Meditation is a training of awareness.

Awareness of your thoughts and your breath, and a deeper awareness of the Self. Many believe you have to completely still the mind in order to ‘properly’ meditate. The goal of meditation is not to turn off your thoughts—it’s to simply observe your thoughts without judgement, to learn the importance of holding stillness, to find the lessons in silence. Meditation helps you establish a connection with your breath and find comfort in stillness. If you can breathe, you can meditate.  

There are countless types of different meditations—the trick is finding the meditation technique that works best for you. I always encourage students to try various types, methods, and teachers, as meditation is a lifelong practice and it takes time to find the practice that most appeals to you. 

Breath awareness is a crucial part of meditation. Learning to use breath as your anchor in your practice will help you to stay present in the moment and will offer a place for your mind to focus. It is inevitable that the mind will wander at some point during your practice. Allowing your awareness to come back to the breath will help you to stay focused and feel grounded. 

And remember, meditation is, at its core, a practice. Be patient with yourself as you navigate through your meditation journey. It takes time to find comfort in stillness.