If you have read my previous blog posts you will know that relaxation is not something that has come easily to me. Ditto meditation, with bells on. Meditation is a word that is loaded with association and connotations. It’s a word which, for some people, has a big hazard sign on it saying ‘this is not for YOU!’

Let me persuade you that meditation is for you. The most difficult thing about meditation is getting started. You don’t have to sit cross-legged; you don’t have to align your third eye or locate the nearest leyline. You just have to be. Be present in the moment. Be focused on your body and mind.

Get comfy and take a few deep breaths. Notice the breath as it comes in and goes out. Notice how your body feels, notice your thoughts as they arrive. There, you’ve started. You’ve done it! Congratulations!

Guided meditation both live and recorded, really helped me take it to the next level. Find someone with a voice you like – deep or flutey, Brummie or Geordie, there’s a voice out there for you.

Find a space. There are loads of beautiful meditation nooks on Pinterest and Instagram – newsflash – you do not need one in order to meditate. You need somewhere you can be comfortable and relatively distraction free. A cushion and a bit of bare wall would do it.

The takeaway from this is that the only thing you need to meditate is yourself and your permission to engage with being with your body and mind. Sounds simple? It is simple, but it’s not necessarily easy, and you can give yourself the grace to be a bit crap at it to start with. But with time, patience and kindness you will be away – go om (not a typo), there’s nothing to lose but your preconceptions…

Here’s some resources to get you started if you need a little inspiration…

Grace Wellbeing Meditation Pinterest Board – meditation-nook-free zone

Mindful Monday Online Group – guided meditations and breathing techniques