Reading Time: 2 minutesMeditate for 10 Minutes Every Day
Simple Instructions:
- Find a relatively quiet spot where you can be undisturbed for 10 minutes.
- Sit in any way that is comfortable to you – cross legged, kneeling, or in a chair.
- Keep your back straight. Don’t lean or slouch – slouchy body, slouchy mind! Sitting on a hard cushion can help a lot.
- You may practice with your eyes open or closed.
- Sit for 10 minutes doing your best to remain aware of your breathing, body, and environment.
- If you drift, no problem. The moment you realize it, bring your mind back to one of those three things – breathing, body, or environment.
- Try not to worry about mental, physical, and environmental distractions. They actually help. The practice of meditation helps you remain aware of what is present in the face of lots of distractions.
Michael and Andy stopped total strangers on the street to talk to them about this challenge. Watch to find out the surprising and fascinating answer this man gave:
Why Is This Practice Important?
Awareness. Plain and simple. The fact is, we are unaware of a huge percentage of what takes place around us and inside of us. It’s a function of being human. We filter things out so we can focus.
By practicing meditation, you begin to become aware of what is going on around and inside of you. Far from being a vacation from annoyance and distraction, meditation is an invitation to your mind to reveal itself to you. You will likely be distracted by an endless stream of thoughts and opinions. That is practically the entire point. Those thoughts are running around in your head no matter what. Your job in meditation is to see them.
While awareness can be annoying and sometimes painful, it also allows you to take the reins and begin directing the horse that is your mind. With practice, you become better and better at pointing your mind in the direction you want it to go. Even better, you will become aware of life in the present moment — the only moment you are always living.
He graduated from UCLA with a BA in philosophy as well as a degree from the Southern California School of Culinary Arts, and feels food is one of the most important parts of a life - it can nourish, heal, and bring people together.
Michael believes health and well-being are as much a state of mind as they are a state of the body, and when it comes to fitness, food, and life in general, he thinks slow is much better than fast (most of the time). Stopping regularly to examine things is the surest way to put down roots and grow.
He knows he will never be done with his own work, and believes the best thing you can do for your well-being starts with loving and working from what you’ve got right now.
