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 just breathe, then you can meditate.  If you are open to it, give it a try.  There are so many meditation techniques, but let’s just try something simple to start.

Take a seat either on the floor or on a chair but just be sure that your back is straight.  Place your hands either on your knees, thighs or in your lap. You can keep your eyes opened or closed (I prefer closing my eyes).  Breathe normally through your nose, focusing on your inhale and exhale. You can even think of the word ’Inhale’ as you breathe in, and ‘Exhale’ as you breathe out if that helps you.  If a thought enters your mind, let it.  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.  It 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.