Everywhere I go, people are talking about meditating. ?I hear it all the time. “I should be meditating.” ?Or, “I’d like to start meditating.”

So what’s stopping us?

Mostly I think it’s the mystery that surrounds meditation. ?How do we achieve that state of internal reflection and inner peace? ?It isn’t easy with all the distractions and busy lifestyles. ?And with the constant bombardment of overstimulating technology, it’s no wonder the search for Zen is so illusive.

The practice of meditation dates back to 4 BC. ?With that much longevity you think we’d learn it alongside math and English. ?Maybe if we did, it would be part of our routine rather than another good intention we never quite get to.

From a health perspective, a regular practice of meditation has been known to lower blood pressure, reduce stress and increase immunity which in time can decrease and even eliminate the need for certain medications.

So what’s the best way to meditate? ?That’s up to you. ?Some people like guided meditations and others prefer to do it themselves. ?Here’s a few resources to get you started:

• There are many wonderful guided meditations available. ?You can go to your library, bookstore, computer or buy an app. ?My favorite is an app called Relax with Andrew Johnson. ?You can download it to your smart phone or go to his website and download it to your computer or MP3 player. ?
• Dr. Herbert Benson, a pioneer in the modern study of meditation and the benefits it has on health, has a technique called the Relaxation Response. ?He provides step by step instructions on his website that teaches you how to relax into a meditative state. Think of it as meditation for beginners.
• Two of today’s biggest spiritual gurus, Oprah and Deepak Chopra, have a 21 Day Meditation Challenge. ?I haven’t done this one yet myself, but I’ve heard from people who have that it’s a great way to get started.

All it takes is 10 minutes a day to start seeing results. ?I think we can all find 10 minutes during our day to experience a little inner peace, don’t you? ?Be well.