My Beginning Meditation Cycle
You can meditate anywhere, at any time of the day, and any length of time you want, and the only way to find out what works is to check. It took me several months to try and make the mistake of building a system that worked for me, and even then, I sometimes deviated from it when necessary, such as when I was traveling or when I had an unusually busy day. I realized that I would need to be flexible in order to complete this 365-day challenge, so my schedule went through some changes along the way.
I meditated in the morning if possible. I soon realized that morning meditation helped me to feel more focused and less stressed all day long. Early meditation meant that I did not have to worry about pressing it during the day. My ideal approach: meditation after exercise or yoga (more on the following) and starting work.
Headspace also tracks how many days you meditate on each other, and seeing the physical evidence of my sequence really helped me.
Yoga before meditation is the perfect combination. Although commonly performed separately, yoga is traditionally used as a way to prepare the body for meditation and meditation - which is why it seems so natural to switch from yoga to meditation. I could not pair them together every day, but it sounded like a high level of self-care when I did. Sometimes even a couple's quick stretches of arms or a quick posture helped me get into a good frame of mind to meditate.
What You Need to Meditate Every Day
I started my meditation challenge with nothing but the Headspace app and headphones, and a year later, I still think that was all I really needed to succeed. However, I have added a few other accessories along the way for more comfort and inspiration.
Meditation app or playlist: If you are using targeted meditation - which I really recommend for beginners - you will want to invest in a meditation app (Headspace is one of the most popular, but there are many others) or start. you create your own library on YouTube. There is a lot of free guided meditation out there that covers a variety of topics and focus. If you are not following a set course, I recommend that you create your own schedule to keep yourself on track.
Meditation pillow: You can meditate on almost any body position, but I like to keep my legs crossed. It didn’t take long to realize that sitting like that for 10 minutes straight is NOT PLANNING. I started using a meditation pillow, but you can also use a sturdy pillow or sit on a chair. You could also consider creating a small meditation corner if you have space.
Meditation technology will help me focus: There are many gadgets out there that you can build on your meditation program, including headsets and trackers. I have used the Apollo Neuro, a device that binds to your wrist and vibrates in a cool way to help you retain certain concepts; there is a specific meditation setting that I really liked. You do not need this extra technology, but these additional tools are available if you need them.
You can also use items such as incense, candles, salt lamps, and singing utensils to take your practice to the next level - again, all at will.
What Takes Daily Meditation: What I Can Learn About Meditation Every Year For A Year
I have been through so much good and bad with this 365-day meditation challenge. No two days were ever the same: sometimes I was immersed in a state of deep, relaxed, completely existent state of mind; sometimes, I used all the tricks I knew but my thoughts were not silent. But one of the great things about meditation is that the more you do it, the easier it gets and the better it gets. Like physical fitness, each day builds on what you did the day before. When I meditated for at least 10 minutes a day for several days in a row, I could feel the difference in my mind. My thoughts were not attacking and disturbing. I felt calm and stable.
You must be logged in to post a comment.