How to meditate: the most common questions about meditation

When starting something new, it is completely normal for questions to arise, especially when starting practices such as yoga and meditation. Especially in these contexts asking the right questions is very important because they stimulate searching for an answer within oneself.

Precisely because of the importance of these questions, I decided to write an article where I gathered the most common questions that sooner or later all practitioners have asked themselves are being asked or will be asked in the future.

How to meditate?

Meditation consists of certain physical, psychological and metaphysical procedures capable of eliminating the perturbations of restlessness from the mental “radio” of man, who can then tune into the Infinite.

All forms of meditation involve the subject who meditates, the process of meditation, and the object of meditation itself. The aim is to reach the consciousness of the Spirit using calm, continuous and exclusive attention until the soul is immersed in endless bliss.

Is Meditation Good for Your Health?

Yes fine! Meditation is a practice that has profound beneficial effects on both the body and the mind. There are now numerous researches that have scientifically demonstrated the positive effects of meditation practice.

Meditation reduces stress, improves sleep, reduces body pain, increases willpower, improves concentration, makes it possible to live the present moment, increases the awareness of themselves, etc.

Although you sit on your pillow the first few times, you may not understand how simply sitting and observing your breath has all these positive effects. If you practice constantly, you will experience them directly.

Don’t be in a hurry and accept everything that comes with meditation. Soon you will be able to experience all these benefits and thus be even more motivated to meditate every day.

Can I meditate only sitting on the ground or also on a chair?

To practice meditation, it is recommended to lie on the ground cross-legged. Still, if you have physical problems to assume the meditative positions, it is fine to meditate on a chair. However, the important thing, especially in this second case, is that you do not lean back and erect your back. Supporting your spine is not recommended because you will likely fall asleep and then if you remain in an incorrect position for a long time when you get up, you may have some back tension.

I know very well that the first few times you sit on the ground, the position is very uncomfortable, you are not used to it and everything hurts. Still, if you have a little patience, the muscles used to keep the back straight will strengthen and the position will be much more comfortable.

It’s just a matter of time and letting your body and mind embrace the new habit. In the meantime, I recommend that you use a meditation cushion which will help you tremendously. The latter is used to raise the pelvis so that it is as high as the knees or slightly higher. This simple precaution is of great help to make the legs and hips relax and keep the back erect more easily and for longer.

Can I also meditate standing or lying down?

Even standing meditation is fine. The important thing is that you cannot move. Many people can sit for a long time, neither on the floor nor on a chair, and then they practice standing. This position is also fine.

There is also a type of meditation that is done standing up while walking. It is very beautiful and I recommend that you try it for those who cannot stand still for more than 5 minutes.

If you are unfamiliar with this type of practice, I suggest you read this post dedicated entirely to walking meditation. However, it is not good regarding meditation lying on the ground because one of the most common obstacles of the practice arises: sleep.

Sitting, standing, or in traditional meditative positions, sleepiness is easily fought because these positions are usually slightly uncomfortable. Therefore the problem of falling asleep is greatly reduced.

The supine position, such as Savasana, predisposes both the body and the mind to complete relaxation and thus, meditating in this way will certainly be much more difficult.

How to find time to meditate?

This is one of the first problems that usually arises when a new practitioner decides to start meditating. I work too much. I have to take care of my family. I have to study, I have a busy day, in the evening I’m tired, I have to go to work early in the morning.

These are all “excuses” that I often hear from practitioners when I propose to include meditation, or at least yoga, in their daily routine. All this is caused by the mind that does not want to change. It prefers to stay in its “comfort zone.” These practices act deeply and cause great inner changes, so it is normal that there are resistances and there is only one way to overcome them.

Start by practicing 10 minutes a day 3 times a week, then for 5 days, then every day and then you can also increase the duration of the practice. Meditation is a new habit and, like all news, it is not easy to insert them into your life, but if you commit yourself and do your best to be constant within a few weeks/months, you will not be able to stay a day without doing your meditation practice.