Everything you need to start meditating, according to experts

For thousands of years, meditation has been used as a way to disconnect from the outside world and tune in to yourself, lower stress levels and find rest in the evening. And while this all sounds great and dandy, the biggest hurdle to a meditation practice is getting started.

The good news is that anyone — and yes, we mean anyone — can meditate. Like other rituals and skills in life, it takes preparation and practice and testing out a few methods to see which one resonates with your mental state the best.

Here, we spoke with meditation experts about creating a meditation ritual, reaping the benefits and of course, the essential products to invest in. Consider this your 101 guide to meditation.

Meditation stems from the Latin word meditatus or mederi, meaning to remedy. Or if you want to take the official Merriam-Webster description, “To meditate is to spend time in quiet thought; to engage in contemplation or reflection or mental exercise for the purpose of reaching a heightened level of awareness.”

To put it simply, meditation is a time when you choose to be still in your own experience, to access expanded awareness and presence, according to Rachel Petri, a yoga and meditation teacher and the founder of Space to Breathe. “Meditation can be three breaths or 30 minutes. It can be absolute stillness, or focus on your breath, or presence to each movement you make,” she continues. “It is varied, but it is always the exercise of full presence to the moment, to be fully with yourself and the full spectrum of your experience.”

In other words, meditation is a time you give yourself to disconnect from everything around you and turn inwards to find your breath, a sense of calmness and hopefully, enlightenment.

Considering meditation is an ancient practice that’s utilized across the globe, it’s no surprise it comes with many benefits. Not only does a regular meditation ritual positively impact our minds, but it can help our bodies too. Here, a few of the most well-researched and documented benefits you can expect from tapping into meditation.

Rather than thinking about the past or worrying about the future, meditation forces you to be fully in the present moment. “It not only shows us how to be more aware of our surroundings, but also of all the intricacies within ourselves,” says Kama Hagar, a holistic wellness and meditation coach. “Don’t be surprised if you find yourself noticing unconscious habits, patterns or unhelpful ways of thinking.”

On a physical level, meditation helps lower blood pressure and cholesterol; strengthens the immune system; enhances longer, better-quality sleep; promotes faster healing; increases blood flow and reduces pain, explains Lisette Cifaldi, the director of behavioral health for Hilton Head Health.

Provides stress release and promotes joy

Hagar explains when we meditate, we experience the opposite of fight-or-flight, the body’s stress response. “Instead, our breathing and heart rate slows, our stress hormones decrease in production, and even our platelets become less sticky, causing it to flow more easily throughout our entire body,” she says.

Plus, Cifaldi says meditation improves emotional awareness and reduces feelings of depression, anxiety, anger and confusion. “It’s also a practice that increases positive emotions such as serenity, peace and calm,” she adds.

Can’t seem to get through a workday without blankly staring at your computer screen? You don’t need a coffee break — you need a meditation break. Another benefit of meditation is that it enhances and inspires creativity while boosting productivity, says Linda Lauren, an avid meditator and a fifth-generation psychic medium. “It can help in problem-solving because it teaches us to not react to things, and that makes us better able to get along with ourselves and others,” she explains.

According to Martha Lockie, the co-creator of IntoMeSea and an avid meditator for 42 years, it’s best to keep meditation as simple as possible in the beginning. The goal is to get comfortable settling into your body and mind to allow yourself to benefit from meditation. Here, Lockie provides an easy step-by-step guide.

There are countless types of meditation — from breathwork and visualization to walking meditation and many others. This is one of the most important things to remember about getting into the art of meditation: If one method doesn’t click for you, try another. Here, experts outline a few of the most widely practiced.

Those who swear by meditation will say, yes, it works. But those who dabble here and there may not truly realize the lasting impact on their psyche. That’s why if you want to get serious about meditation, you need to commit, says Susan Labunski, a holistic nutritionist and meditation teacher at The Park.

“Even if it’s for just one minute a day, it’s still considered meditation and will help clear your mind and relax,” she says. “Use an app with guided meditations. It is much easier to follow along with someone or something, rather than to try it alone, especially in the beginning or if you’re new to meditation.”

While most practitioners will choose to meditate to start or end the day, truly, the best time to meditate is whatever time you can block out on your calendar that can assure you at least 10 to 20 minutes of privacy, Lauren says. Over time, you should integrate your daily meditation into your routine twice a day for the most benefit.

“Remind yourself that this is your time — ‘me’ time — and special to your mental health as it will relax you,” Lauren continues. “Twice a day, starting with 10 minutes and gradually going up to 20 minutes. Once in the morning to open your day and ground you. Once in the evening to unload yourself of the day’s trials and tribulations so that you can sleep well.”

Lauren’s top recommendation for outfitting your meditation sanctuary is to invest in quality crystals because they tap into our energy and feelings. “Crystals hold a vibration, and that vibration is what attunes us to our higher self and our deepest thoughts,” she says. Remember, each crystal has meaning, so choose wisely based on what you need the most help processing. This pack from Baloo Living includes an eye mask and your choice of one of four stones:

For newbies especially, meditation apps guide your practice as you listen to experts give suggestions, create visualizations and instruct you to breathe. There are a wide variety of apps available, and here, experts name their favorites.

