Do you think you can sit?

Sitting in meditation is a challenge, and it doesn't matter whether you are a person that is tolerant, patient and calm or not! It is a myth that we need to have all the previously mentioned attributes to practice meditation. It is the same as claiming that you need to be flexible to practice yoga.

Meditation is beneficial for all and is a way to know ourselves deeper.

I overheard someone saying that most of the people in his circle use antidepressants and sleeping pills. Well, it is a reality that we have to admit. Most likely, many of the people I am also related, use some soothing drug, like serotonin inhibitors and others.

For some, like me, it can be a glass of wine. For some others, nicotine and marijuana will do the trick. The list goes on and on. There are different types of substances for different kinds of personalities.

It is inherited in us to have the receptors in our brain. We have receptors for specific substances that we take from the outside as well as substances that we produce in our bodies. So, does the second fact mean that we can create our own personal, exclusive "drug"? Or does it imply that we will not have to use any other substance from the outside?

It is unlikely since we live in a society that operates with specific codes. To fit in, we often have to indulge in this world. We are not inhabitants of a secluded place, in the mountains, or some distant beach away from everything (it would be great though,  to forget everything for a while and join a Yoga Retreat!...).

Anyway, the point is how we can soothe ourselves without needing extra help all the time. I remember that chocolate bar I used to buy every time I felt depressed, as a teenager and a bit afterwards. It was an absolute demand, coming from a biological, electrochemical change inside my brain. Sitting in meditation can be challenging in the beginning, but this will change. One of the greatest lessons we learn when we assume a meditative position, close our eyes and follow the breath is that everything changes. So, rest assured that the more you practice, the more you will grow to enjoy the process. 

Start slowly. Choose a time when you are not feeling sleepy and a room in the house where you can have privacy. Make sure your clothing is loose, and use a cushion that gives you a sense of comfort. The meditative asana you assume is important, but far more important than this is the relaxation in the torso and the space you have for the breath.

You can set an alarm clock and begin with 10 minutes. Make sure you continue this way until you are looking forward to this 10-minute pause. Then, you can increase the time gradually. The simplest and most efficient way to meditate is to follow the breath. Breathe through the nostrils. Observe the differences in the temperature as you inhale and exhale, as well as the pace of the breath. The more you practice, the more you will be able to observe the breath as it is. That, in time, will translate to be able to observe things as they are.

To be continued.