I really wanted to learn to meditate some years ago.

I bought a book and followed the guidelines thoroughly. 

I designated a corner in my bedroom, pointed my yoga mat in the right direction, got a cushion, dressed comfortably.

I lit a candle and incense and sat down in a (not)comfortable crossed-legged position and began. 

However, I could barely make myself sit still for a minute.

The book said you couldn’t learn to meditate, “It’s like falling asleep, it just comes.” 

I was definitely suffering from meditative insomnia. 

I decided to seek professional help. 

My plan was to spend a month in a monastery in the Himalayas, master meditation, and I secretly hoped to come out enlightened with the answers to all my questions.

I learned that March wasn’t the best time to reach remote ashrams in the Himalayas, and the only place that fit my timeline I had a good feeling about was an ashram in Southern India.

They didn’t offer meditation, however, I could join a yoga teacher’s course to learn that too.

I went to my first meditation practice excited and nervous, “If I reach enlightenment tonight, life will never be the same again.”

I felt a bit sad my non-enlightened self wouldn’t exist anymore.

I sat down, patiently waiting… nothing!

What I got were thoughts attacking me like vicious wasps, pain in the back, and even worse pain in the knees that lasted for the whole duration of the course. 

I was disappointed.

But also determined. 

It took me a while to get there, especially, to stop over-complicating it and trying several techniques to find the ones I liked.

Now I love meditating because it’s like a reset button for my brain. 

It stops the momentum of thoughts, helps quiet the mind, helps connect with myself and the present moment, it teaches my mind to focus which helps in my daily life.

If you’ve never tried and want to meditate – let it be simple. 

Try a few techniques and times to find what works for you, lay down, or sit comfortably (no need to cross the legs).

Maybe it’s watching your breath, counting breaths, mantas, listening to sounds, guided meditations, body focus, etc. 

Even just a few minutes make a difference.