When beginning with meditation it is important to find a teacher, a friend or some sort of support group, it is essential to keep you motivated and take you from the first step of reading and researching to the next step of starting to practice. Having a teacher or a back-up support team will help with any questions that may arise as you begin this journey to inner peace. You will not notice any changes in the beginning of your practice so it is very important to have that support to keep you motivated. With out the support of a friend or some sort of support group it is difficult to know if you are doing the sitting position and posture correctly. Not only is the support necessary but also you need to allow your mind to be open to the experience because meditation is an internal process and you will only slow the benefits if you are not open to the change.

Meditation is something that should be practiced on a regular basis in order for it to be productive and to get the full benefits. Make a personal commitment to yourself to try it at least once a week at first, until you get a better idea of the proper posture and positions. Once you get a better grasp at it try it every other day then slowly move onto everyday. Whichever schedule you decide, make sure it is one you can realistically keep.

Another important factor in getting the full benefits from meditation is selecting the right time and place; by sticking to the same setting and schedule it will become habit. When choosing the best time and place to meditate choose a secluded private area. Choosing a quiet and private setting is important to reap all the benefits from the meditation but also others that are not part of your meditation group may not understand what you are doing and may think it looks funny. An ideal place for meditation would be a room that only you use, if this is not possible try creating you own retreat in a corner of a room, separate it with the use of a room divider such as a screen, even large house plants work great and they add more to the feel of your environment.

Choosing what time of day to meditate is just as important, maybe your home is quietest in the morning then later in the evening. This would work best because you can start your day off with a clean slate. This will allow your mind and body a sort of head start on relaxing and clearing your thoughts. However if you home is noisy and you are not an early bird, meditating at night just before you go to bed would be just as beneficial. It gives you a chance to reflect on the day and release any tension that has built up, and let go of anything that may have disturbed you during the day. Doing meditation at night will allow your body and mind to let go of the days activities and allow for a better nights sleep.

For beginners it is best to take the “little and often” approach, meditate for little amounts of time and do it often. Ten to fifteen minutes is a good starting point for beginners however, if you feel this is too long, try five to ten minutes. Think of meditation like starting a new exercise program, you want to start out slowly and be sure to use the correct posture. If you go into it to fast, you will not be able to gain any of the benefits.