Mindful Meditation: Not Just for Buddhists

Though mindful meditation is part of Buddhism, you don’t have to be Buddhist to practice it. Millions of people throughout the world practice mindful meditation for its mental and physical health benefits. People of any religion can practice mindful meditation.

Mindful meditation helps people have more balanced emotions, feel less stressed, and generally be more relaxed. Some people find that mindful meditation helps alleviate depression and anxiety.

How to Practice Mindful Meditation

Mindful meditation typically takes place in a quiet room, but you can meditate in any relaxing place. You can meditate outside as long as you feel comfortable.

People typically sit while practicing mindful meditation, but you can also stand, lay down, or walk during your mindful meditation. If you lay down during your mindful meditation, take care that you do not fall asleep!

Begin by becoming conscious of your breathing. Breathe through your nose if you can. Feel the air enter your nostrils and fill your lungs. You should expand your stomach as you inhale, rather than raise your shoulders.

Notice how long it takes you to inhale and exhale during your mindful meditation. As you become more relaxed, slow your breathing. Make each breath last longer than the one you took before it. Allow your mind to slow and quiet as you focus on your breath.

When your breath is slow and even and you are relaxed, listen to the sounds around you. Focus on the outside world, not on your own body or mind during mindful meditation. Feel everything around you – every piece of the carpet, every molecule in the air. Imagine yourself leaving your body and becoming one with your surroundings in your mindful meditation.

Benefits of Mindful Meditation

Mindful meditation brings many benefits to people who practice it regularly. These benefits can include:

Lowered risk of cardiovascular disease

• Slower mental aging
• Decreasing road rage
• Developing wisdom
• Increased compassion

Though you will experience more benefits from your mindful meditation over time, you will feel more relaxed after your first session.

You can begin practicing mindful meditation with one 15-minute session each day. Many people practice mindful meditation in the morning, before their day begins, or before bedtime, after their day is over. Mindful meditation will improve your life, no matter how often you practice it.