| To learn meditation is not difficult. | | | | the hard part of trying to learn meditation. |
| You sit in a quiet place for 10 - 40 minutes and | | | | Tips For Learning Meditation |
| focus on your breathing, a sound, a chant or | | | | There are so many benefits to learning meditation |
| mantra. Whether you use a mantra or chant or | | | | that it’s worth your while to persist. These |
| not is entirely up to you and what you’re | | | | tips will help you learn meditation successfully; |
| comfortable with. | | | | - Don’t meditate on a full stomach. Wait an |
| What is a mantra? | | | | hour or two after eating before meditating. |
| The Sanskrit word mantra comes from the root | | | | - Don’t meditate with candy or food in your |
| “man” - which means “to think” | | | | mouth. |
| (or, in manas “mind”) and the suffix | | | | - Choose an uncluttered area for meditation. |
| “tra” - which means “tool.” | | | | Surroundings affect state of mind. |
| Literally, a “mantra” means an | | | | - Turn off the phone and eliminate any potential |
| “instrument of thought”. | | | | distractions |
| When you repeat a sound, such as OM (rhymes | | | | - Dim the lights if possible. |
| with home) or Ara Kara (AH-ruh KAH-ruh) there | | | | - If you find scent to be relaxing, light a scented |
| is a vibration you'll feel from the sound if you say | | | | candle or incense. |
| it out loud. Mantras are effective whether you | | | | - Learn meditation gradually. Start with 10-15 |
| say them out loud (soft verbal chanting) or | | | | minutes and work up over time. |
| whether you repeat them mentally, silently in | | | | Meditation Music & Brain Entrainment |
| your mind. That’s the simple part. | | | | Many people find that <a rel="nofollow" |
| When You Learn Meditation, Quieting the Mind is | | | | onclick="javascript:pageTracker._trackPageview(' |
| More Difficult Than Quieting the Body | | | | outgoing/article_exit_link');" href=" music</a> |
| If you’ve tried meditating, you know what | | | | helps clear the mind. Gentle tracks without lyrics, |
| often happens. You turn off the phone. Dim the | | | | such as nature sounds or music specifically for |
| lights. Perhaps you light a scented candle or | | | | meditation can help you train your brain to relax. |
| incense if you find scent to be calming. For the | | | | In addition to relaxation meditation, there are |
| first few minutes, all goes well. Then the mind | | | | audio tracks that will help you entrain your mind |
| chatter starts. And your foot goes numb. And | | | | to achieve different responses from deep |
| your arm gets itchy. So now you’re squirming | | | | relaxation to improved concentration, and intense |
| and wondering how long it’s been. Ooops. You | | | | focus. It’s as simple as putting on an audio |
| start the chant again. Quieting your body is easy. | | | | track and just listening. It doesn’t get much |
| Quieting the mind is not quite as easy. That’s | | | | easier than that! |