set up for Meditation success | bac massage therapy

Set up for Meditation Success

Before we delve into all of the wonderful ways to meditate, I think we need to hit pause for a minute ... step back ... and look at how to set yourself up for meditation success right from the start.

Let's imagine, just for a second ... sitting down in the middle of Main St USA Disney World just after the evening fireworks have ended, the park is approaching close, and you are trying to meditate for the very first time ... no tools ... no recording ... no guidance ... just you sitting.

Now if you have been in Disney World after the fireworks, you know that it is full of people, literally shoulder to shoulder people. It's loud, overcrowded, and not at all peaceful ... not at all the place to try meditation.

So instead of setting yourself up for meditation not to work ...

 let's set you up so that it can

• Choose a meditation style that feels right and resonates for you ... I don't care what style your best friend uses, or what the person you follow on integral uses, or what style I use ... this is all about YOU! Need some ideas? Visit my Meditations page, check out the meditation collections I have available and stay tuned for my series of blog posts highlighting non traditional meditation options over the coming weeks.

• Choose a time of day that works best for you, a time that you won't be interrupted ... a time of day that you can consistently set aside for your meditation practice.

 

• Choose a space ... soft lighting ... warm ... extra pillows and blankets ... access to music or a way to play a guided meditation. Bring in pieces you love ... candles, crystals, art, a statue ... create a sacred space. It doesn't have to be a big room (but bravo for you if you have a space like that), it could be a small little corner that you make special. In all honesty I just finally found my space this year.

 

• Finally it is time to sit or lay down ... take a deep breath ... soften your forehead, unclench your jaw, relax your shoulders ... and give meditation a try.

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Troubleshooting your meditation challenges

• You find the voice on your guided meditation irritating ... try listening to a snippet before choosing which one to listen to. This happened to me in a 21 day challenge and I literally could not handle listening to her even for 10 minutes ... which ended in me skipping the days she had recorded unfortunately.

• You experience monkey mind ... This Is Normal! It happens to everyone, but the trick is how you handle it. Don't stress out, simply acknowledge the thought and swipe it up out of your minds view just like when you swipe an app up off the screen of your phone to close it.

• You feel fidgety and can't seem to still your body ... try a couple rounds of a simple yoga sun salutation or a couple of your favourite yoga poses or stretches before settling in to meditate ... OR grab a Mala or meditation bracelet and twiddle the beads between your fingers (no need to count them, or move beads with each breath, just use them for movement alone) ... OR try a walking meditation, art meditation, or gazing meditation ... something that allows you movement.

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• You minions keep interrupting your practice ... let them meditate with you ... get them their own special cushion or yoga mat, and involve them in the process ... teach them while you teach yourself ... OR choose a meditation time that is after they are in bed.

Ok ... so you have put some thought into planning for success, and you have some ideas for troubleshooting common meditation challenges ... what's next?

Try different forms until you find one you love ... or until you come up with a collection of ideas that all work for you and give you options.

In the coming weeks I will be sharing ideas for different ways to meditate, I hope you will follow along with me on a journey to embracing meditation.