4 Meditation Tips for Beginners

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There are several physical and psychological benefits that can be derived from meditation, and daily practice can lead to a healthy body and peaceful mind. Often, the biggest barrier to taking up meditation is figuring out how to begin your practice. So let’s take a look at a few meditation tips for beginners to get started on the path.

#1 Find Yourself a Comfortable Seat

Sitting cross-legged on a comfortable mat or cushion is a good posture to meditate in. Don’t pick anything too soft or plushy that will deflate too much when you sit on it because this might put you off-balance. Find a seat that is stable yet comfortable. Try any of the several yoga mats in the market or just fold over a silk or cotton bed-sheet multiple times. If sitting cross-legged is a problem, sit on a chair and keep your spine comfortably erect.

#2 Pick Loose-fitting Clothes

Avoid tight-fitting or figure-hugging garments and choose something that allows your body some space. Tight clothes can distract you once you are in a meditative state and might spoil the whole experience. Choose clothing made of organic materials, preferably silk or cotton, and avoid synthetics.

#3 Get a Rudraksha

A rudraksha is the seed of the rudraksha tree (Elaeocarpus ganitrus), which are usually beaded into malas or necklaces of 108 beads. For a meditator, rudrakshas are a great support and will help you focus and stay aware. There have been several cases of fraudulent rudrakshas, so be sure to get yours from a reputable source. The Isha Shoppe offers many rudraksha choices at reasonable prices. When you purchase your rudraksha, check to see that there are no cracks in the beads and that there is a “bindu” – a bead in addition to the 108, which is threaded outside the circle of the necklace.

#4 Find Your Guru

A Guru is a spiritual preceptor to guide you on the spiritual path. There are many living masters who look at the aspect of finding a Guru. For example, Sadhguru looks at this aspect in an article where he also explains that the word Guru means dispeller of darkness. A guide on the path can be a great asset since he will be someone who has already made the journey. Where you learn something is as important as what you learn because it is important to get things from the right source. For practices such as Tantra for example, masters like Osho have stressed the need for a Guru to be present to prevent misuse.

Ananya Mathur