Om it out

The word meditation used to make me cringe and think of tie-dye t-shirts.  It just sounded so crunchy and so barefoot.  And I am definitely not crunchy and barefoot.  (It also made me think of Lost (RIP).  Namaste, Dr. Chang.)

While I still hate to say it out loud, because I think it makes me sound pretentious, I've actually been meditating (almost) every morning for a while now.  

I was wrong.  It's not at all crunchy.  It's actually something that I really look forward to. 

Now, let me get one thing straight.  I am be no means an expert at meditating.  I cannot sit in a meditative state for hours on end.  Or really even for more than a second or two.  My mind wanders, a lot.  

But that's okay.  I've learned that the important thing is being able to bring my mind back to the present, no matter how far it may wander.   

Meditating is a great way for me to start my day.  The calm before the storm, if you will.  It allows me some time to touch base with myself, my thoughts, my body.  And, it's something that I can come back to throughout the day, if needed. 

You know how sometimes, when you're freaking out, and someone tells you to just breathe, you kind of want to punch them in the face?  Because, obviously, you've been breathing your whole life so why would you stop now and you think it's the least helpful advice ever? 

Well, what they really mean is to take a deep, meditative breath.  Then another.  And repeat until you naturally calm down.  It honestly does work. When I meditate, I can feel myself calming down and relaxing.  I can feel the tension leaving my shoulders, if only for a few minutes.  Not to mention that meditation offers a plethora (love that word) of health benefits.

The best part about meditation?  You can pretty much do it anywhere.  You don't need any special equipment or instructions or even a great deal of time.  Once you get the hang of it, you can be meditating while you're walking, doing yard work,  or sitting at your desk staring at the clock and willing it to be 6 p.m. already. (I probably wouldn't recommend a full-blown meditation if you're driving or operating heavy machinery, but you can totally rock some deep breathing exercises.)

So what do you need to start a meditation practice?  Well, I'm so glad you asked.  Here are some tips from a (relative) newbie who is by no means an expert and is only sharing what's worked so far for her: 

• A technique that works for you.  There are many different kinds of meditation.  Many. Just like with anything else, you need to find one that's right for you and your lifestyle, or else you're not going to stick with it.  Try them out.  Go on some bad first dates with different techniques.  Eventually, you'll find one or two or five that you love and that work for you.  
• Consistency.  Like anything, if you want to establish a habit, you need to do it consistently for a period of time (be it two weeks or 60 days).  Now, let's be honest.  There are days when I'm running late because my pants are wrinkled and the dog took too long to poop and I forgot to make my lunch the night before.  On those days, sometimes I skip my morning meditation.  But, overall, I make an effort to consistently meditate for as long as possible before heading off to work in the morning, even if it's only for five minutes.  And if I can't get it done in the morning, I might take a short afternoon break and go to the park for a quick meditation.  Just like with establishing any habit, it's all about figuring out what works for you and then doing it.
• A ritual. When you're starting out building a habit, it helps to keep things as structured as possible.  I recommend finding a quiet, comfortable spot to meditate.  Tell your roommate not to interrupt you, set the dog up with his favorite chew toy so he'll give you some peace.  Find a good spot to sit - I like to sit somewhere comfortable, with plenty of back support, that's dark and cool.  Light a candle if you want.  Whatever you need to do to feel relaxed and comfortable and open to the experience.
• Quiet. Or at least a dull drone of consistent noise.  I tend to get distracted very easily, so I like to use one of several apps on my iPhone to create ambient noise.  Sometimes I even use an app that offers guided meditations.  It all depends on how I'm feeling that day.  My favorites are Calm, Take a Break, Sleep Pillow, and Relax Melodies. (Yes, I have at least four apps for meditating on my phone...)  At the very least, you should find a relatively calm, quiet, peaceful place to meditate.
• An open and forgiving mind. Meditation may sound like hooey or something that's just not for you.  You might think that you're bad at it.  Your mind might wander to far ends of the earth instead of repeating your mantra.  You might get distracted or antsy. It's okay. Don't get discouraged.  Don't beat yourself up. Keep at it.  Breathe deeply and take stock of what's going on in your body.  You'll get amazing benefits just by showing up and devoting the time. 

Most mornings, you can find me sitting on my couch (or the floor if it's a gym day and I'm all sweaty), a pillow supporting my back, feet flat on the floor, palms on my thighs, headphones firmly jammed in my ears, meditating for 5-20 minutes while my dog wonders when I'll get up and give him a treat.  Try it out and let me know how it goes - I'm promise, it will be one of the best things you do for yourself all day (or your money back).