you to see. With consistent practice the results will spill into your personal and business life. The law of attraction will be in full effect. People will want what you have. And it's awesome...