Your meditation time is a rare opportunity to connect within on a very deep level, let go of stress and accumulated tension, and find peace. If you're going to take the time to do a guided meditation, it pays to make the most of it by getting set up beforehand.
Here's a checklist of things to do to optimize your experience:
Eliminate distraction. Make sure you will not be disturbed by anyone knocking on your door, ringing your phone, jumping up on your lap (that means you, Kitty Cat), or playing the drums in the next room.
Get comfortable. Ideally, you'd want to have your feet flat on the floor, so you can have the experience of being "grounded" while you're connecting inside. But if it works better for you to have your feet up, then set it up that way, and give yourself whatever support helps you to forget about your body for a while. It's probably best not to be totally horizontal, though, because you're likely to end up asleep. (Unless of course that's your goal.)
Set the volume. Whether you're using headphones (recommended if you're comfortable with them), or speakers, set up the recording and give it a test before you get started. It should be loud enough to hear the words spoken, and not much louder.
Breathing. If your meditation calls for some deep breathing, great! If not do yourself a favor and do some deep, belly-centered breathing before you begin. Slow, deep abdominal breathing helps your body relax, gets the blood flowing to your brain and nervous system, and helps open up those creative centers so your imagination can take flight.
Be rested. It's hard to get a lot out of meditation when you're too tired to appreciate it, or when you just fall asleep instead of hearing the narration. Do your guided meditation when you have the energy to devote to it, rather than using it as a way to nod off -- unless that's your intention.
Don't be too hungry. Haven't eaten in a few hours? Maybe it'd be a good idea to have a little pre-meditation snack, so your stomach doesn't pull your attention away from your inner journey.
Ready? Not quite. Before you begin, be conscious of what your goal is for the meditation, and set your intention to achieve it. If you're simply looking for a relaxing inner vacation, let yourself know that ahead of time. If you're working with a program to connect with an inner guide or spiritual figure, take a moment to focus all of your attention on that goal before you start. By focusing on your goal before you begin, you'll put your whole system on notice that this is what you're after. That way your body, brain, imagination, and higher consciousness can all start working together for you.
To try out these tips, just visit The Healing Waterfall, listen to samples, and download a free guided meditation.
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