Meditation Is Not Just For Yogis

When I was younger and heard the word ‘meditation’, an image of an old man sitting Indian style on the floor with a long beard wearing a turban and a robe, chanting Ohhhmmmm would form in my mind. I thought only strange people did that sort of thing. This is what my conditioned mind was telling me.  It’s amazing how we learn to judge people and events we have no clue about.

I’m not really sure what lead me to meditate for the first time. It  may have been a longing to rid myself of the anxiety I was dealing with a few years after my father passed away.  Whatever it was, I am grateful that meditation has become a part of my daily ritual.

It’s not a weird thing at all. Actually, if you become open to trying it, you’ll soon see that you cherish that time ‘just being’ everyday.  Meditation brings harmony and peacefulness to your mind and body. Without it, your reaction to everyday life experiences are more stressful and unbalanced. Or even worse, you go through life not paying attention to the things that really matter.

In the practice of Ayurveda (holistic medicine of India), meditation is a way of life, a practice that keeps the body and mind in a state of balance and bliss; a state where healing can take place.  Meditation is openness, a willingness to say yes to everything and resist nothing.  If you can sit and pay attention to your breath, then you can meditate.  If you are open to it, give it a try. It’s quite an amazing anxiety busting tool.

There are so many meditation techniques, but let’s try something simple to start.

Take a seat either on a cushion on the floor or on a chair keeping your spine straight, yet relaxed.  Place your hands either on your knees, thighs or in your lap. You can keep your eyes opened or closed. If you’re just starting out, I recommend closing your eyes.  Breathe normally through your nose, focusing on your inhale and exhale. If it helps, you can say out loud or silently, the word ’Inhale’ as you breathe in, and ‘Exhale’ as you breathe out.  If a thought enters your mind, allow it to be there.  Watch the thought as it floats into your mind and then out like a cloud.  Watch and see what your next thought will be – usually no thought comes because now you are the awareness, not the thought.

Meditation may feel uncomfortable at first, like you’re doing nothing. But if you can even try to do this for 3-5 minutes a day and work your way up to 20 minutes a day, I can guarantee that you will feel the difference in your life.

If you have any questions or comments, be sure to leave them below.

inhale ~ enjoy ~ exhale,

Gina

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