How Do I Meditate?

May is Meditation Month! In honor of meditation I am discussing the main questions I receive when I suggest meditation to my clients.

Last week I discussed Why You Should Meditate. If you haven’t read that yet, click here.

The second biggest concern that I hear repeatedly, is they not sure if they are meditating correctly or don’t think they know how to meditate. If you asked five different meditation teachers how to meditate, they will most likely suggest different techniques.

Having taken various meditation classes and courses, I have found that there are some things that most meditation techniques have in common.I truly believe that you have to find what works for you. Some people find a type of meditation that they love and practice that every day and love it.

Others, and I fall into this category, need a toolbox of techniques that they can access based on their mood, environment, and what is going on in their lives.

Here are some key ingredients that increase your chance of successfully meditating:

1. Meditate with an upright spine. You can sit in a chair, on the floor, or use a meditation stool.
2. Choose a specific place that you meditate. By choosing a specific spot, over time,  your brain starts to get into meditation mode as soon as you sit down. You are also giving meditation the importance that having a space provides.
3. Pick a specific time of day to meditate. Your meditation practice will be more consistent if you have a specific time of day you practice, and, over time, your brain and body will start to relax at that time.
4. Get support. Tell your family you are going to be meditating. Ask someone you trust to hold you accountable to your meditation practice.  Support is going to increase your chances of success exponentially.

I teach my clients how to meditate as part of my coaching and hypnosis sessions. We usually start our sessions with a short meditation so we can be centered and focused during the session. If you have been meditating and stopped, let this post serve as a reminder to continue.

If you have been meaning to start meditating, this is your invitation to begin.

If you need support meditating, I have a you tube channel with lots of tips and tools to help you along.