Meditation is all the rage right now. Even though it’s one of the most ancient wellness practices, the hold it’s taken over people in the last few years is pretty amazing. So there must be something to it, right?
Here’s the thing: Getting into it can be tough. Some of us can’t sit still or turn off our brain, and sometimes the idea of sitting with ourselves is really daunting. But contrary to popular belief, meditating doesn’t mean you have to sit there staring at the wall. There are plenty of walking meditations that are quick, and a lot of people consider cleaning, cooking or certain workouts a form of meditation too.
Today on the blog we have Taelyr Robinson. And after reading below, you’ll see how passionate she is about meditating and her tips are so tangible and attainable.
If you’ve been following along for a while, you know that Lauryn has been meditating for the last few years and considers it a strategy session with herself for her entire life. She was skeptical but now it’s a non-negotiable in her day.
Without further ado, let’s hear from Taeylor about how she got into meditating, the benefits, and how to get started.
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I’m Taelyr! I’m a full time model, and former Beauty Queen within the Miss Universe organization. I started my modeling career booking multiple Barbie commercials when I was 9 years old and these days I regularly shoot for companies like Target, CoverGirl, Lilly Pulitzer, Bobbi Brown, Tarte Cosmetics, and more. I have been in countless magazines, featured in campaigns that hung in every Sephora store in the world, and even represented the USA in beauty pageants on 3 different continents.
I’m a voracious reader who prides herself on having read at least a book a week for the last seven years. My other hobbies include: all things wellness and personal development. Long story short, I am a busy girl! I’m sure you can relate. How are we supposed to create the life of our dreams, become our best selves, stay hydrated, and keep in contact with loved ones with only 24 hours in a day? One thing I credit to being able to stay mentally calm, open, inspired and most importantly, happy is my daily meditation practice. It has been crucial to my evolution and often to my sanity in an industry that can be very cutthroat.
Growing up, I was not one of the cool kids. Far from it, if I’m being honest. I’m talking, “spending my 21st birthday in a ten-week personal development course” levels of uncool. Lucky for me, the societal pendulum seems to have swung, and being a personal development girlie is very much “in” these days.
Back to this Meditation course I was doing on my 21st birthday… the average attendee was easily twice my age and my bestie there even joked that she had adopted me as her pseudo granddaughter. Even though I felt like a fish out of water, it was in this course that I learned the importance of daily meditation and really started to incorporate it into my life. I would drive home from the classes in a little bubble of happiness, and ease, letting everyone merge, not a trace of road rage in sight, and in LA of all places. Proof that meditation really does do wonders for your attitude and outlook.
For me this course was where it really stuck, however it was not my first foray into quieting my mind. I had actually taken Yoga as an elective in High School (tell me you’re from Southern California without telling me you’re from Southern California LOL).
It was also in High School that a friend’s mom introduced me to Louise Hay. I was at my friend’s house for a sleepover and we watched Hay’s documentary “You Can Heal Your Life” (her most famous book has the same title). That was my gateway drug. Louise Hay 101 in case you’re unfamiliar: Change your thoughts, change your life. In order to change negative thoughts that are creating the dis-ease and negative experiences into positive ones that will allow you to create the wanted circumstances, the first step is to quiet those negative thoughts. From the time I learned that, I practiced quieting the negativity in my mind that pertained to certain topics. Then followed that up by switching the voice in my head to more positive and affirmative thoughts that were in alignment with what I desired.
Eventually, I went to Thailand and spent a month studying the practice and philosophy of yoga while doing my 200 hour yoga teacher training. You guessed it, that included more meditation. As a part of the training, we started each day by staring at a wall for 45 mins in a zen meditation practice. We would sit inches away from the wall, pick a spot to look at, and try not to have any thoughts for the better part of an hour. More on that technique later.
At some point it was starting to seem like everything I was naturally interested in suggested, in one way or another, seeking stillness in the mind and going within. As author Brianna Wiest says, “The universe whispers until it screams, and happy people listen while the call is still quiet.” I took the hint!
My love for meditation deepened last year when I attended Dr. Joe Dispenza’s advanced meditation retreat in Cartagena where we meditated in excess of 40 hours over the course of seven days. For about a week after arriving back home from Colombia I would cry tears of gratitude from the most normal things. I really thought I was losing it. And maybe I was. But maybe what I lost were the mental distractions, so I was able to see the beauty that was always there. Maybe the sun shining on me while I walked to the grocery store or getting to enjoy a morning coffee in a city I dreamed of living in isn’t mundane at all.
Through the practice of meditation and learning to be present we might start to notice these beautiful little moments in life that have always been there, because we have trained our hearts to be open and our minds to be still long enough to see them. As you can see, I’m very passionate about this topic. I have learned so much about meditation over the years, and tried out lots of different things, so here are some of my best tips if you’re just getting started. I’m a strong believer that there is some type of meditation that works for everyone, so I aim to give you a medley of tips and techniques to try.
