How to meditate

Meditation is a practice of training the mind.

The sixth limb of Yoga is ‘Dharana’ which means ‘concentration’. When we sit to meditate, what we are truly doing is sitting down to concentrate.

Sit still, eyes closed and focus.

Concentration is not something that’s known to be ‘relaxing’. It is a challenge.

The seventh limb of Yoga is ‘Dhyana’ which mean ‘meditation’ or ‘letting go of effort’. When we sit and concentrate for a while, there is a moment where suddenly you don’t need to concentrate anymore.

There is effortlessness, ease, peace and stillness.

The mind becomes completely absorbed with the present moment. The peace is natural. Sitting still becomes the easiest thing to do and you feel so deeply connected to all of life, you almost forget that you exist in a physical body. You are just part of it all. A single drop of water in the ocean.

First, forget about ‘trying to meditate’.

What we are doing is sitting to concentrate and to train the mind.

This is bound to be a challenge sometimes, expect that challenge.

Sit still on a chair, on a cushion, bolster or block.

Sit cross legged, kneeling or with your legs out in front of you if that feels better for you.

Close your eyes or you can find a spot to stare at gently on the floor in front of you.

Sit still.

Eyelids heavy.

Turn your attention to your breath.

You don’t need to modify the breath, just observe your natural breath. Follow the breath with your attention.

This is where the concentration comes in.

Your body may be wanting to move, adjust, itch and scratch.

Your intention is to keep it still, to avoid any movement.

It’s not your body so much that wants constant movement, it is your mind.

Your mind may keep jumping off the breath and getting distracted constantly.

This is where many people give up.

It is important that you don’t.

For this is evidence that you are challenging your mind.

You are training it for stillness.

With the patience you might have with a small child or a dog learning a new lesson,

you keep encouraging stillness in the body and the focus of the mind on the breath.

You focus.

Re-focus.

Focus

Re-focus.

Commit to doing it for 10 minutes every morning.

Just you wait, you’ll find out why we meditate.

with love & patience,

Madison Mindset x