What is meditation?
Meditation can be defined as a practice where an individual focuses his or her mind on a particular object, thought or activity to achieve a mentally clear and emotionally calm state. Meditation may be used to reduce stress, anxiety, depression, and pain. It may be done while sitting, repeating a mantra, and closing the eyes in a quiet environment.
Meditation has been practiced since antiquity in numerous religious traditions and beliefs. Since the 19th century, it has spread from its Asian origins to Western culture where it is commonly practiced in private and business life. Meditation is under psychological, neurological, and cardiovascular research to define its possible health effects.
Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meditation
When? where? how?
The best time in the day to meditate is early in the morning or at evening when the noise is reduced. Choosing your place for meditation is also an important factor because you don't want to be distracted by a funny smell, a cat that jumps on your feet or a TV buzzing you with the latest news...which you don't really need to hear at all. The room where you meditate should have fresh air and be clean or if it's possible you can try meditate in the nature. The forest or a beach, are highly recommended.
The question that is in your mind right now: is it for me?
Meditation has no age, sex, social or religious conviction and doesen't matter if you are a biker or a real estate agent. “You should sit in meditation for 20 minutes a day, unless you're too busy; then you should sit for an hour” says an old Zen saying. The time you want to spend meditating is up to you. Meditation can be very useful in calming your agitated mind and relieving stress and also getting you to know yourself by yourself with all your desires and fears and make the best version of you.
If you have the desire to find a guru or a teacher that will give you indications for meditating go do that, but you can be your own guru. You don't have to change your religion, wear some funny clothes or start living in the forest to practice it. Meditating is not hard at all...and is accessible to anyone.
What benefits should you expect from meditating?
Now, that's a hard one. I wouldn't expect to grow taller or to make more money after 15 minutes of meditation, but a more calmer, peaceful and relaxed version of you should be expected. In some spiritual traditions like zen or buddhism it's talked about attaining Nirvana or the State of Buddha. The most common results for the ones that practiced meditation for a couple of months or years is a state of relaxation, peace of mind and a change of perception in every life's situation. In a world full of stress, diseases and junk food, meditation will only help. Letting go of the everyday worries and stress and just close your eyes and breath without any mind purpose to follow you will feel more relaxed, happy and at peace with yourself and the environment you live in. Life wasn't meant to be stressful. We made it this way, but we also have the tools to change it and guess which is one of them?
Long story short
Just find the most comfortable spot for you, but not very comfortable so you won't fall asleep. Sit on a chair or near a wall...or just in bed and start following your breath and observe your thoughts start coming one after another. Don't fight them, just watch them as they pass. No thought is gonna train your mind for too long. They are just like your breath; in and out. Relax, let go of everything! Turn the phone off and sit quiet by yourself. Do that as much as you like, but don't forget the noisy cat outside. You will see that breathing is not hard at all. It's natural and so is meditating. As the meditation becomes a habit you will gradually start to feel it's benefits. It's a world wide practice teached in schools, monasteries, prisons and big corporations that have found it's usefulness over the years. You can do it to or at least give it a try. It's simple.
Have fun! Namaste!
