What is it for?
The purpose of meditation is to encourage relaxation and calm the mind. Meditation can soothe mental and emotional stress and physical discomfort. Learning to notice, not engage with, and release troublesome thoughts and feelings has been proven to have a long lasting effect on health. With practice, meditation can help you sleep well, deal with life’s ups and downs, and develop a calm, resilient, and positive mind-set. Some benefits of this mindset might be greater balance and energy.
Will I go to sleep?
During meditation, you will deepen your ability to relax, while remaining awake, alert and aware. Meditation is a restful activity and many meditators say that it feels like a break from day to day experience. It can be easy to drift off during meditation, and this isn’t something to worry about, you will be guided to return to your meditation.
How often do I have to do it?
For the benefits of meditation to take root, consistency is important. It is useful for beginners to practice in guided groups, in order to develop a habit of regular practice. Working towards creating a habit of daily meditation, even for just a few minutes, is advisable. It is often best to meditate in the morning.
What happens when I meditate?
Meditators experience a calming and relaxing effect and a release from worries and concerns. Some types of meditations allow you to become more aware of your thoughts and others enhance positive emotions and mind-set. Studies have evidenced changes to brain waves when people meditate.
How quickly will it have an effect?
You may feel the effects of meditation instantly and these will deepen with practice. The benefits of meditation are very varied: they can be emotional, psychological, and physiological. Each person will have a very personal experience of the benefits of meditation.