MEDITATION TIPS FOR BEGINNERS
Just Do It.
Some days you have 5 mins, some days you have an hour, but consistency is the most important thing. I find that the more consistent I am, the faster and easier I can get into a meditative state. Don’t judge yourself.
You’re fine.
Take a deep breath. Long, deep breaths can help clear your mind and regulate your nervous system. You can start by silently counting the inhales and exhales, and focusing on the sensations in your body while breathing deeply and deliberately.
Don’t Take Things Lying Down.
Just sit up. If you aren’t used to meditation you might fall asleep if you stay prone. Sitting up helps prevent this.
First Things First.
Meditating is great whenever you can get it in, but I recommend doing it in the morning as it really sets the tone for your entire day. You will be shocked at how you move through the world when you start your day intentionally.
Try multiple meditation styles.
There’s something for everyone.
Get a Tour Guide.
I love a good guided meditation and they are so great for beginners. You can find tons of great free ones on YouTube. There are also 2-5 min short and sweet ones on TikTok, and so many apps – load up! Find someone who resonates with you. Once you do it for a while you will find that just the sound of their voice relaxes your body. I am a big fan of Dr. Joe Dispenza, Dr. Wayne Dyer, and Deepak Chopra, but use whomever you vibe with. Lauryn loves Melissa Wood Health meditations.
Spread the Love.
A.K.A. Loving and Kindness Meditation or Meta is a really beautiful place to start your meditation journey.
Here are the steps:
First, sit or lay down in a comfortable position. Take a few deep breaths and start relaxing your body. Place your hand over your heart and repeat this mantra to yourself. “May I be Well. May I be Happy. May I be Peaceful. May I be loved.”
Next, think about someone you have positive regard for, maybe a good friend or family member. Visualize this person in front of you. Repeat the mantra “May you be well. May you be happy. May you be peaceful. May you be loved.” Visualize your love as a light radiating out and enveloping them.
Then think of someone who plays some role in your life you don’t know very well. Imagine them in front of you and direct loving kindness to this person. Repeat the mantra “May you be well. May you be happy. May you be peaceful. May you be loved.” And imagine this person being touched by your love.
Eventually, think of someone you are having conflict with and repeat the above process.
Finally, imagine the whole world. Visualize your love radiating out and covering the whole planet. Repeat the above mantra.
Your heart should be very full by the end of this meditation. Here are some more:
Thanks for thinking of me. Gratitude Meditation is very simple! First, just quiet your mind of the chatter. Then, one by one, bring to mind everything and everyone in your life that you are thankful for. Take a few minutes to revel in the beauty of your life. You might even be surprised at how many things you’re able to think of.
It’s Not About the Destination but About the Journey. Meditation is not just for when you’re sitting down. You can try staying present while on a Walking Meditation. Notice the sensation of your shoes on the ground, the wind, birds chirping, and things you see. Or try to walk as the “Highest version of yourself.” Imagine the best version of you, and then embody those qualities as you walk around being your best self.
Hear After Me. Mantras or repeated affirmations can be used over and over to create new thought patterns. A popular mantra is “Om” which means “It is” or “it will be.” Another popular one I love is “All is well in my world.” Louise Hay books and videos are a great resource to find affirmations. There are many other resources, just see what resonates with you.
I’d Like to Have Your Attention. Focus Meditation, like I did when we stared at the wall every morning in my yoga teacher training, can be effective in quieting your mind. Some people like to stare at the flame of a candle, others might enjoy flowing water or something else they find calming. No matter what you choose to focus on, bring all of your attention to this one singular point and try to clear your mind of any extra noise.
Take a Good Look at Me Now. Visualize yourself living your best life. If you have a goal or dream you are working on, see yourself living in the end, after you have achieved it. Feel the feelings you will feel once you arrive. Another way to visualize is to imagine white light coming down from the sky, entering your body through your head, and flowing through your entire body. Imagine that this light is filling you up with goodness and love, and spreading to every cell. Feel the support of the Universe.
Try it all. Mix and match. Just get started and feel the results!
The most important concept behind meditation is to quiet your mind and check in with yourself. In this world of chaos, where there’s so much going on in day to day life, we can become inundated with the noise. Take a few minutes daily to turn inward in order to give yourself all of the peace and clarity you can find.
I hope you enjoyed Meditation for Beginners, Part 1. I’m excited to share with you Part 2 in this series because it delves a little deeper and gives you a few more tricks to elevate your practice even more. So stay tuned!
You can find me on Instagram @taelyrrobinson. Slide in my DMs if you want to chat more about this topic. I’m happy to share more of my favorite resources with you.
xo Taelyr
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Be sure to follow the gorgeous @taelyrrobinson on Instagram if you want some more tips and inspo on meditating and gratitude. And like she said, stay tuned for another post from her soon.
x, The Skinny Confidential team.
+ For on how meditation can effect your life, listen to this episode.
++ Lauryn’s tips for creating a meditation space at home.
ZEN OUT:
