Meditation FAQ

What is meditation? 

Meditation is an ancient practice of relaxation and focus. The most ancient text discovered about meditation refers to finding the value of simplicity and enjoying tranquility. 

Why do people meditate?

There are as many reasons to meditate as there are forms of meditation. In modern day, people around the world meditate for self-improvement, practicing calm and self-awareness in order to use these skills in daily life. Meditation is a cornerstone of mindfulness, a way for people to better understand the inner workings of their own minds. Meditation also has religious significance in Buddhist, Hindu and Christian traditions, helping people to loosen their grip on material desires and focus on what really matters. 

What does meditation do?

Meditation helps you practice the skill of fully relaxing your mind and body. By closing your eyes and leaving all your worries behind, you find a state of calm that’s hard to come by in busy day-to-day life. Your heart rate and breathing slow and the tension in your muscles eases as your body enters its resting state. When your body is at rest, your recovery rate and metabolism improve, promoting overall health. You emerge from meditation refreshed and focused, and better able to handle day-to-day stress.

What does meditation feel like?

Some say meditation feels safe, like entering a private world far away from any worries. Others say meditation is serene like riding a wave on the ocean. Everyone’s experience is unique.

What do you do when you meditate?

There are many meditation traditions from different parts of the world. The most widely known image of meditation is a monk sitting with his legs folded, repeating a low sound at a steady rate. The sitting position is called the lotus, and the sound is called a mantra. Their purpose is to aid concentration, keeping distractions at bay. Even though this is the best-known way to meditate, it’s far from the only one. There are many traditional positions from Burmese to Seiza, and meditation can be done with sounds or complete silence. What matters most is that your meditating position is comfortable and that you’re able to let go of distractions. 

What do you think about when you meditate?

While meditation is a practice of clearing your head of thoughts, the same positive habits from meditation can be used in other parts of life. With mindfulness techniques, you may use the calm, non-judging state of mind from meditation when reflecting on things that happened, your fears and your goals. When meditating, the goal is the let these thoughts fade away and simply be aware of your own body, from the feeling of the floor against your legs to the slow, controlled pace of your breathing.

What should you focus on when meditating? 

When you meditate, focusing on one thing will help you to avoid distractions and fully enjoy the relaxation. One of the most common things to focus on is your own breath, keeping a slow, controlled pace and feeling the air fill your lungs. Repeating a sound or a meaningful phrase can also fully absorb someone’s concentration. You might also focus on a mental image such as ocean waves or a leaf in the breeze.

Is meditation difficult?

Certain things can make it difficult to let go of your worries and relax, making it harder to meditate. For instance, you may be worried about the news, stressed you don’t have time to relax, or hurt by something you overheard. The hardest part of meditation is getting started, setting your worries aside. It doesn’t happen all at once,  but you can find your concentration by focusing on something simple and constant like your breathing or the sound of a fan.

Is meditation bad for you?

While meditation has overwhelmingly positive effects for those who practice it regularly, it can also lead to stress, especially at first. When you remove all distractions and find a quiet place to relax, your surface thoughts can become much harder to ignore. Being alone with your thoughts can be frightening whether you’re meditating or not. A stressful thought or a painful memory may pop in your head, becoming louder and louder even as you try to relax. Those with anxiety disorders and PTSD may have more trouble meditating, especially while learning how to let go of painful thoughts.

The idea of meditation being bad comes from these cases where someone tries to relax but becomes overwhelmed by painful thoughts. If you’ve had trouble meditating before, you can thrive by practicing meditation in an immersive, relaxing environment such as floating in a private tank filled with skin-temperature Epsom salt water, perhaps listening to a guided meditation podcast or soft music. 

What does it mean if you cry when meditating? 

Crying is a natural thing that may happen during meditation. Sometimes crying comes from relief, or exhaustion, or from a painful thought, or from no certain source. The important question is how it affects you. If meditating gives you welcome relief or peace of mind, tears can be a natural part of the healing process. If meditation becomes stressful or unbearable, you might benefit from different meditation or mindfulness techniques. 

Is there a way to make meditation easier? 

There are so many ways to make meditation easier! You may choose a certain place or time to meditate each day, creating a routine that makes meditation easier to fall into each time. You may also use different meditation aids, such as music or guided meditation. You can also change your meditation pose – The way you meditate should be comfortable and relaxing but also help you concentrate. You can meditate while sitting still, repeating a meaningful phrase, drawing simple shapes or folding laundry. You can even meditate lying down! As you find different ways to make meditation easier, it will become more rewarding physically and mentally.

What if meditation doesn’t work for me? 

Sometimes, no matter what you do, you can’t seem to find the calm and focus that meditation promises. You can of course keep trying in different environments and with different methods, but there’s no need to push yourself. You can enjoy the same benefits by making art, playing music or other things that help you focus or relax.

How do you know if you’re meditating correctly? 

There is no single best way to meditate. If it makes you feel calm and refreshed, or focused and worry-free, or otherwise more whole or serene, then you are meditating perfectly.