26 Mindfulness Meditation Tips And Best Practices — Mindfulness Women

Getting into a meditative state is not easy. We meditate in order to practice mindfulness and attentiveness, and also to build gratitude, work on our breathing, and more. I know even more people who want to meditate every day because they sense — correctly — that a little more calm and focus would do them some good.

Sit comfortably, close your eyes, and breathe naturally, preferably through your nose. In this case the music offers you something else to listen to that's peaceful and may help you clear your mind or focus on your breath. Unless you are a hermit, there are probably people in your life demanding your time and attention.

Meditation is a skill, and it's completely normal to feel frustrated, bored, or even disappointed when you first start out. Even if some days we meditate for a few minutes, to maintain the consistency, that is okay. Maybe this is similar, I sometimes focus on the sensations of my body beginning to relax and it's fascinating what I notice from time to time.

A meditation cushion (named a zafu”, pictured right) is the most popular thing people sit on during meditation. At first, a timer can help you sit through meditation without succumbing to the temptation to keep peaking at a clock. Keep this in mind when you study and practice meditation.

There are certain times of day that are easier to meditate. If you've toyed with the idea of starting a meditation practice, or if you've tried meditating in the past, but failed, this post is for you. Click here to select your time to join Beyond Breath - a free interactive online session with a live instructor to experience some breathwork and meditation.

The best time to meditate is as soon as you wake up. Yes you need to get on with your day, but 1-2 mins in your bed before you get on with your day will not cause much harm. You may enjoy mantra meditation, breath meditation or other types of seated practice.

Avoid looking like the meditator in Time Magazine's mindfulness special. If, after a while, you notice that your mind has wandered and started to think, this is normal. Though meditating on types of meditation your own is an essential part of a complete practice, the steady guidance of an experienced teacher can be invaluable, especially as you're getting started.