Meditation
Ways
to Meditate
There are
as many
ways to meditate, just as there are styles of yoga. The best way to
determine which style of meditation is right for you is to simply try several styles
until you find a style that suits your body, mind and spirit. Let your
heart and soul be your guide.
The first step of meditation is to focus clearly on a
specific object or sensation with your eyes open or closed. You can repeat a
word or phrase (mantra), visualize a place, object, or deity, or concentrate on your breath and experience
it slowly entering and exiting your body.
Any time is a good time to meditate. Meditating for as little as 5-10 minutes per day can help relieve stress, anxiety, fear, cravings and assist in restoring balance, calm and peace.
Where to Meditate
Positions for Meditation
The
classical
position for meditation is sitting on the floor in a cross-legged position. The
sitting positions are chosen because they allow the mediator to sit comfortably
for relatively long periods. Two common meditation asanas that allow for
extended sitting (20 to 90 minutes) are easy sitting (sukhasana) and sage (siddhasana). If you are unable to sit in one of these positions,
you can meditate sitting with good posture in a chair.