10 Tips to Get Started with Meditation

So get ready for a 20 minutes peaceful journey of meditation

Joined a Meditation Course and experienced some of the calmest moments of your life? Eagerly waiting to come back home for your first meditation on your own? Eyes closed, back straight, hands on your lap facing the sky, a gentle smile on the lips, and an aura of peace—does this image flash in your mind when you picture yourself meditating? Are you waiting to convert that image into a real experience?

At your meditation course, your teacher must have taken care of every little thing to ensure you have a wonderful experience. But here at home, how to get started on your own? These simple yet effective tips will help you get started!

#1 Choose a convenient time

Meditation is essentially relaxation time, so it should be done entirely at your convenience.

Choose a time when you know you are not likely to be disturbed and are free to relax and enjoy.

The hours of sunrise and sunset, while nature transitions between day and night, are also ideal for the practice.

#2 Choose a quiet place

  Just like a convenient hour, choose a place where you not likely to be disturbed.

  Quiet and peaceful surroundings can make the meditation experience more   enjoyable and relaxing.

#3 Sit comfortably

Your posture makes a difference too. Make sure you are relaxed, comfortable and steady.

Sit straight with your spine erect; keep your shoulders and neck relaxed, and eyes closed throughout the process.

That you have to sit in Padmasana (the lotus position) to meditate is a very common myth of meditation.

#4 Keep a relatively empty stomach

  A good time to meditate is before having a meal.

  After food, you might doze off while meditating. However, do not force yourself to   meditate when you are very hungry.

  You will find it difficult because of hunger cramps or you may even keep thinking   about food the whole time! In this case, you can meditate after two hours of having   food.

#5 Start with a few warm-ups

A few warm-up or sukshma yoga exercises before sitting to meditate helps improve circulation, removes inertia and restlessness and makes the body feel lighter.

You will be able to sit steadily for a longer time.

# 6 Take a few deep breaths

  This is again preparation for easy meditation. Deep breathing in and out as well as   doing some nadi shodhan pranayama before meditating is always a good idea.  

  This helps to steady the rhythm of the breath and leads the mind in to a peaceful   meditative state.

#7 Keep a gentle smile on your face

You will see the difference.

A gentle smile throughout keeps you relaxed, peaceful and enhances your meditation experience.

#8 Turn on a guided meditation

  As a beginner to the practice, it is a good idea to do a guided meditation. This will   help you get started.

  As an example, start with this guided meditation by Sri Sri Ravi Shankar. You only   need to close your eyes, relax, follow the instructions as you hear them and just   enjoy the experience.

  You can also choose from a list of other online-guided-meditation, according to what   suits you best.

#9 Open your eyes slowly and gently

As you come close to the end of the meditation, don't be in a hurry to open your eyes and start moving about.

Open your eyes slowly and gradually and take time to become aware of yourself and your surroundings.

#10 Experience the freshness and enjoy your day

  Meditation is like an instant energy booster.

  A few minutes off your daily schedule to charge you up for the rest of the day.

  Take that time out and experience the wonders of meditation for yourself.