Meditation for Beginners

"Tension is who you think you should be. Relaxation is who you are." -- Old Chinese Proverb

Sure it reduces stress and helps us relax, but who really has the time to meditate these days.

People barely have time to talk to their kids, let alone sitting cross legged on the floor for 20 minutes, staring at a blank wall. Doesn't sound like much fun to me!

But meditation can be much more dynamic and creative. And did I mention that it doesn't have to take much time either...

Here are some simple ways beginners can meditate:

Listening:

Listening is an active way to still the mind. When you are listening to the sound of your breath, music or noises in your home for a few minutes, you naturally become more mindful and aware of your surroundings. The mental chatter seems to dissolve and what's left is a more focused and refreshed mind.

Laughing

When you are laughing, you are mindful and fully present. You are also highly relaxed. It is difficult to be tense and lost in thought when you are laughing. Just look at children. They are laughter experts. They laugh often and easily throughout the day. Laugher is another great way to restore relaxation and clarity to an often clouded thinking mind.

Drinking Tea or Taking a Walk

Sipping hot tea and going for an early morning walk are other great meditations. Think of the hot steam rising from your mug. Or imagine your feet slowly pressing down on cool blades of grass. When you enjoy these activities, you are not thinking about the past or the future. You are in the moment. And being fully present is precisely the magic of meditation!

Don’t let the name fool you. Any activity has the potential to be a meditation when you slow down, turn off your auto-pilot thinking mind and become more aware of what you are doing.

We can all meditate - anytime anywhere. Give it a try!