Your Meditation Room
What is meditation?
Meditation is the practice of quieting the mind by giving it a single point of focus. That “focus” could be one’s breath, a word or phrase, a visualization, or a sound.
Do I have to believe in a certain religion to meditate?
No. While most people associate meditation with the desire to grow spiritually, meditation in and of itself is not a religion. Whenever your mind is set free of scattered thoughts and you become singularly focused on the present, you are meditating. This happens naturally to all of us. For example, it might happen while playing a sport or playing an instrument or listening to nature.
What are the benefits of meditation?
Meditation has been used for centuries as a path to discover the presence of God.
Regular practice of meditation has also been proven to reduce stress, lower your heart rate and decrease your blood pressure.
How long do I have to meditate?
That is up to you. However, you should know that only 5 minutes of meditation a day has been proven to be effective. In fact, it is far better to meditate 5 minutes everyday than to meditate for 30 minutes once or twice a month. It is the daily practice of meditation that will bring you the fastest results. Tip: set a timer for the amount of time you want to meditate. This will keep you from constantly checking your watch or worrying about what time it is.
Where should I meditate?
You will experience the deepest results if you can meditate in a quiet space, with no distractions. This does not need to be a big or elaborate space. A busy parent may use the bathroom do a 10 minute meditation! Another may use a small corner of his bedroom.
How can I get started?
While there are many meditation techniques out there, here are two simple techniques that you can start with.
Meditation #1: Running Water
- Close your eyes and relax
- Imagine a stream of water flowing – it could flow right to left, left to right, or up to down.
- As thoughts arise, imagine them floating down the water.
- Stay focused on the water for the tie you have chosen or until you feel our mind and body relax
Meditation #2: Follow your breath
- Close your eyes and relax
- Take a few deep breaths, then settle in to breathing normally
- On your next breath intake, mentally say “one” as you breathe in. Once your lungs are full, release your breath and mentally say, “two.”
- Keep counting as you breathe in and out.
- If your thoughts wander and you suddenly realize that you have stopped counting, just start over with “one.”