Think you're not cut out for this whole meditation thang - cause you're not flexible, don't have time, can't sit still?
Don't let these meditation myths stop you from kickstarting your healthiest new habit:
Myth #1 - You have to be able to bend like a pretzel. Why is it that every meditation photo shows someone sitting in lotus pose, legs bent at odd angles with their spines perfectly straight, looking chill as a cucumber? Enter reality. Most bodies can't sit in lotus pose. Nor do they need to. Sit in a chair, lie down on your back or prop up on a pillow. It doesn't matter. What does matter is that you are comfortable and that you have space in your body to breathe.
Myth #2 - Only Zen people meditate. Serenity now? Not quite! Most of us don't start out serene, we meditate because we need to calm down, because we're stressed out, because we need a self-imposed time-out. Meditation is for every mood.
Myth #3 - Meditation = doing nothing. Think meditation and zoning out are the same thing? Not quite, it's kinda the opposite. Meditation isn't letting your mind escape, it's about keeping your mind super-focused.
Myth #4 - It takes a lot of time. Sure, those Zen masters meditate for years on end, but most of us don't have that kind of time. Luckily, we don't need extra hours in the day, it can be as simple as getting up 10 minutes earlier or spending an extra 5 minutes in the studio after a yoga class.
Myth # 5 - You need a quiet, serene setting to meditate. Incense wafting, water gently babbling in the background, the rising sun warming your face. Sure, that'd be nice, but what if reality is you smushed into the corner of the room, kids yelling in the background with the cat crawling all over you? The setting doesn't have to be perfect, because neither are we! The important thing is that we push the laundry aside, take a seat, breathe and repeat.
So go on, no more excuses, give it a chance. You've got better health, lower stress, more energy and increased levels of happiness to look forward to. And those are facts.
Have you joined the FREE 30-Day Meditation Challenge yet? Sign up now to secure your spot, starting this February. This year we're also giving you the chance to upgrade to the Premium Experience. Learn more here.
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