Happy Wellness Wednesday, friends.

Many of us aspire to have a personal meditation practice, but if you've never tried to meditate before it can be difficult to know where to start. Here are a few tips for brand new beginners.

xoxo,

Sukey

Beginning a meditation practice may seem intimidating, but the long-term benefits can’t be ignored. Experience the benefits yourself by embarking upon your at-home practice today.

For your first sit, be with your own experience of quieting your mind. Don’t worry about a mantra or a time limit.

Come to a comfortable seated position in which your spine can stay long and your breathing relaxed. Keep your breathing long and smooth. As a thought comes to your mind, acknowledge it and let it pass. Sit in this way for as long as you are comfortable.

When you begin this routine, you may find that your legs cramp. This should be your initial timer as to how long you should stay seated. Don’t sit through cramps and pain in order to see a higher light; it won’t come to you if you are not relaxed. Even 3 minutes a day gives you great benefit towards a lasting sense of calm. Incrementally build up to longer sits.

As you begin to deepen your practice of sitting for meditation, play with using different points of focus to center yourself. After experimenting with focal points like a mantra, the tip of your nose, or the ticking of a clock, you will learn which works best for you to incorporate into your daily practice.

Set aside a time and space that works best for you so you know when you will sit each day. Whether it’s 5 minutes during your lunch break in your office or an hour after you awaken, make it a part of your routine so that you keep with it. Before long, you'll start to see the benefits of meditation in the form of more peace and more self-awareness.

The Well Wisdom: Be patient with yourself and let go of any expectations of what your practice should be or should bring you. When you are detached from expectation, you will find yourself more able to concentrate which is what meditation requires.