The WHAT, WHY and HOW of Meditation

You probably hear a lot of people talking about meditation & mindfulness, but what exactly it is? Why are people doing it and how do you start doing it yourself? This article will help answer those questions!

WHAT: Just like you hit the gym to train your body, your mind requires some training as well. Meditation involves being present in the moment by calmly acknowledging how you are currently feeling both physically and mentally.

WHY: There are several benefits of mindfulness/meditation. Here are just a few of them:

- Increased focus and concentration

- Increased self-awareness

- Lowered stress and anxiety

- Boost in mood and overall wellbeing

HOW:

If you are a beginner, I strongly suggest you start with guided meditations with apps such as Headspace, Calm, Relax Meditation… (there are hundreds)

Choose a time of day where you will not be disturbed. Generally, people tend to meditate first thing in the morning or at night before going to bed.

You don’t need to meditate for hours. With as little as 5 minutes you can reap the benefits of being mindful.

Ready to get started?

Sit or lie comfortably as you meditate, and use the following techniques to make meditating on your own a little easier:

• Focus on your breath, counting as you inhale and exhale. Restart once you get to 8.
• Picture a warm ray of sunshine as you scan down from the top of your head down to your toes.
• Acknowledge your thoughts as they come and gently return to your breath when you realize you were distracted.