Two of our wonderful Spread The Light blog contributors, Hari Simran and Onkar Ryan, have teamed up to co-write and inform us on some of the challenges Meditation beginners may face and some tips to help overcome these. Together, this dynamic duo, who have founded 40 Day Rituals have many years experience in holistic health and aim to help people create long lasting wellness routines in a real and attainable way.
Meditation comes in many forms and the experience varies from person to person. What is great about meditation is that there are many ways that someone can do it. Meditation is training the mind and giving it direction. It is a simple process of allowing and observing. The more we experience it, the more we begin to become comfortable with giving our mind a direction instead of being the victim to the mind’s many twists and turns.
For many of us beginning a meditation practice, being still or even closing our eyes can feel challenging or even over whelming. These feelings can often deter us from even attempting meditation. For this reason we are providing helpful tips along with some advice to get you started, to help guide you into developing a practice that is real and practical for you.
- When you are first starting a meditation practice there are many things you may encounter. You may have heard the concept or idea that “you must have no thoughts going through your mind or you are not meditating”. This is perhaps one of the most common misconceptions and possibly a reason why many people try meditation and give up very quickly. In actuality, if you are starting mediation for the first time it is completely normal to have a million thoughts going through your mind and with that some possible discomfort in experiencing all these thoughts. Know that even though there are still thoughts, feelings and emotions going through your mind and body, you are still meditating.
- Consistency is key. It is important that when starting meditation for the first time, you stay consistent and give yourself at least 40 days to experience the effects as we teach at 40dayrituals.com.
Without consistency the benefits you are wanting to receive from the meditation practice may not be completely experienced and more importantly you are not giving yourself a chance to really make a change or shift in your thought and behaviour patterns. - It is very common to come to a point in your meditation practice where you want to give up. For whatever reasons you may want to let the meditation practice go, we encourage you to stay the course!
- You can meditate anywhere! Meditation does not have to always be done in a yoga class, at your altar at home or only dedicated to a certain time. Meditation can be practiced anywhere, at any time. You can try incorporating it into your breaks during the work day or even after your workout, whether it’s in the gym or on top of a mountain.
- When you are first beginning a meditation practice on your own, start with a time that works for you and your schedule. If you can only meditate for 3 minutes a day that is a great start! Work your way up in time as you get use to having it be a part of your daily routine.
We mediate as a service to ourselves so that we can show up for others. It is a practice of self-care and self healing. Meditation allows us to be, speak and act as our true self. That true self can also be referred to as “ the soul”. The soul self lies within the heart. When we are able to live from the heart space, we are free to totally be ourselves. When we can be ourselves, we vibrate truth. When we live in our truth, it brings us into a place of happiness, prosperity and joy.
Meditation is an important part of self care for both the body and the mind. Just like we want to take care of our skin with the best products, we want to apply that same concept to the mind.
Sending you love and light in this New Decade!
Happy 2020!
Blessings,
Hari Simran and Onkar
Hari Simran Khalsa was born into a family of Kundalini Yogis and has been a student of Yogi Bhajan’s since her early childhood. She has been teaching and practicing Kundalini Yoga and Ayurvedic medicine for over 10 years. Hari’s work incorporates the principles of these powerful, ancient sciences to heal modern health and life issues. Using Ayurvedic medicine and Kundalini Yoga as tools to support self-healing and happiness, Hari believes all people no matter what stage of life they are in can feel their very best both inside and out.
Onkar Ryan is a Kundalini yoga student, teacher, and meditative healer. She has been practicing Kundalini Yoga, as taught by Yogi Bhajan, since 2006 and began teaching in the summer of 2008. She has lived in Alabama, Colorado and now resides in Los Angeles, California. Onkar’s classes focus on the deep healing of the self through meditation, breath, yoga, mantra, and relaxation.
If you would like to start a meditation or continue your meditation practice right from home, join Hari and Onkar on 40 Day Rituals where they are offering 40 Day Meditation and lifestyle courses to support you!
