Q:
"I am very interested in learning more about meditation. I have been reading over the information on this web site and now understand quite a bit but I have one question. What amount of time is best for one meditation session?"--Sherry
Hummelstown, Pennsylvania
A:
I usually suggest starting with five minute meditation sessions in the first week. Although that may seem short, as you may have already discovered, trying to clear the mind of thoughts can actually be quite difficult! Some people even feel a bit anxious in the beginning. So start slow and work your way up.Try not to set time goals. Concentrate on the quality of your meditation sessions and on meditating consistently.
Eventually, you will naturally find yourself meditating for 20 or more minutes, a good length of time to calm and quiet the mind. You can also try meditating for ten minutes in the morning and ten minutes in the evening.
If you have to keep track of the time, try using an alarm or timer set on the lowest volume, so you don't have to keep looking at your watch or clock.