Just like everything else, your meditation practice will evolve and change. In the beginning, you want to set up a solid foundation for your practice. Below I have compiled a few tips for people beginning their meditation journey. My hope is that these tips allow you to continue to develop your meditation techniques and you are able to enjoy all of the benefits it can bring to your life.

Tip #1 -“Commit and Sit” or “Stay and Lay”

This is the number one tip I can give anyone who is beginning to meditate. It doesn’t matter how you do your practice as long as you stay committed. Set a goal (how many days in a row and/or how long) and stick with it. With anything, you are more likely to continue if you see the results. I recommend at least 20-40 days. As far as time frame, stay with something that you can easily achieve. Start out with something as simple as five minutes a day and continue to add on to it.

Tip #2- Explore Guided Meditations

When I first started, if you would have told me to just sit with my thoughts and feelings and breath; I would have failed horribly. That being said, I highly recommend guided meditations when you are beginning. There are so many resources out there for guided meditations. I have found many free meditations on YouTube as well as the app Insight Timer. Simply search a goal for your meditation. For example, “guided meditation for stress relief”. Gaia and YogaGlo are both wonderful resources as well, however they come with a monthly subscription fee.

As with anything in life, let this exploration be fun. Find what feels right to you and keep using it, but don’t be afraid to switch it up when you get bored. Also whenever you are ready you can always add on “silent time” after the guided meditation has ended. This would be time you just sit and focus on your breath.

Tip #3- Allow for it to be a process!

Let go of expectations or misconceptions that come with what it means to meditate. Be loving, kind, and gentle to yourself. If you allow it to be a process, it may just change into a habit.

Next week, plan on checking in to see more about what these expectations or misconceptions are and how they can set your meditation practice up for failure.

Please feel free to drop your most helpful tip or any comments below. Thank you. Blessings and happy meditating!