Meditation FAQs

Soul Essence runs meditation groups in New Eltham, I will run meditation in peoples homes or for groups in halls. Contact me if you are interested

Q How do you find time to meditate?

A Start with five minutes in the morning or evening and gradually build up to ten minutes then increase by five minutes every week until you can do twenty minutes regularly. Try and focus on a candle, your breathing or work from your feet to your head visualising each part of your body relaxing, these are good routines to start off your meditating. Ideally, try and meditate at the same time each day. If you cannot fit in five minutes specifically for meditating every day, try concentrating on your breathing in the shower, or sitting on the bus or train to work.

Q How do you relax enough to meditate?

The more you fight with yourself about being unable to relax the harder it becomes. Accept that, thoughts and jobs you need to do will come into your mind when you first start to meditate. Just acknowledge them and bring your attention back to your breathing, the voice or whatever you are focusing on. The more you accept that thoughts will enter your mind the easier you will find you can relax enough to meditate.

Q I have tried meditation and I couldn’t get on with it, what should I do?

There are many types of meditation, you can meditate just sitting on the floor or chair focussing on a voice, breathing or music. You can do yoga exercises, go for a walk in nature, or sit in a park and listen to all the noises you can hear. There are the guided / visualisation meditations, sound meditations like a gong bath, for the more serious transcendental or chanting meditation. I would suggest trying a different form of meditation before deciding it is not for you

Q How long do you need to meditate for to see benefits?

Any regular amount of meditation will give you results. It is the regular consistent practice that gives you the benefits not the length of time of one session. If you are a beginner trying to do 20 minutes morning and night will more than likely be a challenge and you will give up.

I always say start with an easy amount of time for you; this may be just one minute to start with morning and night. Depends on how hectic your life is. I would suggest 5 minutes morning and evening is a time most people can fit into their busy schedule. Then as it becomes easier slowly increase to 10 minutes, and increase as you begin to feel more comfortable with meditation.

Q How often?

Daily, morning and evening are best, but if you have to miss a day or the morning session because you have to get to work earlier one day, it will not undo any benefits you have already gained. You may notice you are not as focused that day. The more you meditate regularly the easier it becomes.

Q What counts as meditation?

Meditation is a time when you sit and focus on something to clear your mind. This could be your breath, the light of a candle, relaxing music, and painting or drawing, it can even be a walk in nature. You can be mindful which is also meditating, making a cup of tea, instead of making it in autopilot, really focus on filling the kettle with water, listen to the water, when you pour the water into the cup or teapot, notice the steam, smell of the tea etc. This is taking your mind off everyday activities and helping you relax.