Meditating On A Regular Basis

By Ted Hanulak

Meditation. Everyone knows that it is good for you. Lowers blood pressure, fights stress, helps one to be centered and more peaceful. There are 1000's of books out there on meditation. Books on how to meditate, the benefits of meditating, martial arts and meditation, Zen, etc.... Books are how many of us first learned of "sitting" in the first place. You can only read so much. Eventually you have to do it, and you have to do it on a regular basis.

Here are a few ideas that can help you keep that commitment to "sit" everyday. The first and perhaps most important tool is a good "zafu". The zafu is a round meditation cushion, usually filled with kapok or buckwheat hull. Kapok provides a firm zafu and buckwheat hull provides a softer zafu. It is a personal choice. Choose whichever helps you sit longer. A soft zafu may feel good at first but it may cause problems as your mediation period continues.

Another important tool is the actual place you sit. Take a small area in your house and make it your "meditation place". This will remind you to meditate every time you walk by the area. If you sit with a group a couple of times a week, burn the same incense and play the same music that the group uses. This will create the illusion that you are with the group.

Try and sit the same time every day. This way you won't forget to sit. Early morning or late at night is best because it is usually more quite at those times. Less distractions. Sit for shorter periods at first, 10 minutes or so. Quality is more important than quantity. Also, if you know your facing 45 minutes of meditation, you probably won't do it.

You must make meditation as natural as eating and going to the bathroom. You do those things everyday, now it is time to also meditate everyday.

Ted Hanulak is the head instructor / Sensei of the Japanese martial art of Senso-Ryu Aikijutsu. He teaches Aikijutsu and Zen meditation out of the Aikijutsu Academy of Indianapolis http://www.aiki-jutsu.com

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