People often ask how long they should meditate. In fact, the question that I have been asked most often by many of my corporate mindfulness clients at Mind Body Energy is, “What is the least amount I can meditate, and have it make a difference and start feeling better?” and I am always amused by that question.
It took me a while to learn how to answer that, but I now answer by saying, we are all vastly different however, I suggest that you start with one aware breath each day. Start with something that you can do and enjoy, whether it is one breath, or a minute, or three minutes. The most important thing is that you enjoy it and feel better afterwards. Some scientists have said that if we meditate for at least ten minutes per day, then we can begin to create new neural pathways in the brain and establish new habits. This is appealing to many people.
I must say that if you are a beginner, it is a great idea to start learning with an experienced Mindfulness Meditation teacher to set you on the right path. There are many wonderful apps and FREE meditations out there. I believe that by learning the various techniques from an experienced teacher, you will have a better chance of success and enjoying it. You can access my FREE mindfulness recordings here.
I have made a commitment in my own life to sit for ten minutes every day, even on days when things appear to be out of control. I can always find ten minutes to just sit. I like to sit twenty, or thirty minutes each day. I also love to do a half-day, or full-day mindfulness retreats. I find it important once a year to do a longer sitting—three days, or five days, or seven days, whatever works. For me it feels like I am getting the opportunity to clean out all the junk out of my head and I always return home feeling much better. My advice is to explore what resonates for you and go from there. For more information on learning Mindfulness Meditation visit: www.mindbodyenergy.com.au