When a person is just starting to instill in himself the habit of meditating every day, he may be faced with a number of questions related to meditation. For example, how often can you do this practice or where is it better to meditate. What are the most common questions, what are the answers to them?
Meditation is an accessible way for any person, which helps to calm down, stop internal dialogue, distract from worries and problems. Staying in a meditative state can energize or, on the contrary, relax, helping to quickly go to the land of dreams. However, meditation, especially for beginners, is usually associated with a lot of questions. The answers to the most common ones are given below.
How much and how often should you meditate?
People who have been practicing meditation for a long time insist that one should fall into the appropriate state at least twice a day - in the morning and in the evening. In the morning, meditation will help you to cheer up, in the evening it will help you get rid of stress. However, when deciding how many times to meditate, you need to listen, first of all, to your body, consciousness. For some people, it is enough to conduct a session only in the morning / evening, while others tend to meditate several times during the day.
In the classic version, the duration of one meditation should be 20-30 minutes (or more). This time is often enough to fully relax, plunge into a trance, and then return to your normal state. Only by starting to engage in this practice, the time can be reduced to 5 minutes in one go, gradually increasing it. As a rule, it is difficult for beginners to practice meditation techniques for more than 5-8 minutes in the first weeks. Although, again, in the matter of the duration of meditation, you need to listen to your mind and body.
Should you always sit in the lotus position?
The lotus position is a classic variation of the position. If it is very difficult at first to take such a position, then you can simply sit down with your legs crossed, put a pillow under your lower back, or lean your back against the wall to keep your posture without stress.
There are both static and mobile meditation techniques. You need to choose the option based on your personal preferences. However, at first, it is not recommended to meditate lying down, since in this position there is a great risk of simply falling asleep.
Only by starting to develop the habit of meditation, you can choose the most comfortable posture for yourself, up to a simple sitting on a chair with a straight back. The position of the hands is also permissible to vary: the fingers can either be closed or simply place the open palms on the knees. It is important to achieve a state where there is no stiffness or discomfort in the body. And for more effective meditation, you need to make sure that your back remains straight and your head does not fall anywhere.
Is it okay to meditate during illness? And on an empty stomach?
You can and should meditate during an illness, be it a cold, flu or any other condition. If the state of health allows, then you should not give up the immersion in a meditative trance. Moreover, meditation can help you recover faster, this practice helps to relieve not only stress, but also relieve pain. Therefore, it is recommended that women meditate during critical days in order to eliminate the corresponding discomfort without pills.
Experts advise against meditating immediately after eating, on a full stomach. When choosing between snacking and meditation, it is better to give preference to the second option.
Can you experience discomfort while meditating?
As a rule, meditation is not accompanied by discomfort, pain, or anything else negative. This state is aimed at normalizing well-being, at personal growth, and so on, therefore it cannot harm a person. However, if any negative feelings arise during a meditative trance, then it is better to interrupt and try to understand their nature. Often, pain or discomfort manifests itself against the background of an uncomfortable posture, due to existing blocks and muscle clamps in the body, due to improper movement of energies.
Where is the best place to practice meditation?
Practically any environment is suitable for meditation, in which it will be comfortable. It is important to provide yourself with a space where there will be no distractions. It is also important that no one distracts during the immersion in a meditative trance state. Therefore, it is recommended to warn the nearest environment about your occupation, turn off the phone for a while.
In good weather, you can and should meditate outside. The rest of the time you can practice at home: sitting on the floor (with pillows or a rug), on a bed, in an armchair, and so on. However, people who have been practicing meditation for a long time are advised to allocate a separate area in the apartment / room, which will be specifically designed for meditation. It is not necessary to design it in any special way, the main thing is that it should be cozy there.
Can I play background music while meditating?
Yes, this is not forbidden, if you really want to. The main thing is only to choose the most suitable musical accompaniment. Preference should be given to special tracks for meditations, mantras, neutral sounds, for example, the sound of rain or surf, birdsong and so on. Here it is important to listen again to oneself, to how the body and mind responds in response to the chosen musical row.
However, for a deeper and better dive, it is better to provide yourself with maximum silence. Some practitioners even use earplugs during meditation so that no extraneous sounds can disturb the state. In addition, in silence it is easier to concentrate on your breathing, which is a very important point during meditation.
