Meditation is one of the best practices that can help you attain a more relaxed state. There are other benefits to meditating such as being more in touch with yourself, being able to heal yourself, as well as improving bodily functions just to name a few. However, many are having a hard time getting into meditative state which make them miss out on the potential of this health practice. But you know, meditating shouldn’t be hard to do even when you’re just starting. Here are a few meditation tips that can help you achieve a calmer state of mind right from the start.

Choose your time

When you meditate, you should be relaxing which means that you should choose a time that is most convenient to you. This means choosing a time where you won’t be bothered by anyone so that you will be able to meditate in peace. This may be early in the morning while everyone is asleep or during sunset while the others are away and you are alone in the house. Whatever time you choose, make sure that it’s the one that is most convenient to you.

Start small

It’s not necessary that you have to sit for half an hour if you are not really comfortable with the idea. You can always start small, say sitting still for just two minutes. Do this for a whole week then add two more minutes the next week. Increasing your time every week is one way to helping your body to adapt to this practice of yours and you’ll find yourself enjoying every bit of your meditation.

Find a quiet place

Of course, if you want to be able to slip into a meditative state, you will need to consider the place you are going to do it. It is important that you choose a space where you won’t be disturbed. It can be in your bedroom, a quiet area in your garden, you decide. The goal here is for you to be alone and be comfortable in your environment so that you’ll be able to relax easily.

Don’t be too strict on yourself

There is a common misconception that you should follow the rules of meditating to the letter for you to achieve a calm state of mind. This is not so. You shouldn’t force yourself to follow all the guidelines because it will take you away from the moment. Start with the basics first which is sitting for two minutes in a comfortable manner. From there, you can optimize each session accordingly.

Keep your stomach empty

One of the best times for you to meditate is before you have your meal. This way, you won’t fall asleep while you are trying to meditate. However, it is not a good idea to practice meditation when you are hungry as your mind will wander towards your stomach’s hungry growling. If you have just eaten, do your meditation two hours after your meal.

Count your breaths

Another tip to consider when meditating is to count your breaths. Focus on your breathing first while you are meditating. Follow your breath as you inhale, letting the air pass through your organs all the way to your lungs then back out again. This counts as one. Put your attention in counting your breaths as you sit still for two minutes.

Warm up

There are some yoga exercises that can help warm your muscles up so that it will be easier for you to sit still for several minutes. Check out basic yoga poses to help stretch your muscles and to remove your restlessness prior to meditating.