Health Info

- It should be done every day, preferably at the same time
- It should preferably be done before a meal rather than after a meal
- A spot should be set aside for meditation, which should be a quiet place
- One should sit with the spine straight and vertical (a chair is ok to use)

You can meditate for one minute here, three minutes there. Properly done, meditation always gives you more time than it takes. The most important thing is to approach meditation in the same natural way you would having a glass of wine, taking a nap, listening to music, or going for a walk. Be completely unpretentious with yourself.

Be willing to be surprised and energized and be willing to fall asleep because you are so relaxed.

It is theoretically possible to learn meditation from a book. However most people who teach and practice meditation agree that a teacher can be an invaluable aid in learning a meditation technique and making sure it is practiced correctly. The beginner will usually have several questions which a teacher will be able to answer. Also, learning with a group of people, in a meditation class, allows you to experience the benefit of meditating with a group of people. Most people find that they have some of their best meditations while meditating in a group, because there is a collective energy and focus present.

Various individuals and groups teach meditation. Some charge and some do not. Many different techniques are taught, some more spiritual in nature and others mainly concerned with stress-reduction and gaining a little peace of mind. As always, the important thing is finding what works for you.

If you are enjoying yourself, feel restful, and have a sense of ease, you are doing it right. In the long run, you know you are doing it right if you are more adaptable, more resilient, more stable inside yourself, more perceptive, and more appreciative of life.

Start with five minutes in the morning or in the evening. If that seems like not enough time, then meditate in the morning and in the evening for five minutes. Then when that seems like not enough time, increase your time little by little.

You can meditate when you want to, or when you decide you should, or whenever you can sneak it in. It is up to you. The standard approach is to meditate soon after arising in the morning, and then again before the evening meal. This works really well for a lot of people, and it creates a beautiful feeling of rhythm to a day. Other options are to meditate once a day in the afternoon, or to have several mini-meditations throughout the day. If you do meditate before sleep, keep it short and select meditations that are soothing.