| You've heard how meditation can help to reduce | | | | sitting is better than nothing. And to get the most out of |
| stress, induce calmness and improve health. But, for | | | | it, meditate daily, instead of leaving all the meditation to |
| some reason, you're hesitant to learn it because of the | | | | the weekend. |
| things you've read or heard about this ancient practice. | | | | 4. I can't sit in lotus position |
| In this article, we will address some of the common | | | | Although the full lotus position is a classic pose for |
| beliefs about meditation that have confused many | | | | meditation, you don't necessarily have to do it if you |
| newcomers: | | | | find it uncomfortable or painful. Forcing yourself into a |
| 1. I'm not a Buddhist, so I can't learn meditation | | | | full lotus will only hinder your ability to concentrate and |
| Although meditation has been closely linked to | | | | defeat the purpose of meditation. In addition, for those |
| Buddhism, meditation by its very nature, is religion | | | | suffering from joint problems, sitting cross-legged can |
| neutral. It doesn't require you to believe in some higher | | | | also be a real pain, even for fifteen minutes. In such |
| beings or deities. Similarly, it also doesn't require you to | | | | cases, you can try half-lotus, sitting on a chair or |
| give up your existing religious belief, if you've one. Take | | | | squatting on a meditation stool. It's important to find a |
| the example of breathing meditation, which requires | | | | position that's suitable for you, but yet not so |
| you to pay attention on your breathing. How 'religious' is | | | | comfortable that you fall asleep. But regardless of how |
| that? Though there may be forms of meditation that | | | | you meditate, it's important not to compromise your |
| require the visualization of religious icons, they can | | | | posture for comfort. Always keep your spine and |
| usually be modified to suit one's belief system. | | | | neck upright and neutral to prevent causing any injury |
| 2. I can't sit long enough for meditation | | | | to them. |
| If you can sit through a two-hour movie or TV | | | | 5. Isn't meditation a form of escapade? |
| program without budging, you can definitely sit still for | | | | Some thought that meditation is a practice to detach |
| twenty minutes with yourself. It just takes practice to | | | | oneself from his thoughts, desires and emotions so as |
| get used to facing your own thoughts, ideas, desires | | | | to become unmovable by them. That is not meditation; |
| and emotions. During meditation, it's not necessary to | | | | it is self-denial. Because doing so only separates us |
| conjure up any elaborate visualization in full HD glories | | | | further from our feelings and thoughts, when what we |
| unless that's what you want to do. In fact, if you like, | | | | really need is to get in touch with them and understand |
| you don't even need to do a thing when you meditate | | | | them. In meditation, we are not trying to run away from |
| except to observe your breaths or your thoughts. | | | | ourselves. On the contrary, we are trying to get as |
| 3. I don't have time for meditation | | | | close to our true self as we possibly can. |
| Do you have twenty minutes a day? Of course you | | | | 6. Would meditation mess with my mind? |
| do! That's all the time you need to meditate, though | | | | Meditation doesn't put you in a trance state. You |
| you may find yourself wanting to sit longer as you | | | | remain fully conscious and in full control of yourself |
| progress. Contrary to what you may have heard, you | | | | throughout the entire session. It's totally different from |
| don't need to invest a huge amount of time in | | | | being hypnotized, when one is more opened to |
| meditation. Just meditate for twenty minutes each day. | | | | external suggestions and influences. Meditation is not |
| If you're really short for time, even a brief ten-minute | | | | hypnosis. |