Mindfulness and meditation

Mindfulness and meditation are words we hear a lot these days. With the challenges and stresses of everyday life weighing heavily on people’s minds and the perceived need to maintain the perfect existence pushed in our faces by social media, it’s no surprise that we can often feel overwhelmed. I started my practice of mindfulness and meditation a few years ago and as someone who struggles with stress and anxiety I find it a useful tool. I am by no way an expert on the matter but feel the urge to encourage more people to overlook the stigma of meditation and incorporate the practice into their lives.

What is mindfulness?

Mindfulness is the practice of being conscious and aware of your surroundings. This can be achieved through meditation in which you place intense focus on your actions, your senses and your surrounding environment to focus your mind on the here and now, blocking hectic thoughts from spiralling in your head. This can help relax the mind and body while also reducing stress and anxiety.

What is meditation?

Meditation is the practice of contemplation or reflection, calming the mind to increase focus. Usually involving awareness of your breathing or form of repetition. People use meditation in many different ways and everyone finds their own preferred methods. Any activity that helps you become calm and relaxed allowing you to focus your attention on one thing, can be considered a form of meditation.

How do I start?

Starting is easier than you might think. I find the best way to start is to use guided meditation. You can find free to watch guided meditations on sites like ‘You tube’ or ‘Spotify’. There are also a lot of apps available now which provide various meditation options. After you have done a few guided meditations you may decide to self-meditate but the easiest way to start, is to sit yourself down in a quiet space where you feel the most comfortable, with no distractions and focus on your breathing and clearing your mind.

What is the best way to meditate?

The best way is your way. Your main goal should be to leave a meditation session feeling more calm, focussed and relaxed than when you started. If you are new to mindfulness and meditation, then start simple. Concentrate on your breathing, thinking about your breath entering and leaving your body. Counted breaths are good for focus. For example, breathing in for a count of 4, holding your breath for a count of 2, then breathing out for a count of 4. Repeat this a few times then return to natural breathing.

A relaxing environment is vital to success. Consider dimming the lights, perhaps lighting candles or incense to help create a peaceful ambiance. I enjoy playing meditation music or sounds quietly in the background, although some people prefer absolute quiet. Find a comfortable position, whether this is sitting or lying down, insure you have adequate cushioning and support. Also consider the temperature of the room before you start. It’s hard to relax when your shivering or sweaty.

The most important advice I can give for creating the perfect meditation session is to turn your phone to silent. There’s nothing worse than finding that place of focus and relaxation, then having it all interrupted by a loud obnoxious ring tone.

Generally, meditation is like anything else in life, practice makes perfect and in time you will find what works for you. There is so much information out there on different methods and techniques, so many guided meditation videos or tools to help create a calming peaceful state of mind, but at the end of the day, you know you best.

So, take a deep breath and relax.