Breath meditation is a simple and accessible form of meditation that focuses on following the breath. It can be done in a comfortable position with slow, simple breaths and no religious bias. It can be practiced for as little as a minute or two and can lead to more extensive meditative practices.
Breath meditation can be one of the purest forms of meditation and is accessible to virtually people, with very little practice or education. There are certain types of breathing meditation that focus on certain forms of breathing and complex breathing techniques, such as breathing in one nostril and out the other. When you think of breath meditation more generally, it means focusing on simple breaths while maintaining a meditative posture. Some call this meditation the first step into any other form of meditation, and it is often pointed out that it has no religious bias, so anyone can attempt it, regardless of their orientation or what other forms of meditation they might pursue in the future.
There are many instructions on how to pursue breath meditation. Usually people are asked to get into a comfortable position. This doesn’t necessarily mean sitting on the floor in any lotus shape or cross-legged pose. Instructions intended to lead to a more structured form of meditation may suggest specific positions, but the recommendation to assume a comfortable position that is not tilted is really the only one people need attention to.
In basic breathing meditation, people can close their eyes for better focus and simply breathe in and out. The breaths should be relatively slow, but they don’t have to be extremely deep. Some teachers suggest breathing from the diaphragm, but in your first attempts at this meditation, diaphragmatic breathing is not necessary.
People should be aware of their breathing. Some people recommend breathing through your nose and mouth, or through your nose only. Other teachers differ on this and advise that, especially with any nasal congestion, oral breathing may be easier for new students.
This topic raises an important question: comfort is precious. People don’t necessarily meditate for technique—they meditate to focus more on breathing.
As people breathe in and out during breath meditation, the main focus is to follow the breath and see how it feels. This will inevitably lead to moments where distraction occurs and the mind wanders. People are simply directed to go back to following their breath. The first few times people meditate they may find themselves redirecting many times, but with practice it tends to get more focused.
The total amount of time recommended for breathing meditation can vary. Some suggest that people pursue it for around 10-15 minutes whenever possible. Others believe that even a minute or two can help promote calmness or a sense of vitality, and is especially helpful in the midst of busy days.
This easy meditation is used by people all over the world, from the religious leader to the student taking a math test. It can be the beginning of more extensive meditative practices. Alternatively, the activity of following the breath may seem like the only meditation needed.
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