Meditation Made Easy: 3 Simple Steps for Making Daily Meditation Accessible & Fun

Readers, please enjoy this guest blog post by Anusha Wijeyakumar, MD, author of the new Meditation with Intention.

Most of us are aware of the benefits of having a daily meditation practice in our lives. We have read about it, thought about it, and even, for many of us, actually tried to sit down and do it, but without achieving great results. We all lead busy lives, and the thought of sitting silently in lotus pose for 30 minutes each day with our monkey mind just does not seem feasible—nor, quite frankly, any fun.

The benefits to meditating regularly are scientifically proven, and are, of course, endless. After all, who doesn’t want peace of mind and inner sanctity in the craziness and constant whirlwind of activity that surrounds us? It all sounds so good in theory, but practice and results always seem the most difficult part to attain. So, we know that a daily meditation practice helps to ground us and sets us up for the day ahead, but how do we make it easy and fun?

Here are some of my personal top tips for making sure that you carve out that much-needed time for yourself each day to meditate, and that you actually begin to look forward to doing so. If you can, make a commitment to set aside 5 – 10 minutes each morning, as you will find that this sets you up best for the day ahead—and you will not be disappointed. Follow these simple steps below for a new and brighter start to your day.

Set a timer if you need to before you begin this practice.

1. Read a paragraph of something uplifting to enlighten your mind, body, and spirit. This can also help with focusing your mind and setting the tone for your practice and day ahead.
2. Sit on the floor cross-legged or in a chair and take some deep breaths, initially inhaling deeply through the nose and exhaling through the mouth. Aromatherapy can also be used, and one of my favorites is the Aura Cacia Tea Tree Essential Oil. This is a great awakening and refreshing scent to set up your meditation practice. You can start by breathing in and inhaling an uplifting scent, then continue to breathe deeply, but start the inhalation and exhalation through the nose.
3. Begin to turn your awareness within, focusing your mind perhaps on what you have just read but then gradually towards inner silence. Drown out all of the other distractions of your mind so you are able to hear the valuable messages your inner self has to share with you. Continue this practice of linking your body and mind together through your breath for as long as you wish.

If you can dedicate yourself to following these three simple steps and sit in silence for 5 – 10 minutes a day you will not be disappointed. I can guarantee that you will start to feel a lighter and brighter you. Reap the benefits of ancient wisdom to transform your life today. Unlock your inner wisdom to discover your true purpose. You will be surprised what comes to you from these moments of stillness and silence! You can visit www.shantiwithin.com/shop for my free, five-minute mindfulness meditation and details of my meditation and coaching program. You can also find more in my new book, Meditation with Intention.

Our thanks to Anusha for her guest post! For more from Anusha Wijeyakumar, MD, read her article, “Finding Balance: 9 Steps to Creating Resilience.”