Can't Meditate? 10 Ways to Make Meditation Work For You
When it comes to meditation, it's not one size fits all. So, if you feel sleepy while meditating or just cannot seem to concentrate, yoga-preneur Grand Master Akshar shares how to make meditation work for you.
When it comes to meditation, it's not one size fits all. So, if you feel sleepy while meditating or just cannot seem to concentrate, yoga-preneur Grand Master Akshar shares how to make meditation work for you.
1How can meditation improve my health?"Breath meditation also known as Swaas Dhyan makes you extremely aware of your breathing pattern which in turn helps to regulate your emotions, improves the blood flow and makes you alert and calm. It also prevents stress, depression and anxiety from your life. Even those suffering from high or low blood pressure can use this meditation technique to improve the state of health. This is an extremely simple but very effective form of meditation that can benefit everyone. Brahma Granti Dhyan says that there is a certain nectar stored within our bodies and we can access it through this meditation."
2Why does meditation make me feel sleepy and lethargic?"It is not the process of meditation that makes one feel sleepy and lethargic but it is the condition of the body and mind. Meditation brings different benefits to your life and is subjective to each practitioner. You don't need to start with a complicated process of meditation rather you can begin with the technique known as Sthithi Dhyan. In this you can keep your eyes open during the practice. There are many different meditation techniques that require you to keep your eyes open which include Jal Dhyan, and Tratak. You can simply keep your eyes open, build your energies and reap the benefits."
3Can we meditate in a chair or lying down instead of cross-legged on the floor?"Vichar Dhyan is a type of meditation to contemplate on your thoughts and this can be done sitting on a chair. Anand Dhyan, Yog Nidra can be done while lying down. There are different types of meditations depending on the posture that you want to assume. If you want to sit on a chair that is a different type of meditation routine, to sit in padmasana or lie down there are different meditation techniques for each posture. There are even meditation techniques suited for walking, or that can be done in a standing position. So there are techniques that are available according to the body's positions and the state of mind."
4Do I have to keep my mind blank?"No, it is not required that we keep our mind blank. Our senses are capture millions of information every second of the day which we need to process. With this much of sensory stimuli stored within us, it is not possible for us to immediately turn a mind into a blank canvas. Rather, it is a gradual process where we begin to fill the void of a mind with something powerful and evolve towards keeping it blank."
5Is it okay to listen to music to meditate?"Music meditation or Sangeet Dhyan is another variation of meditation where one practice to meditate along with the music. This is different from Shanth Dhyan where one sits quietly in silence to meditate. Nirvichar Dhyan on the other hand cannot be done with music."
6Can I meditate if I have anxiety or depressive tendencies?"Meditation, like any applied science, needs to be practised regularly to reap the benefits. People suffering from anxiety or depression will benefit a great deal with the right meditation techniques. Meditation can have a remarkable therapeutic effect on the practitioner. There are three levels of meditation – for beginners, intermediate, and advanced. For those with anxiety etc., meditation will be prescribed like medicine that needs be given in certain doses. By following this strictly for a specific duration we can then progress to higher levels of meditation."
7What is the best time to meditate and how long should I meditate for?"Different meditation techniques have different timings. As a beginner, the best time to meditate is early n the mornings using Tratak meditation, Aarambh Dhyan/Bheej Dhyan, Swaas Dhyan etc. But techniques such as Prakat Agni Dhyan, Nirvichar Dhyan need to be practised at night time."
8What alternative will you suggest for people who just cannot meditate?"There is no such thing that people cannot practice meditation. To prepare them for the process of meditation and to bring them into a meditative state, there are a few exercises that can be done. The Dhyan or Seed meditation and Swaas Dhyan or Breath meditation are two techniques where one is not required to become devoid of thought. The trouble is that achieving a thoughtless state of mind is an extremely complicated and advanced level of practice. This does not happen at the start of your meditation practice and everybody imagines that this needs to be done. Seed meditation makes you positive and breath meditation makes you alert and increases your level of concentration. There are many variations within the practice of meditation that are suitable for beginners and for seasoned meditation practitioners as well."
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