LA Yoga Magazine – Ayurveda & Health

Posted: 01 May 2020 11:29 AM PDT

Ben Decker Shows how to prepare for Meditation

We Can Prepare for Meditation to Support our Practice

In today's world, amidst the hustle and bustle of everyday pressures and the nonstop digital universe, the idea of a regular meditation practice can seem daunting or even impossible. Let this be easy. Be gentle with yourself. Allow this to be part of how you prepare for meditation.

Set yourself up for success by preparing a sacred space to set the tone for your practice, and it's helpful to establish some level of consistency. For some, that means taking time during their commute to meditate and journal. For others, that means sitting on the back porch early in the morning or meditating for a few minutes on the couch. Still others will have a sacred corner with an altar, a few candles, an image of Christ and a place to store your journal. Find a comfortable place, where you have enough privacy to go inward and are unlikely to be interrupted.

While a dedicated place to hold your practice can be very helpful, it is actually not necessary. As children of God, we are walking portals to the Divine, and the Kingdom of Heaven is within. Through us, the Spirit moved through the Earth, and an important part of the journey of individual spiritual development is learning to create a sacred path with our faith and reverence.

People all over the world choose to meditate in many ways, following a wide variety of recommendations. You may choose to sit cross-legged for your meditation or recline in your favorite chair. Some meditations ask you to hold your hands against your heart. Others will suggest holding your hands open in your lap or opening your eyes.

Ben Decker in Meditation

Relax and Focus on the Meditation

The most important thing is to be comfortable, awake, and relaxed. If that means meditating cross-legged on a cushion with your hands in a yogic mudra, or posture, so be it, but it's not at all necessary. Regardless of your exact, posture, the goal is to be focused on the meditation itself.

The brief time for your practice should be dedicated solely to your meditation. It is not the time to solve all of your problems. The miracle of the meditation often happens afterward, out in the world, while living our lives.