If you’re new to exploring meditation, guided meditation is an excellent way to start. Practicing guided meditation can help you stay focused on what the guide is instructing you to do, making your mind less likely to wander.
Guided Meditation is an excellent tool that can help you relax, connect with ourself, and explore your mind. I have been using guided meditation for a few years, and it has been an excellent tool for me, especially at bedtime. It helps me to clear and calm my busy mind. This makes it easy for me to drift off to sleep quickly.
What is Guided Meditation?
Guided meditation may sound like a complicated process but it is simply the act of
meditating while using a guide to help direct your meditation. Many guided meditation apps for your mobile device can provide these services. Still, you may benefit from attending an in-person guided meditation class, or private session with an instructor who can help answer your questions.
What are the Most Common Misconceptions About Guided Meditations
There are many misconceptions about guided meditation, and I’m here to clarify some of them. Below are the 5 most common misconceptions:
1. Guided Meditation Is Part Of Religion
This is completely false, although meditation is associated with some religions, it is
not a religious practice and anyone can engage in it, whether or not you are
religious.
2. It Takes Years To Master Meditation
Although the quality and length of your periods of meditation may change over
time, anyone can master meditation and it doesn’t take years. This is because
meditation is the simple act of clearing your mind, and anyone can do it.
3. Some People Can’t Meditate
Some people will claim their mind is simply too busy to meditate. And this isn’t
true at all, once again, anyone can meditate, it is a choice, and you just need to put
your mind to it to make it happen.
4. To Meditate You Have To Sit In A Yoga Position
You’ve seen it in all the movies, the flexible individual sitting in an
uncomfortable yoga pose and meditating. This is completely false. For guided
meditation, you should be comfortable; if a yoga position is comfortable for
you, this is fine. But if you aren’t very flexible, that is fine as well! Meditate, however, you feel comfortable, even if it means you do so lying down.
5. If Your Mind Wanders During Meditation This Is Bad
Some people think that if your mind starts to wander during guided meditation
you aren’t doing it right or aren’t getting the full benefits. This simply isn’t
true. Guided meditation is about self-discovery and spending time with yourself.
Why is Using Guided Meditation Important
You may wonder why you would ever need a guided meditation, especially if your life is going great. Well, when tough times hit, they are often unexpected, which can be what makes them so difficult.
This is why you need tools to help you navigate these tough times before they
happen. Guided meditation is a great tool because it’s something you can use all the time,
not just during a crisis. And besides helping you remain peaceful and calm during
the crisis, it can help you further develop yourself, and prepare yourself for future
problems.
According to Psychology Today, when you don’t learn to face your stresses head-on, they will only grow to be more of a problem later on. And using a tool like
guided meditation is a great way to confront your stress daily and face it
head on without simply pushing the cause of your issue aside.
How to get Started with a Guided Meditation
If you’re ready to give guided meditation a shot then you may be wondering just
what the process will look like. If you want to start your practice from home, below is a simple guide.
Download an App or Listen to a Recording
With so many different meditation apps available it can be hard to decide which one is right for you. My favorite go-to meditation app is Unplugg. This app comes with a variety of guided meditations from times starting at 5 minutes and longer. If you enjoy using fitness apps, you might be able to find guided meditation along with your favorite workout.
Two of my favorite fitness apps I enjoy turning to for guided meditations are Fiton and BODI (Beachbody on Demand). Both apps are constantly updating and adding different guided meditations you can try to include sound healing meditations. If the meditations from these apps don’t resonate, there are other apps you can try such as Headspace, Calm, and even YouTube.
Find a Quiet Location
With guided meditation, it is important that you can hear and focus on the
instructions you are given. This can be difficult if you are somewhere which is
especially noisy. If there is no way for you to ignore the noise, consider using
headphones while engaging in guided meditation.
Get Comfortable
Sitting in a crossed-legged position may not be comfortable for everyone. If you’re starting, it’s ok to start a guided meditation by sitting in a chair. Some guided meditations may even instruct you to lie down, it all depends on what intention you are trying to achieve. For best results, ensure you are dressed for comfort, it can be hard to sit comfortably if you are wearing clothes that feel tight or restricted.
Start Your Guide
This is the easy part. You press play and off you go! This is the awesome part of
guided meditation, because besides finding a comfy and quiet place, everything is
done for you so there is no need to think about it!
If You’re Using Recorded Guided Meditation
Similar to the above, in this case, it is a recorded guided meditation that takes you
through a meditation. This is a simple and convenient way to meditate on all types
of topics.
If You’re Taking A Class Or Hiring A Guide, Find a Guide and Class That is Right For You
Similar to downloading a guided meditation app, you may find that the first-class
you find in your city isn’t the best-guided meditation class for you.
Or you may find it hard to meditate with other people in the room and you should
consider trying a private session to see if you like this better. And don’t be afraid to
shop around a little, as not all meditation guides are the same.
Your Guide Will Ask You To Get Comfortable
If you are taking a class, you must wear comfortable clothes to your
class. You may also be asked to bring a yoga mat to lie down on, or your classroom
may be outfitted with specific comfortable spots to sit.
When you are asked to get comfortable, like previously mentioned, this is
something that will be personal for you. Whatever position you choose, make
sure it is comfortable for you.
The Guide Will Start
You don’t even have to press play! Once everyone is comfortable your guide will
start the meditation session and you won’t have to lift a finger while he or she
guides you to relaxation.
One nice thing about having a human guide rather than an app is that it is much
easier for a guide to tailor a session to you, especially if you find you enjoy private
guided meditation sessions.
Frequently Asked Questions
The last thing you need to know about Guided Meditations
Guided meditation isn’t difficult, and once you get the hang of it, it can have a
number of profound changes in your life, from helping with mental health
problems to even fixing physical health problems. The mind is a powerful tool, and
meditating helps teach you how to use it to empower your life properly.
Don’t forget that guided meditation looks different for everyone, and what works
for someone else, may not work for you. So, don’t be scared to try to do
something a little different which is more comfortable for you. And soon enough, a
guided meditation session will seem like second nature to you.
