Why Meditation Is For Everyone
There is an old Zen adage, “You should sit in meditation for twenty minutes a day unless you’re too busy; then you should sit for an hour.”
We often hear the phrase, “It’s not for everyone.” Maybe travel is not for everyone or raw food, or perhaps skydiving is not for everyone. Indeed, most things are not for everyone. Meditation is the exception to the rule.
In a world filled with relentless stress, distraction, and chaos, meditation offers a serene oasis for the soul. It’s not merely a practice for monks or mystics; it’s a universal tool that can be tailored to fit anyone’s lifestyle. Meditation is, without a doubt, for everyone. However, how a person chooses to meditate can vary and be custom tailored for each unique personality. Here’s why and how you can embrace it in a way that resonates with your unique personality.
Meditation is for everyone…
When Focus is a Problem
For those who have difficulty with “brain chatter,” you may benefit from something to focus on, such as guided or candle flame meditations.
Guided Meditations
With guided meditation, you can put on some headphones and just lay back with the sound of nature or music to assist in turning down your mind. You can choose imagery visualization or meditation to guide you through a chakra clearing, sound healing, or a list of affirmations. The choices are endless.
Candle Flame Meditation
Fire is hypnotic. A candle flame meditation is a simple way to focus on something and clear your mind. You can blur your focus a little and stare into the flame. It works best in a dimly lit room during the evening hours. Don’t worry if your thoughts keep rolling around in your head. Just breathe and focus on the flame for as long as you feel comfortable.
For Those who are Fidgety
For those with difficulty sitting still, consider incorporating some gentle yoga poses or try a Tai Chi or Qi Gong sequence into your meditation.
Gentle Yoga Poses
A couple of easy yoga poses and breathing exercises before a meditation may assist the fidgety to relax and get grounded. A lively breathing session of cat/cow will clear your lungs and ease your back. I enjoy holding a tree pose as long as possible while reciting mantras.
Tai Chi or Qi Gong
The gentle and very slow movement of Tai Chi is meant to activate your chi and join your mind and body. Activating your body’s chi or prana will power up your meditation efforts. Learning to connect with the subtleties of the energy field of our bodies is an excellent way to fuse the mind, body, and soul in a meditative state.
For Those Who Want Faster Results
Breathing Meditation
Merely focusing on your breath is one of the most taught meditation methods. Just breathe in and out. Put all your attention on this one thing. You can also power up or down with specific yogic breathing techniques.
Mantra Meditation
The teachers at The Chopra Center and TM (Transcendental Meditation) use mantras as a meditation method. They use techniques to assist clients in discovering their perfect mantra. A simple way to choose a mantra is to write a few mantras on paper and then recite them aloud or silently until one resonates.
We all need to find the time to do this one thing for ourselves. Just a few minutes a day can give us that little bit of “chill” and clarity we need in our life. Go ahead and light up your soul so that you can pass the glow.
