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Originally Posted by ThaVirus
I've wanted to meditate for some time now (as well as stretch more) but just never get around to it and honestly don't know how. Do you "clear your mind", focus on something in particular, find a happy place, chant a mantra?
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Great question! It's really not that complicated. I highly recommend grabbing the Headspace app for your phone. They have a 10 for 10 introduction series that's free. 10 days for 10 minutes a day with instructional videos and explanations as well as guided meditations.
Don't be scared away thinking that you're going to end up spending money or anything, as there are tons of free apps and such out there as well (Calm is another one. I use Insight Timer now). The Headspace app is just a great starting point, as their 10 for 10 is intended as an introduction and instruction for total newbies.
The type of meditation I do is called mindfulness meditation (or vipassana if you want to get complicated and "eastern.). It's basically just focusing on your breath for a set amount of time and then returning your focus to your breath as your mind wanders off of it (which happens constantly). The Headspace app has some great little animations and such that show how this very simple act (focusing on your breathing) has huge implications for your ability to create "headspace" and distance between stimulus/thought and (re)action as well as to see beyond temporary emotions, stresses and such.