When you find your comfortable seated position, you may need a little extra support to ensure you have a tall spine. This isn’t just ideal for meditation, it also helps protect your lower back. Petri recommends meditation pillows from Samaya, but says any big comfy pillow will do just fine.

If you want to skip a guided meditation with an app and try focusing on your breath alone, you’ll need a timer to hold your focus. (You know, instead of worrying about that email sitting in your inbox.) Lauren recommends a timer with soft bells or chimes to help you stay honest about your meditation time. “It also encourages you to have a beginning, a middle and an end to your session,” she adds.

This alarm clock from Hatch Restore can take your meditation practice to the next level with your choice of soothing sounds and alarms, as well as ambient lighting.

While music is not a must, Lauren says it can definitely set the tone for your meditation session. However, steer clear of songs with lyrics and choose instrumentals that make you feel calm and collected. To create your meditation oasis, find a small speaker that you only use for your daily practice. This small Bluetooth option comes highly rated and even cancels out unnecessary fuzz for a clear, crisp sound. Plus, it’s waterproof if you decide to meditate in the bath.

While Petri says it’s not exactly essential, having a sheepskin rug — faux or sustainably sourced — has become a staple in her meditation nook. Wherever she is, when she lays down a sheepskin, it signals to herself that it is her sacred space. Not to mention, it makes for a cozy space for your tush!

Sometimes when you’re meditating with a mantra, you may want a way to keep your energy focused. Japamala beads help. As Lockie explains, these are 108 Indian prayer beads strung on sandalwood, rudraksha or bone of the same size and a tassel.

“You hold the beads in your hands during meditation as you touch the first bead next to the tassel while repeating the mantra and then move to the second bead and repeating the mantra,” she says. “When you get back to the tassel or the larger bead, you have come a full round. This is an excellent way to cultivate mindfulness!”

Since all of our senses can tie into our emotional and mental health, using an essential oil diffuser can be another way to relax. As Winquist says, pure essential oils are a potent form of plant medicine. So, when we are feeling overwhelmed, anxious, down or disconnected, we can create new habit patterns of using essential oils to uplift our emotions and re-pattern our neural pathways for a healthier way of being, feeling and living.

Trueblood recommends finding your favorite cozy blanket and relabeling it as your meditation blanket. Then, every time you see it on the sofa or bed, you’ll remember to meditate. “When you meditate, use it to associate with the calm and quiet you create, and you’ll be able to slide into that mode more quickly each time you do it,” she says.

Prichard says a quality yoga mat can be your best friend whether you plan to meditate while sitting still or you’re interested in movement meditation. “For movement meditation, you’ll need a comfortable and sturdy yoga mat to help support your sequences and keep your practice safe,” she says. We named this thin mat the best yoga mat of the year.

You may discover new things about yourself, release old thoughts or even come up with brilliant ideas while meditating, which is why Lauren recommends finding a journal that you only use for your meditation sessions. “A journal is a great way to keep track of your progress and to see what may be benefiting you and what may not be useful,” she continues. “Keeping a journal will help you to be grounded and help with recall when you want to refer to a specific meditation and/or date.”

If you prefer prompts for your writing, try this self-care journal. It includes not only a space for your reflections and intentions but also a tracker for exercise, sleep, nutrition and more.

For those who prefer a blank page, this hardcover journal gives you ample space to scribble it all down.

Mindful Modern Folding Adjustable Pro Meditation Chair

Rather than sitting on the floor, do you prefer to sit in a chair? If so, don’t force yourself to get to the ground if you won’t stay put. As Lockie says, you won’t sit for longer than a few minutes if you aren’t comfortable. Mindful Modern offers several meditation chair options — from ones you can always leave standing in your home to others that fold and go for travel. Make sure to find one that gives you adequate back and bottom support so you can sit without stress for 10 to 20 minutes.

Lockie says holding a copper ball in each hand is another great way to maintain a grounded field during meditation. “In addition to grounding, copper helps relax joints and muscles, promotes better sleep, enhances memory and intelligence, lowers inflammation and improves blood circulation,” she explains.

Liam Gillen, a yoga nidra instructor at The Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island, recommends finding a soothing eye pillow for your practice. Particularly if you’d like to lay down while meditating, it can rest over your eyes to block out distractions or stimulations. He recommends finding a small pouch made of soft fabric filled with flax seed and scented lavender for ultimate benefit.

As Prichard puts it, there’s nothing more frustrating than finally falling into a deep meditation only to be abruptly brought out of that bliss from the wailing of a fire truck siren. “But even if you live in the middle of nowhere, something as small as your AC unit kicking on or your dog barking can cause an unwanted distraction,” she says. That’s why investing in a pair of noise-canceling headphones can help you fully be in the moment.