Asking Minds

Okay so first of all the question is, what exactly is Meditation?
Meditation is not concentration, it is de-concentration, says its founder, Sri Sri Ravi Shankar. Practically, It is a practice of slow and regular breathing while sitting quietly for at least 15 to 20 minutes. There are so many benefits of meditation.

Why should you practice it?
Meditation will comfort you in connecting with yourself.
In this chaotic and busy life, meditation will be your isolation from the world.
While your mind will be full of stress, meditation will gift you peace of mind.
With the consistency of on and off moods, meditation will be your control over it.
When confusions will surround you, meditation will give you the perfect answer.

Now the question is, in what way meditation is going to benefit you? Is it going to reduce stress? Will meditation increase concentration? Do meditation has the power to boost memory?
The answer is a big YES.
From enhancing self-awareness to better academic performance, Meditation is the key.
For controlling anxiety to decreasing blood pressure, Meditation is the medicine.
In improving mental strength to promoting emotional intelligence, Meditation is the miracle.

The next question is how, where and when to practice meditation. Follow this short step by step guide to know the answer.

• Find the time of day that works best for you.
• Wear loose and comfortable clothes.
• Find a fine spot where you can sit. If you are going to sit on the floor, use something like cushion or blanket or anything available and settle down. Make sure to choose a quiet area.
• Grab a comfortable posture and cross your legs however you want. Make sure to keep your back straight. Your shoulders and neck should be relaxed and keep your eyes closed.
• Rest your hands, palm down, on your knees.
• You will need a timer to see how long you can meditate.
• Now just breathe naturally and observe your breath without thinking much about it. You can count your breath or repeat in-out, in-out in your mind or just sit silently.
• After a little while, your mind may wander again, which is no big deal. Gently bring back your attention to your breath and you are good to go.

Start easy.
Although many people practice meditation for 20-30 minutes,  as a beginner you should start with 2-3 minutes regularly for a week. Increase the time in every few days.
Meditation acts as a miracle for many but there is one thing which you should keep in mind. It takes time. For wandering minds, it may act at a snail’s pace and take a few months or even a year or more to isolate you from your distracting thoughts or to reduce your stress etcetera. So be relax and don’t hurry for results but Trust me, don’t miss this.
Hence, every single person should develop a habit to meditate for a lifetime.

“The thing about meditation is: You become more and more you.” – David Lynch

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