1. Individual meditation: it is better to do your individual daily meditation alone. An exception to this would be if your partner also meditates using the same techniques.
2. Group meditation: if you have the opportunity to meditate with a group once a week, this will definitely give you inspiration and add strength to your own individual meditation.
3. Incense: the fragrance of incense purifies the air that we breathe and creates a subtle and inspiring atmosphere. There are types of incense that are smokeless, as there are essential oils that have the same effect.
4. Keeping the spine straight: it is important to keep the spine erect and the body relaxed and comfortable. If you are uncomfortable, the body will constantly change its position. Allow your inner being to take you to a comfortable position, then maintain it. It is not advisable to meditate lying down as this encourages sleep consciousness.
5. Physical exercise: If you feel restless before a meditation, it may be helpful to do some hatha yoga exercises to calm the mind. Otherwise it is better to exercise after your meditation.
6. Open eye meditation: in the beginning it is difficult to maintain alertness while meditating with the eyes closed all the time. It is best to choose an external object to concentrate on—a flower or candle flame, for example—and keep the eyes open and relaxed for part of your meditation. In this way you are focusing your conscious awareness both on the physical plane and on the inner plane
7. Best time and duration of meditation: The best time to meditate is early in the morning when the day begins. The length of meditation depends on how long we can maintain the power of our concentration. For a beginner this is usually 15-20 minutes.
8. A place to meditate: it is good to have a special place to meditate in your home such as a corner of a room, where you can place your meditation cushion, candle or flower and burn your incense.
9. Music: the right kind of music—music that elevates our consciousness—can help to create a positive meditation environment. Also, if you are disturbed by noises in the environment or don’t have a particularly peaceful place to meditate, then playing music can definitely be helpful.
10. Eating: it is best to meditate on an empty stomach, or two hours after eating. The body has thousands of subtle nerves that become heavy after eating. These subtle nerves transport the meditation energies, which cannot function when affected by food.
