So You Think You Want to Meditate

You’ve heard a lot about meditation already.

Your meditation-savvy friends love to tell you all about how great it makes them feel, and you’ve noticed they seem to be smiling more often. You’ve read your fair share of magazine articles linking meditation with reduced stress and anxiety, as well as boasting research results for a myriad of health problems and ailments, from heart disease to diabetes, mental illnesses and even cancer. It all sounds great, and honestly, what do you have to lose? In short, you’re ready to finally give meditation a shot.

So…how do you get started?

Step One: You Might Want to Sit Down for This

For many beginners, meditation without guidance or a specifically designed meditation technique for beginners can prove frustrating. You might be able to sit peacefully for a few minutes, but slowly your body becomes uncomfortable, your mind begins to wander and wonder, “How should I be breathing?” and “How long should I just sit here?” and of course, “Am I even doing this right?” If you seek advice, chances are you’ll get a different answer from everyone you consult.

Whatever may be the obstacle between you and meditation, there’s no need to struggle against your body and brain, especially when you have access to a simple, authentic and proven-effective method that actually puts your body and mind to work in helping you to relax effortlessly into a meditative state.

Meditation for Beginners

Isha Kriya is a simple meditation technique for beginners and “veteran” meditators alike. “Kriya” means an internal energy process, and the Isha Kriya practice uses the thought process, breath and your body’s energy to enable meditation to happen effortlessly.

The practice takes only 30 minutes to learn the first time; after that, you can practice it for just 12-15 minutes a day. The learning process is guided step-by-step, and you can continue to practice with guidance every day, or on your own wherever and whenever you like.

The purpose of Isha Kriya is to help you get in touch with the source of your existence and create life according to your own wish and vision. Daily practice of Isha Kriya brings health, dynamism, peace and wellbeing. It is a powerful tool to cope with the hectic pace of modern life.

Isha Kriya is completely free, simple, and easy to practice at your home, work, or wherever you choose. It has the potential to transform the life of anyone who is willing to invest just a few minutes a day.

A Tip for Meditation Beginners: Remember, there’s no such thing as “doing meditation”. These meditation basics for beginners simply provide a method of using your body, mind, breath and energy so that the state of meditation will happen naturally. Sadhguru, creator of Isha Kriya, explains:

Sadhguru: The moment we utter the word “meditation,” there are all kinds of misconceptions about it. First of all, the English word “meditation” doesn’t mean anything in the sense, if you close your eyes and sit, in English we call it “meditation.” You can sit with your eyes closed and do many things. There are many dimensions. You can do japa, tapa, dharana, dhyana, samadhi, shoonya [different meditative practices and states of experience]. Or you might have just mastered the art of sleeping in vertical postures!

So what is this thing that we call as meditation? Generally we assume that people are referring to what is known as dhyan or dhyana. In that context of referring to dhyan as meditation, it is not something that you can do. Nobody can do meditation. The reason why most people who have tried meditation have come to the conclusion that it’s very difficult or impossible is because they are trying to do it.

You cannot do meditation but you can become meditative. Meditation is a certain quality. It is not a certain act. If you cultivate your body, your mind, your energies and your emotions to a certain level of maturity, meditation will naturally happen. It is just like if you keep the soil fertile, if you give it the necessary manure and water and if the right kind of seed is there, it will grow and bloom into flowers and fruits.

Flowers and fruits will come out of a plant not because you want it, but simply because you created the necessary, conducive atmosphere. Similarly, if you create the necessary atmosphere within yourself, on all the four dimensions of who you are, then meditation will naturally flower within you. It is a certain fragrance that one can enjoy within himself.”

“I just practiced the Isha Kriya meditation and was surprised how powerful this meditation with Sadhguru is – even through an online video! I certainly felt a sense of inner peace, balance and a separation from attachment.” – Olga Avila, Holland