“Meditation” sounds super mysterious and deep, but I’m here to break some news to you. It isn’t. Or at least it doesn’t have to be. You don’t have to subscribe to any specific philosophy or religion and you don’t even have to be a yogi! Here are a few tips that will demystify it (plus a video!) to help get your practice started:
1. Don’t Aim For Perfection
Your goal is not to have “no thoughts” or to rid yourself of the ego. I know that’s what yoga is selling these days, but we’re not living in a tiny village in the Himalayas where meditating is our biggest priority. We live in a modern world with real stresses and it’s nearly impossible to shut our brains off, even for a few minutes. Be OK with letting your mind wander, and just bring it back to feeling the sensations in the body when it goes too far off track.
2. If You Can’t Sit Still, Move Around Instead
Yes, I said it. Still and silent meditation isn’t the only variety out there. Leave your phone at home and take a walk (or run or bike ride or anything) with a friend or by yourself. It sounds simple and obvious, but sometimes getting the body moving clears the head more than being still. Bottom line: if you feel better and lighter when you finish, you’re doing something right!
3. Do It After Exercise (Or Yoga, Obviously!)
Trying to meditate in stillness after a long and stressful day at work will be extremely difficult. When the body is tense and tight, it won’t be easy to get comfortable and frustration will creep up quickly! Meditate either at the very beginning of your day or after you finish a workout or yoga class.
Still not convinced? Try this on for size and let me know what you think in the comments below!