Meditation for Beginners

The word meditation can sound so intimidating.

How do I do it?

What if I do it wrong?

How much time does it take?

What does it really do for you anyway?

Meditation, in the most basic of forms, is paying attention to your breathing. Letting go of judgement, calming your body and taking the time to just…BE. Pay attention to your breathing. Breathing slowly and deeply can affect your body on so many levels, including slowing your heart rate and relaxing your muscles.

While meditation is a calm process, it is also an active process. You are actively focusing on your breathing. Actively focusing on one thing takes some practice. Quieting your mind is something that comes with time and with practice. Learning to shut off the outside world and focus on yourself is not something that comes easy. Like all things – practice, practice, practice.

Make meditation work for you. There is no one-size-fits-all approach to meditation and your practice will be ever changing. For some people, it involves finding a quiet place in their home where they can sit, turn off the lights, get comfortable and begin. For others, it can be spending time in nature. The place is not important. The amount of time is not important. It can be for 5 minutes a day or 45 minutes once a week. Give yourself permission to make meditation your own. Different people find comfort in different places. There is no right or wrong. This practice is about you and what works for you.

If you haven’t tried meditating before, try it. In a world where everything is moving so quickly, giving yourself the gift of slowing down and focusing on you can be so powerful.

Written by Nicole Uzendoski, MSW, LICSW