I can’t meditate!
Paul Lara, Tai Chi Instructor

Have you ever felt like this? Of course you have – me too.

Most of us have brains that bounce all over the place; this can be both a blessing and a curse – a quick switching attention span allows us to process a lot of information coming our way, but can also hamper our productivity and increase stress levels.

Meditation is an effective way of dealing with mental overload – it can help us become less reactive and more productive. However, the idea of calmly sitting in meditation for hours may seem impractical and out of reach for most; what we need is to be reasonable in our approach as a novice.

I think many people limit meditation to a categorical ideal. We want too much too soon. Images of serene monks in distant lands where birds are singing and all is not necessarily what has to be like for you. We don’t have to rely on incense, fluffy pillows or dogma. This isn’t about emptying our thoughts or becoming like the Buddha.

Meditation is a life practice - for your stress, for your relationships, for your moment. Think of it as a tool, not a teleport service. Day by day we learn to sharpen our skills and incorporate them into our life.
Make it simple. Focus on the basics.

Start off by aligning your posture and work towards balancing the physical body using the breath. The balance between tension and relaxation is how we begin. Simple.

Setting aside just 5 minutes of your day is a great way to establish your practice. But it’s important to make it routine so that your biological rhythms (as well as your habits) become consistent.

Meditation can look and feel many different ways. It’s a technique that can help you feel more centered, grounded and adaptable.

Practices such as QiGong, Martial Arts, Reiki or Zazen, all incorporate meditative practices and teach you how to deal with life’s stressors one moment at a time. Any of these techniques can be a great way to start to incorporate meditation into your everyday life. Meditation should be practical.