The Beginner’s Guide To Meditation Exercises
Is the daily stress or the problems you have at work or at home getting to you? Are they affecting your life, health and/or happiness? Then it is about time to consider some meditation exercises. Here are the basic things you need to know!
Why Should I Consider Meditation Exercises?
You are probably asking yourself whether meditation exercises really work and whether their benefits are really substantial. The answer is simple: yes. Meditating presents a wide range of advantages, from a better health, a better mood and a better sleep to more energy, vitality and focus, less stress, less frustration and less worries. It sounds appealing, right? So, if you have been feeling anxious, down or depressed lately, in case you are having sleep and concentration problems or if you simply want to gain those desirable feelings of well-being, calmness and happiness, you should start considering meditation exercises.
What Do I Need in Order to Start Meditation Exercises?
If you decided that you should give meditating a try, then the first thing you need is to set aside some time in a quiet place. It is not like meditation exercises require certain tools or complicated techniques – basically, you just need to block off a few minutes and be able to sit or lay without distractions, in order to benefit from meditation. There are studies that show 15-20 minutes every other day is ideal but when you're getting started that can be a lot. The key is consistency, so pick an amount of time that works for you and start scheduling. It can literally be 5 minutes and nothing more. There is also no successful meditation without relaxation, a complete relaxation of the body and mind is the goal. It might take some time to get there, but keep at it, it is possible!!
How Can I Relax?
We already established that you need to relax in order to meditate. 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, instead of clearing their minds and enjoying the state of calmness. Or others get bored when trying to empty their minds. These might be seen or felt as “unsuccessful meditation sessions”. If this happens to you, just know that you will definitely get better with time and practice.
But let’s start from the beginning. In order to benefit from a complete relaxation, you need to start your meditation techniques at the right time. Kids running through the house, a loud TV, a noisy neighbor might not be the perfect premises to start to meditate. You need peace, quietness, a good atmosphere, a cozy decor or a welcoming natural ambient. After you find a peaceful moment, try to let your body relax, to push the tension down and loosen your muscles. Deep breathing is one of the quickest and easiest ways to work on physically relaxing the body. Feel how your entire body feels better – this will help you clear your mind later on.
Are there Different Types of Meditation Exercises?
There is a great range of meditation exercises, no doubt about that. What you should do, as a beginner, is to try them all and find the one that suits you best. Here are a few to get you started:
1. Visualization exercises (when you are picturing positive, beautiful elements, places or moments)
2. Concentration exercises (when you are trying to focus on your body’s sensations and stimulants)
3. Breathing exercises (which are used in all types of meditation, as an essential premise)
There are many more types and many different apps you can download that include specific types of meditation exercises. Some are focused on getting better sleep, better appetite, lessening stress and anxiety, increasing concentration and focus, increased mindfulness and many others that can be helpful in your daily life.
Remember that if you want good results, you need to continue with your meditation exercises and try to improve yourself regularly and not just have it be a one time thing.
Here are a few of my favorite meditation apps and ones my clients regularly enjoy to get you started:
Aura
Simple Habit
Calm
Insight Timer
Headspace
Keep working at the habit and you can build a wonderful meditation practice into your life. There will be much more on this topic to come so stay tuned for more! Sign up for my newsletter to stay up to date with the latest blogs and happenings!