My First Meditation

[MoonWolfSorceress]

Well actually, my second. My first was last night. ;) I'm using a method I got from the book Meditation For Dummies. I count my breaths; the inhale is one, the exhale is two, etc. up to ten, and then start over. They tell you to start over at one if you lose count. I did that for five minutes last night. I never did lose count, so I restarted my stopwatch and did another five, with the same result. This afternoon, I set the watch for a full ten minutes; I managed to focus and just count my breaths for the whole time without losing count. So I guess my mental concentration is better than I thought it was. Sometimes being wrong is a good thing, huh?:bigredgri My problem seems to be sitting still, though I suspect that's because I wasn't really sitting properly (it's hard to sit up straight after years of slouching back or leaning forward). Any tips?

[SilverClaw]

Congrats on your first meditation :D


My problem seems to be sitting still, though I suspect that's because I wasn't really sitting properly (it's hard to sit up straight after years of slouching back or leaning forward). Any tips? As for sitting up straight due to my back injuries and slouching I sit sometimes against something like a wall or if I am in my living room lightly against my chair or couch as I sit cross legged..
It is awkward at times but with practice you will eventually sit straight your self with out any issue. I do not have much issue now sitting up straight and in fact I notice I breath deeper as a result to.

[MoonWolfSorceress]

Since I started really paying to my breath, I've noticed they tend to be very shallow normally. Wonder what that's about?

[Nitefalle]

Putting something under your bum like a pillow (or two) can help a lot with posture while meditating. Your legs are then at a downward angle and you don't have to concentrate as hard to sit up straight (it's a balance thing, I think). Also, try clenching your stomach muscles while meditating. Not only will this support your back and posture, but it will force the air completely into your lungs, rather than breathing into your stomach.

[Astara Seague]

good suggestions
also if sitting is too hard..lying down is alright too
actually that is how I first started meditating because my bedroom in bed at night just before I went to sleep was the only time I was undisturbed while I was raising my kids:uhhuhuh:

[Kailen]

I also learnt to meditate lying down. Position doesn't matter for meditation, comfort and ability to focus/unfocus does.

Also, with the breathing...breathing into your stomach isn't a bad thing. Yoga teaches you to breathe into your stomach and then your lungs, so that you're using your full lung capacity. When breathing into your stomach you're actually using the lower portion of your lungs, when into your chest you're using the upper portion. To breathe into both uses the full lung capacity, increasing the oxygen level in the blood which I find makes it easier to meditate.

[daphnerose]

Since I started really paying to my breath, I've noticed they tend to be very shallow normally. Wonder what that's about?

For me I start out with deep breathing, to getinto relaxation mode, and when my breathe comes shallow and less frequent I am usually in deep meditation mode. Thats what happens with me anyway, not sure about others.
daphnerose

[Pagan Warrior]

Congrats on your first meditation :D

As for sitting up straight due to my back injuries and slouching I sit sometimes against something like a wall or if I am in my living room lightly against my chair or couch as I sit cross legged..
It is awkward at times but with practice you will eventually sit straight your self with out any issue. I do not have much issue now sitting up straight and in fact I notice I breath deeper as a result to.

This is actually a very good suggestion, and generally I'll put my back against the wall when I meditate.


Since I started really paying to my breath, I've noticed they tend to be very shallow normally. Wonder what that's about?

I'd like to offer a slight modification to the technique you are using. The counting does help force you to focus on one thing but instead of counting each breath give yourself a moderatl 4-count in three steps. Count to 4 when you breath in, hold the breath for a 4 count, and count to 4 when you exhale. I've had better results from this method than counting each breath individually.