It is not always easy to still the mind. We are constantly thinking of one thing to the next, finding things to worry about, living in the past and fast forwarding to the future. Try finding just a few minutes to stop, be still, and free your mind of any thoughts, concerns and worry. Often times, through meditation we can resolve issues by simply clearing the mind of excess.
Find a comfortable, quiet place to sit. Count each inhale and exhale as 1. Count the breath up to 7, then start again at 1 and count to 14. Start again at 1 and count to 21, and so on. Try this even for just five minutes per day and work up to 15 minutes, 20 minutes, even 30 minutes or more.
Another way to focus the mind, until it can be stil, is to focus on a mantra. Choosing two words that you would like more of in your life. Repeat one word silently on the inhale and repeat the other word silently on the exhale. An example is inhaling the word love and exhaling the word compassion. Other words can include happiness, strength, joy, contentment, forgiveness, patience, etc.
An even simpler way to still the mind is inhale I and exhale Am (or alternatively the Sanskrit words for I Am, Sat Nam). This gives a sense of true "being".
Even through our practice of yoga, we are meditating. Considered a moving mediation, it is difficult to think about anything whilst on the mat, since our focus is completely on our breath and drishti (gaze).
Find a comfortable, quiet place to sit. Count each inhale and exhale as 1. Count the breath up to 7, then start again at 1 and count to 14. Start again at 1 and count to 21, and so on. Try this even for just five minutes per day and work up to 15 minutes, 20 minutes, even 30 minutes or more.
Another way to focus the mind, until it can be stil, is to focus on a mantra. Choosing two words that you would like more of in your life. Repeat one word silently on the inhale and repeat the other word silently on the exhale. An example is inhaling the word love and exhaling the word compassion. Other words can include happiness, strength, joy, contentment, forgiveness, patience, etc.
An even simpler way to still the mind is inhale I and exhale Am (or alternatively the Sanskrit words for I Am, Sat Nam). This gives a sense of true "being".
Even through our practice of yoga, we are meditating. Considered a moving mediation, it is difficult to think about anything whilst on the mat, since our focus is completely on our breath and drishti (gaze).