16 Simple Strategies for Meditation Newbies

By Kurt A Tasche

Meditation, particularly mindfulness meditation, has become exceptionally popular over the last couple of years. While meditation can be extremely simple, there are a number of common mistakes and misconceptions about meditation that you'll want to prevent if you're brand-new to the practice.
Starting on the right foot enhances the probabilities of maintaining your meditation practice and getting the most out of it.



Use these suggestions to avoid meditation mistakes:

1. Sit up straight. Slumping over may be comfortable for a few minutes, but it takes more strength than you think to support bad posture. Sit up straight to prevent undue stress on your back.
2. Start gradually. Just a few minutes is enough to start. There are 2 major reasons for this. It's much simpler to be complete your meditation sessions when you only need to sit for three minutes at a time. Likewise, it's more challenging to meditate for a prolonged period of time if you're not experienced.
3. Meditate several times every day. The more you meditate, the easier it will become. Soon, you'll be able to sit for longer periods of time, and meditate more often.
4. It's all about the breath. Your breath links you to the moment and assists in keeping your mind focused. The breath isn't something to be focused on intensely, rather it serves as an anchor to maintain awareness of the present.
5. Count your breaths if needed. If you're struggling to stay focused, count your breaths. Count each inhalation up until you've reached 5 then start over.
6. Keep your eyes opened somewhat. It's much easier for your mind to wander from the present if your eyes are closed. Keep your gaze low and soft.
7. Acknowledge thoughts but avoid dwelling on them. All thoughts need to be treated the same. They're just phenomena travelling through. Let them go and return your focus to your breath.
8. Be patient. It seems like it must be simple to focus for a couple of minutes, however the mind prefers to stay hectic. It's a challenging practice to break. Be patient.
9. Sit comfortably. It's not necessary to sit with your legs folded like a pretzel. Any position that can be held comfortably for the scheduled time is good enough.
10. Utilize a timer. Without a timer, you'll find yourself fretting about the time and continue to peek at the clock. Set a trusted timer and you won't be as preoccupied with the time.
11. Increase your meditation time by 5 minutes weekly. Avoid the temptation to advance too rapidly. Preferably, you'll anticipate your meditation sessions. Progressing too rapidly triggers restlessness and agitation.
12. Consider getting expert help. There are many complimentary chances to meditate with others. Try to find regional meetups or call your local Buddhist temple. With a lot of individuals practicing meditation, you're bound to discover an expert ready to assist.
13. Take every opportunity to practice meditation. Meditating at home under perfect conditions is excellent practice, however the main goal is to have the capability to practice meditation anywhere. A skilled meditator can meditate on a 99-degree packed, loud, smelly subway.
14. Be persistent. If you're meditating each day with the complete intent of improving, you'll eventually end up being a proficient meditator.
15. Stretch first. Your meditation position must be comfortable and easy. If your position feels like a stretch, you will not be comfortable. Stretch first.
16. There's no reason to be concerned about your hands Simply place your hands. comfortably on your lap. Permitting your hands to go to low can eventually pull down on the shoulders and end up causing pain.

Meditation can bring you both psychological and physical advantages. Utilize these ideas when starting to practice meditation and you'll rapidly become skillful at a practice you can take pleasure in for the rest of your life.
Kurt Tasche is a martial artist, Internet entrepreneur and motivational coach who writes articles and produces videos on the subjects of marketing and personal development. You can connect with him on his Facebook Page here.


Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/Kurt_A_Tasche/254929


http://EzineArticles.com/?16-Simple-Strategies-for-Meditation-Newbies&id=9446181