BREATHING MEDITATION
Most meditations utilize breathing in some way. As we begin to meditate our mind has a hard time to settle and often makes it hard to focus. So every meditation technique provides different way for us to give mind something to do. In this technique, we use breathing. Following the breath is easy as its something we naturally do all the time.
One breath technique for breathing meditation:
- Sit in a relaxed posture
- Close your eyes
- Bring awareness to your breath
The idea is not to control your breath but to watch it. If you can sense that you are not breathing to your stomach then with intention
Guide your breath: by taking a long deep breath all the way to stomach and then without a pause guide it completely coming out.
Again without a pause guide it back breathing in.
After few efforts, simply just watch your body breathing one breath (full breathing to stomach and out without a pause)
If thoughts come, which they will – simply come back to observing breathing.
The goal of meditation is not to stop the thoughts or mind, but simply observe it along with breath.
Do this for 5-10 minutes if you are just starting out. Longer recommendation is 20 minutes.