Written By: Nicholas Orellana​

Meditating has many benefits that promote well-being and self-care, as it assists with anxiety control, emotional health, and stress reduction. Meditation supports many aspects of our lives, but how do we utilize meditation daily? Whether new to meditation or experienced, this blog is intended to guide users through meditation practices from various perspectives. Through centering ourselves, we can achieve higher wisdom, knowledge, and relaxation by incorporating mantras as a focus point.​

Where to Begin

When beginning a meditation routine, it is essential to remember that creating small goals is helpful in practice. Rather than forcing yourself to sit in silence for an hour, try in small quantities such as 1 Minute, 5 Minutes, or however long feels right for you. You can meditate for long periods without realizing it as you gain comfort. Speaking of comfort, we recommend that you get comfortable when beginning these sessions. You can practice meditation sitting up on a cushion, sitting on your couch, or even lying down.

It is essential to understand that meditation allows individuals to spend time with their minds, and by utilizing this stream of thoughts, we can understand ourselves further. For most individuals, the absence of noise restricts their ability to focus and find their center. We recommend using meditation mantras to assist in intention setting. Mantras such as “I am Bliss,” “Recharge, renew, then respond,” “Aum,” or “Om” are all great examples of mantras that boost and empower us as we meditate.

Breathing ​

While mantras are incredibly beneficial in meditating, breathing exercises also assist in finding focus and relaxation. Breathing in for eight beats, holding for two, and releasing for eight is one of many exercises that allow individuals to engage with their breathing and become aware of their breaths.

Becoming aware of your body and breaths is one of the benefits of meditating, as it permits users to become more aware of their well-being. Controlled breathing also allows individuals to relax and de-stress, as it lowers a person’s heart rate. Counting breaths and becoming aware of patterns gives individuals something to focus on rather than intrusive thoughts. ​

Meditation takes practice, and so does breathing. Engaging with our breaths and relaxing our bodies is exceptionally beneficial, but it does not happen instantly. Practice makes perfect, and it is essential to remember that perfecting a meditation routine and breathing technique takes time. However, finding ways to implement practice time in your everyday life is easy and effective. ​

Meditation in Everyday Life

While many meditation practices consist of sitting still and in silence, one can take various approaches to utilize meditation in different aspects of life. For example, taking meditative walks in nature, meditating while eating, or meditating while knitting are all great ways to quiet your thoughts and center yourself.

Although meditation while eating sounds peculiar, it is a great way to appreciate and feel the value of the food being eaten and a way to gather your thoughts. Regardless of the activity, meditating allows you to connect with yourself in ways that will promote your overall health. ​

Don’t be intimidated by meditation! It may not come as easily for everyone, but anyone can learn to incorporate meditation with practice.

References​

https://www.healthline.com/health/daily-meditation#pick-a-time
https://www.mindful.org/how-to-meditate/
https://medium.com/thrive-global/everyday-meditation-351b3d9ab658
https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/12-benefits-of-meditation
https://www.headspace.com/meditation/meditation-for-beginners
https://wanderlust.com/journal/21-mantras-transform-meditation-practice/
https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/healthyliving/breathing-to-reduce-stress#:~:text=Deliberately%20copying%20a%20relaxed%20breathing,stress%20hormones%20in%20the%20blood