Why Meditate?

When you think of spirituality, you may picture people chanting while sitting in lotus position in an incense-filled room. While that’s one way of tapping into your Higher self, there are many others. Meditating—with or without the incense—happens to be one of the best.

“Meditation used to be something that was weird and foreign, alien, guru-based, with people wearing orange robes and open-toed sandals,” says Mark Thornton, author of Meditation in a New York Minute: Super Calm for the Super Busy.

The benefits of a regular meditation practice in your goal of living more spiritually are plentiful: less stress, fear and anxiety and more joy, clarity and bliss. You don’t need to wear a robe or even sit on the floor to experience them. In fact, Thornton notes that it’s possible to seamlessly integrate meditation into everyday life, whether it’s during your commute or while pouring a glass of water.

Start today with Thornton’s simple technique: Slow your inhale down to a count of three, pause for one, then exhale for the count of three, pause for one and repeat. You can do this anywhere, all the while supporting your desire for more spirituality in your life.