A Beginner’s Guide to Meditation Exercises

Is the daily stress or the problems you have at work or at home getting to you, affecting your life, health or happiness? Then it might be time to consider some meditation exercises. I know you’ve likely heard a lot about meditation and maybe you’ve even tried it and might be perplexed by it.

Here are the basic things to get you started.

Why Should I Consider Meditation Exercises?

You are probably asking yourself whether meditation exercises really work and whether their benefits are substantial. The answer is simple: yes. Meditating presents a wide range of advantages, from better health, better mood and better sleep to more energy, vitality and focus; less stress, frustration, and worrying. It sounds appealing, right? In case you have been feeling anxious, depressed, or overwhelmed lately, in case you are having sleep and concentration problems, or if you simply want to gain those feelings of well-being, calmness and happiness, considering meditation exercises may be the way to go.

What Do I Need in Order to Start Meditation Exercises?

If you decided that you would like to give meditation a try, then the first thing you need is to allow yourself to start and keep at it. The beauty is that meditation exercises don’t require extensive tools or complicated techniques – basically, you just need an openness and desire, in order to benefit from meditation. And, of course, you need a bit of time to allocate to your meditation sessions – 5-20 minutes every day, or even every other day is ideal (even starting with 2 minutes a day can be helpful!).

How Can I Relax?

It is good to relax in order to meditate. But is this easy? For a beginner, it might be quite difficult. Most beginners in relaxation and meditation exercises find themselves thinking about daily problems and worries when trying to meditate, that’s okay!  In fact, when you notice your mind drifting to those thoughts, just gently chaperone it back to your breath or whatever you have chosen to focus on (always good to focus on something when you are starting). Or others get bored when trying to meditate. Still, even if this happens to you, you should know that you will definitely be better with time and enjoy meditation completely, in case you are determined to make it work.

Let’s start from the beginning.

Find a time and a comfortable place to sit. You may feel like you need peace, quietness, a good atmosphere, a cozy decor or a welcoming natural ambient, it’s nice but not necessary. After you find a comfortable seat, begin to notice how your body feels – or just even notice you have a body – the weight of your body in your chair, the feel of your feet on the ground. Connecting with your body will help you clear your mind later on.

Are there Different Types of Meditation Exercises?

There is a great range of meditation exercises.  As a beginner, try one and find out if that suits you – and give it some time. You can choose from visualization exercises (when you are picturing positive, beautiful elements, places or moments), concentration exercises (when you are trying to focus on your body’s sensations and stimulants), breathing exercises (which are used in all types of meditation, as an essential premise) and many more, including specific meditation exercises that help with obtaining a better sleep, better appetite, less stress, and other problems that you’d like to be eliminated from your daily life.

Remember that if you want good results, you need to continue with your meditation exercises and try to improve on a regular, ongoing basis – and be kind to yourself as you work toward well-being. Let me know how it’s going for you!