From the cover of Time Magazine to back rooms of our doctor’s offices, it seems that everyone is buzzing about the many health benefits of meditation.
The Mindful technique is spreading like wildfire as people are becoming more and more aware of the many advantages associated with just 20-30 minutes of self-reflection per day, including the management of symptoms associated with conditions like anxiety, depression, cancer, heart disease, asthma, etc ...
In fact, a Harvard Medical study using MRI scanning concluded, “an eight-week meditation training program can have measurable effects on how the brain functions even when someone is not actively meditating…supporting the hypothesis that meditation can improve emotional stability and the brain’s response to stress.”
If you are new to meditation, try using this guided practice to help you get started.
Now that you know the benefits and have an example of a guided meditation (there are many more on youtube), you must find your meditation space. This will be your sacred space where you start or end your day. It may be in your home, your office, your backyard; whatever works for you.
Make meditation part of your everyday life by finding joy in this space and making it your own. (If you are looking for inspiration, find tons of cool ideas for your space on Pinterest.)
My mindful space is in my apartment, next to my bed. It feels comfortable for me there even though it is a small space I feel that I have privacy, which is key to calming my busy mind.
Here is what you need to know as you set up your space:
- You will need something comfortable to sit on like a pillow or a mat.
- Make sure there is no clutter in the space.
- Bring an element of the outdoors in. (Open a window, have a small fountain, a plant, etc…)
- Introduce scents through candles or oils (Lavender at night to relax you, peppermint in the morning to energize you, whatever feels good to you.)
- Keep your phone in another room. The only sounds that will support your practice are nature or soft music.
Think of this as your sanctuary, your source of happiness. That is what this space will bring you. I hope these tips are helpful to you and am open to hearing any recommendations that you have that may help other reader’s that are new to mediation. Where do you meditate? What elements do you bring into your space to enhance the meditative process for you?
I would love to see photos of your space and hear your thoughts. I will continue to keep you posted on my health journey. Please feel free to share below or tweet me @christiemandia.