five common misconceptions about meditation
written by certified meditation teacher jenna
It’s no secret that meditation has become wildly popular. It’s been getting more and more coverage and has definitely moved from hippie to mainstream. It is the fastest growing health trend and wellness activity.
I’m an elementary school teacher and I know firsthand that it’s been increasingly offered in schools and businesses as well.
Despite its growing popularity, many people still seem to have preconceived notions about what meditation is. Unfortunately, this often creates a barrier that prevents people from trying it.
I know personally I resisted for quite some time because of my own misunderstanding and lack of knowledge. So let’s dispel some of these misconceptions!
myth #1 - there is only one type of meditation
Truth: there are hundreds of ways to meditate. There is no “one size fits all” when it comes to meditation. There are numerous meditation techniques from different traditions, cultures, religions etc. There’s no universally accepted “perfect” way to meditate, as we are all different!
Some of the more well known and popular ways to meditate are:
body scan meditation
visualization meditation
chakra – energy body meditation
breath awareness meditation
sound healing meditation
It really all comes down to our individual preference that helps us choose the ones that work best for us. Do yourself a favour and really make an effort to explore all the different types of meditations until you find one, or many, that work for you!
myth #2 - you have to completely empty the mind in order to have a successful meditation practice
Truth: this is the myth I hear the most and seems to be the cause of people giving up or thinking they’re not meditating properly. It’s important to understand the true purpose of meditation.
Too many people shy away from meditating because they think that the goal of meditation is to empty the mind completely and that you’ve failed if your mind wanders at all. It’s the nature of the mind to wander and if you think that you need to stop all thoughts in order to successfully meditate, then you are asking your mind to do the impossible!
Meditation isn’t about suppressing your thoughts and emotions or completely clearing your mind. Meditation allows you to become the observer of your thoughts and detach from the idea that you are your thoughts.
Thoughts are always going to arise, but when we become the observer of our thoughts, we learn to let pass, we don’t become them. Meditation is all about that golden moment.
The moment where you refocus your attention and bring your awareness back to your breath, a mantra and/or a phrase. Do this over and over.
With practice and consistency, the mind does calm, you become less and less attached to your thoughts and eventually the space between them becomes longer.
Becoming less identified with your thoughts allows you to experience more peace, inner quiet and the bliss of pure consciousness.
myth #3 - meditation takes too much time
Truth: meditation does not require a large chunk of time. Like anything else in life, if you make meditation a priority, you will do it. Even just a few minutes of meditation is better than none!
Since we’re all so different, there isn’t a right amount of time to meditate. Think of meditating as going to a mind gym and make it part of your daily routine. This is the key to success. If you are just starting out, I’d recommend you meditate for 5 minutes every day. You can even start with just one minute! When you can sit still and relax for that long, move to 2 minutes. You can gradually increase your time as you get more comfortable.
The most important thing is to just start and be consistent. Pick the amount of time that works for you and do it every day. You won’t regret it, I promise!
myth #4 - meditation is only for “spiritual” people
Truth: Meditation is not necessarily spiritual or religious. Anyone can meditate. Whether you are Christian, Muslim, Buddhist, atheist, etc., meditation goes beyond religion and spirituality. It is a powerful tool for anyone with a human mind and body, no matter who you are and what your views are!
myth #5 - meditation is only for stressed out people
Truth: meditation can be practiced by anyone! That’s like saying exercising is only good for people who are overweight. While meditation can certainly reduce stress, there are so many other benefits of the practice. Thousands of studies that have shown that meditation can have a positive impact on mental and physical health. It is so much more than just stress reduction.
Your meditation practice will definitely be more beneficial for you when you find a meditation style that you like, so I highly recommend you do your research and work out which practice will work best for you!
final thoughts
So there you have it! Meditation isn’t going to solve all of life’s problems, but there is no denying the benefits it has on the body, mind and spirit. So start slow, be consistent and know that there are only 2 mistakes in meditation: not starting and giving up!
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about the author
Hi friends! My name is Jenna and I’m from Toronto Ontario. I am a mom to a beautiful baby girl, an elementary school teacher and a certified meditation teacher! I discovered meditation about five years ago when I embarked on my own spiritual journey.
It quickly became a daily practice for me and after experiencing first hand what a profound impact it had on my own day to day quality of life, I felt called to obtain my teacher certification so that I could help others to discover, benefit from and ultimately love the magic of regular meditation practice as well!
In my effort to reach as many people as possible, I am growing an inclusive, interactive and uplifting online community via my IG page @the.found.wanderer. I invite you to join me there!
I am always open to new opportunities to work with individuals and groups alike, whether through one on one sessions, in-studio offerings, group retreats, corporate sessions etc. I look forward to connecting with you! Namaste.
