First and foremost you don’t have to be a yoga practitioner to meditate. Yes practicing yoga asana and breathing techniques can help to prepare us for longer time spent in meditation, but that is not the whole story.
You don’t have to sit on the floor completely motionless. You can sift around from time to time to stay comfortable. You can sit on a chair or on the sofa – it shouldn’t make any difference to the end result
Set an alarm on your watch or devise to quietly ring in 10 to 15 minutes. Shut your eyes and simply listen to your breathing.
If your mind is churning with constant chatter, don’t try and bat the banter away. Just notice it. You will of course from time to time be led astray by the milieu of random thoughts that pop into your mind. Particularly when negative thoughts occur. Whatever happens just remind yourself that you are meditating and continue to pay attention to your breath.
If that doesn’t appear to work and those negative thoughts keep clouding your mind try and find some happy thoughts instead. In essence the goal is to become indifferent to anything that crosses your mind.
Continue to meditate in this way until the alarm that you set goes off. Before opening your eyes silently in your mind count all the way down from ten.
Try and practice as often as you can. Aim for quantity rather than the quality of your mediation. The more often you try the better at it you will become.
If you would like more information about my private & public yoga classes in West London or the Day Retreats & Residential Yoga Breaks that my husband Dominic & I have planned over the next 12 months please take a look at my website.
I really hope we see you on a mat somewhere soon.
Namaste
Elisa