Sometimes we forget that training our mind is just as important as training our bodies. Meditation is a great home workout which can significantly benefit our mental health. In these uncertain and challenging times it is a perfect time for all of Mudder Nation to take a moment, switch off, and bring some mindfulness into their lives. Meditation can feel quite strange to begin with, but this meditation for beginners guide will help you get started.
Basic Meditation
If you’ve never done it before meditation can be intimidating. It’s very difficult to sit in silence just with your own thoughts and feelings so don’t be put off if its tough to begin with.
- Find a quiet comfortable place, where you can sit in a relaxed position. This can either be cross legged or on a chair with your feet flat on the floor. It also can be helpful to wear loose fitting clothing.
- Set a timer for how long you want to meditate for. This stops you from losing track of time but also means there is no excuse for stopping early.
- Breathing is very important, it is one of the most overlooked but effective stress management tools and is integral to meaningful meditation. Allow your breath to flow naturally throughout meditation, paying attention to the way your body changes as air enters and exits.
- See how long you can go before your mind wanders off – is it before the timer goes off? Once it wanders, bring it back by focusing on your breathing again.
- When you are ready, gently open your eyes, take in your environment and carry on with you day.
There are lots of beginner meditation exercises you can do, this has just touched the surface. Here are some tips and tricks that we recommend to help assist with your introduction to meditation and improving your mental health .
- There is no such thing as good or bad meditation, sometimes you will find that it is really hard to switch your mind off and you will become distracted. This is when you bring you mind back to focus which is usually on your breathing.
- A good time to meditate is before having a meal. Sometimes eating can leave us full and drowsy where you might nod off during your practise. In saying this make you are not starving prior to meditating as that will be all your mind can focus on.
- Using guided meditation is sometimes really helpful. There are many audio resources out there that will help you through your meditation, highlighting breathing, where your mind might wandering, and bringing you back to a peaceful, centred place.
- After meditating check in with yourself – how are you feeling? Do you feel peaceful? Focused? Calmer? Sometimes it is helpful to write these feelings down.
Meditation can help you feel calm and rested – calm enough to run through Electroshock Therapy or slide into Arctic Enema. If you haven’t booked into your next Tough Mudder, the time is now. Head to our events page to check out where your next event is.
