In today’s increasingly busy and often stressful world, many people turn to meditation to achieve a sense of calmness and balance in their lives. Because the benefits of meditation have become so well-known, there are countless sources which offer meditation tips and tools for improving one’s quality of life. Whether it’s a website, book, DVD, or personal instructor offering these tips, they can sometimes vary in their quality and effectiveness depending on a few important factors. Choosing the best meditation tips involves evaluating their source, constructiveness, and their ability to fit into your lifestyle.
When taking meditation tips from an organization or center, it’s important to verify the legitimacy of the organization if it’s not within your immediate area. Any individual can start up a company that sells products or services, but upon investigation, you might find that the “center for wellness and eastern medicine” you’ve ordered meditation tapes from is actually a post office box. To avoid this type of scenario, steer clear of classified ads in print publications or online that offer promises of instant results, and give little or no information on the authority of the source. Meditation strategies that at least come from a professional with accreditation or credentials are the ones most likely to have the most positive impact.
The best way to single out constructive meditation tips is to look for tips which offer explicit techniques rather than vague, non-specific instructions. For example, instructions such as “relax” and “clear your thoughts” don’t give any constructive tools for how to achieve the state of relaxation and a clear mind. However, when meditation tips come with specific strategies, such as constricting and relaxing the muscles from head to toe, or visualizing a certain image to clear one’s thoughts, they are much more effective.
Meditation tips that can be practically incorporated into your lifestyle are best for maintaining the positive effects of meditation. For example, meditation strategies that require complex stretching may not be feasible for someone with limited mobility, or a meditation regime that calls for complete silence might not be practical for someone who lives in a New York City apartment. If you can’t find a meditation class in your area that fit your schedule and lifestyle, you may want to consider a meditation retreat to fully immerse yourself in an environment conducive to meditation training.