Meditation Misconceptions

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Most people fall into one of two camps when it comes to meditation. You either love it and it becomes a cornerstone of your wellness practice, or you feel like it’s not for you, perhaps assuming you don’t know how to do it right or it’s too hard.

I first learned about meditation when I started doing yoga 20+ years ago. My boyfriend & I tried a Friday night class at a New York Sports Club. The teacher was an older and very experienced yogi who valued Savasana (corpse pose) and repeated the mantra “quiet the mind, quiet the breath” as we sank deeper into rest at the end of our strenuous postures. It was the first time I experienced the elusive absence of thought and realized I had the capabilities to briefly silence my inner dialogue.

Since then, I’ve tried a variety of different meditation practices – from blissful week-long sessions isolated in nature to 30-minute lunchtime classes. Sometimes you experience a seemingly magical channeling of intuition. Other times, it feels like you run through your to-do list the whole time. But the secret truth is: any meditation session is a huge success. Surprised? Here are some of the most common misconceptions about meditation and how to overcome them:

  • “Meditation means completely quieting the mind.” Sure maybe for Buddhist monks who’ve been practicing for their entire lives this is the goal. But a modern meditation teacher will tell you that just like you can’t tell your heart to stop beating, you can’t tell you mind to stop thinking. It’s about training your mind for increased awareness and attention. So release the expectation that your goal is a blank mind and you will open yourself to an entirely different meditation experience.

  • “Meditation means dedicating hours a day.” There’s an old Zen saying, “You should sit in mediation for 20 minutes a day, unless you’re too busy; then you should sit for an hour”. And I get it…I once did a one-day silent meditation retreat and it was pure heaven. I also have days I feel like I can only squeeze in 5 minutes before bed. Fortunately research shows just 10 minutes a day can have incredible benefits, such as reduced anxiety and improved concentration. So don’t worry; the time you decide to spend is entirely up to you.

  • “Meditation is sitting still.” Sure, lots of people love the stillness of their meditation pillow, back straight, hands resting gently. But for some of us, we need to start (and maybe stay) with a practice that involves movement. Luckily, there are walking meditation practices that are perfect for those who struggle with sitting still:

    • Use your yard or find a park that you can safely walk

    • Start walking, creating a path in either a square, rectangle or circle shape

    • Take your time, walking at a steady pace, focusing on your rhythm

    • Pay attention to your speed, the sound of your feet on the ground. This is great to do on gravel, grass or a regular concrete path.

    • If you can do this in bare feet it’s even better!

  • “Meditation is a silent practice.” Guided meditation is the majority of my practice. There are literally hundreds of types of guided meditations from Body Scans to Self-Compassion. Meditations for activating your chakras and helping you find clarity for manifestations. Some people crave the quiet and I too love mixing in some silent practices, but I recommend letting the wisdom of trained teachers guide you and it will transform your assumptions about meditation.

  • “Meditation is a religious practice.” Yes, Meditation, as a practice, is rooted in religion. But fortunately, as experts continue to uncover the many benefits, it has become entirely mainstream and accessible to everyone. Whether you tie your sessions to a religion or not is a completely personal decision. Your meditation practice is yours and yours alone.

 

Ready to dive in right now? I’ve got you covered. While there are so many fabulous programs available, here are some I recommend:

  • I love the Insight Timer app. It’s free and there are thousands of meditations to choose from.

  • Another great program for beginners is Ziva meditation. There are some YouTube videos available for you to try and they also offer a free trial.

  • If you are really ready to kickstart your practice, you can also go the private route. I was lucky enough to enjoy a few sessions with Tiffany Andras-Myers from A Mindful Heart and it was incredibly personal and expansive.

As always, can’t wait to hear what you think of this chapter of the Self Discovery Summer series!