An Introduction to Meditation
- Alanna Valery
- Aug 8
- 3 min read
What is meditation? Meditation is a practice that involves mindfulness, or the act of being present, to help reduce stress, provide clarity, and improve overall well-being. In today's fast-paced world, taking time to slow down is more important than ever. A lot of people assume meditation is about clearing your mind, but that is not the only way to meditate. Sometimes, it’s just about recognizing that you have a lot going on and acknowledging your thoughts as they come up. By taking even just one minute of your day to press pause, close your eyes, and take a deep breath, you may feel a shift.
Types of Meditation
There are many different ways to meditate, you may do it already without even realizing. Meditation is often portrayed as being perfectly still and silent in mainstream media, but that’s not the only way to do it! Yoga, tai chi, walking, and qigong are all forms of movement meditation. Each of these practices incorporate breathing and movement to facilitate awareness and balance. Guided meditation is a good place to start if you have never tried meditation before. There are many types, visualization, breathing, mindfulness, all of which include a specific technique or mantra to repeat as you meditate. If you are unsure where to begin, I have included a list at the bottom of this article of meditations that are specific to each technique.
Benefits of Meditation
Meditation has been shown to improve our well-being, not just in our mind, but our bodies as well:
Improved Focus: Meditation trains your mind to concentrate better, enhancing your ability to stay focused and productive. (Mayo Clinic)
Better Quality Sleep: Meditation can relax the mind and body, making it easier to fall asleep and improve the quality of your sleep. (UC Davis Health)
Reduced Stress: Meditation may decrease stress. It can also improve symptoms of stress-related conditions and help lower blood pressure. (Cleveland Clinic)
Boosts Immunity: Meditation helps lower levels of stress hormones like cortisol, which can negatively impact the immune system when chronically elevated. (BBC Radio)
Lower Risk of Depression: Regular meditation practice can lead to positive changes in brain areas associated with mood regulation, potentially improving overall mental well-being. (APA)
Resources for Your Journey
To help you on your path, here are some recommended resources:
Guided Meditations on YouTube:
Loving-Kindness ‘Metta’ Meditation (5 minutes)
Visualization Meditation (10 minutes)
Body Scan Meditation (5 minutes)
Breathing Meditation (3 minutes)
Helpful Apps:
Insight Timer: Guided meditations, courses, sound tracks.
Headspace: Guided meditation and sleep tools.
Calm: For mindfulness and meditation.
Conclusion
Mindfulness and meditation can help improve many areas of our lives, but it is not always easy to get started. Our world is non-stop, and many of us are lucky to have a break in our day, let alone time to meditate. But I hope this introduction gives you some insight on where to begin if you have never tried it before, or resources for those of you that are already meditating and maybe wanted to try a new technique. Either way, we encourage you to start small, be patient with yourself, and celebrate every step of your progress. Thank you for taking the time to read my blog and I look forward to seeing you at our next group meditation or individual meeting! (To see our attendance options and attend you may book online through our website at solarahealings.com/booking)
Important Disclaimer: Not Medical Advice
As a reminder, I am not a medical professional, and the information I provide is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read or heard from me.
Disclaimer Regarding Third-Party Information
The information provided in this communication is based on content from various third-party sources and is not the result of my own independent research. While I strive to share accurate and helpful information, I cannot guarantee the completeness or accuracy of these external sources. Please consider consulting the original source materials or conducting your own research to verify any information.