Warriors Guide to Meditation

What is meditation?  Perhaps you've seen a picture of a yoga teacher or monk sitting cross-legged, hands rested on knees, with eyes closed? What are they actually doing?  What does meditation look like to you and how does it work? 

The act of meditating was a puzzle to me for quite some time.  I would have so many questions and insecurities.  Am I doing it right? Am I missing something? Come to think of it, I had similar quandaries as a child learning to pray in church, almost a fear that I was missing something everyone else understood.  

I know I still have quite a bit to learn from the practice of meditation, but I believe I am beginning to understand.  So far, what I have learned is it truly is a practice, meaning it takes some time and dedication, or rather a muscle that needs to be strengthened, a skill to grow and nurture.  Another complication I have had is overcomplicating the process or putting too much pressure on the experience.   

Basically, anyone can meditate, anywhere, anytime.  To me, meditation can be as simple and short lasted as closing your eyes, letting your mind go blank, and taking a large deep breath. A longer meditation could just be more of that. Boom. That's it.  If you can do that, you can meditate.  

Of course, there is a lot more to know, but now hopefully it can feel a little simpler.  Mediation is kind of extremely simple and extremely complicated simultaneously.  The work that happens in your should and mind can be life-changing and complex, but the act that it takes to achieve this requires simplicity, or what appears to be simple.  Confused yet? That's ok.  Just try it.  

There are many diverse ways to meditate.  What resonates with you? does anything sound interesting or even fun?  I have a few favorites myself and so does my husband.   

Brain studies show that it takes six weeks of daily meditation to show lasting beneficial effects on the brain and body.