It is important to tame one’s mind to overcome the stress and strains of the day-to-day work, as also from flickers of life that may create a work-life imbalance. And the solution lies in meditation. Simply put, meditation is the continuous and effortless flow of attentive awareness towards achieving concentration. Here are some tips on how to go about it.

Where to meditate?
Always choose a place that you can use regularly. The place should be simple, clean, calm and quite. It should be comfortable and free from any kind of pollution. Ensure that there is enough fresh air and the temperature is optimum.

When to meditate?
It is necessary to have a fixed time for meditation, and going by the Indian conditions, the period between 4 am and 6 am is most suited for it. This two hour, pre-dawn period has the quintessential stillness and calmness that is important for achieving mental bliss.

However, if you cannot wake up early, you can still choose a time between 6 am and 12 noon, or 6 pm and 12 midnight. Do remember that the mind during meditation should be like a lamp in a windless place, where even a flame does not flicker.

How long to meditate?
Stick to your routine and be regular. Beginners can do well with five to ten minutes of meditation each day. You can gradually increase your time by up to 20 minutes.

Asana for meditation

• Lotus pose (padam asana)
• Accomplished pose (siddha asana)
• Auspicious pose (swastikasana)
• Easy pose (sukhasana)
• Thunderbolt pose (vajrasana)

 

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The author is a Ayurveda and Yoga expert and Director of ayuvredayogashram.com