In my last post, I talked about hopping onto my yoga mat right after waking up. Following that, my routine seamlessly moves into a meditation session, either immediately after yoga or after a quick breakfast. The connection between these practices feels like a natural flow, considering that historically, postural yoga was meant as preparation for meditation.
Now, let's talk about meditation. According to Patanjali's Yoga Sutra, yoga and meditation are all about the 'Stilling of the mind.' It's about calming the mind's constant chaos. Meditation isn't a time to let your thoughts wander freely. It’s not a time to sit and plan for the day or ponder upon life. It's about taming your mind, connecting with your inner self, and finding peace.
Even though the morning seems calm, achieving a peaceful state isn't always easy for me. Racing thoughts, some stressful, can flood my mind. It takes effort to distance myself from them. While I aim for 15-30 minutes of meditation, there are days when it's a struggle to calm my mind.
After yoga and meditation, I feel ready to tackle the day with a smile.
One big reason I meditate in the morning is that I find it impossible to find the time once the day’s activities start. I feel I am constantly running late, and catching up with the tasks and duties. Even on my day off, I have the feeling that the day is running out quickly, and cannot settle down enough to carve out the time to meditate.
If you're new to meditation, it might seem complicated, but it's not. At its core, meditation is simple. Just find a comfortable seat, sit up straight, and focus on something basic like your breath.
Here are simple steps:
Sit with your straight back. Not necessarily on the floor. Sitting on a chair is fine but I don’t recommend it on a sofa as it’s hard to keep straight back .
Focus on something simple. Counting the breath is simple and effective. You can also tune into your sense of hearing, and listen to everything around you with no judgement. Some people use mantras, simple words, or a name of a chosen Deity.
If your mind wanders, which it does all the time, as soon as you realise, bring your attention back to your breath or other things.
How long should you meditate? Some people believe in longer meditation, but some teachers suggest 15 minutes is enough. The key is to sit every day or as regularly as you can. Don't stress about the duration. Start small (5 minutes) and build up.
In a nutshell, don't overthink it—just give it a try! Happy Meditating.
Feel free to share this journey toward tranquillity with others.
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