Meditation for Beginners

Cultivating Awareness of the Breath To Create Spaciousness in the Mind

The practice of meditation involves cultivating awareness of the breath to create spaciousness in the mind. By focusing the mind, meditators develop concentration and clarity. A meditation practice can help you achieve an emotionally calm and positive state to see the true nature of things. Daily meditation can reduce stress and increase calm in your daily life, so you can return to the present moment, clear your headspace, cultivate self-awareness, and connect with yourself and others. The benefits of meditation include optimal mental health, as well as overall health and well-being. Additionally, studies have shown that meditation practice can increase patience and compassion, as well as improve meditators’ quality of sleep. 

While meditation is practiced around the world in many different cultures and traditions, it is an essential part of yoga. The second verse of the Yoga Sutras by Patanjali explains yoga is the cessation or stilling of thought waves in the mind (yogaś citta-vritti-nirodhaḥ). Meanwhile, dhyāna is the Sanskrit word for meditation found in ancient yogic source texts. 

Meditation is a simple yet profound practice. The intention is not for thoughts to cease completely but to become aware of them without attachment or resistance. There are many different types of meditation and different anchors of where you can place your attention and how. Our meditation app supports you through the process with various mindfulness practices to choose from, plus practical information about how to sit and stay focused. With each meditation session, it becomes easier to find stillness and balance.

Practyce offers beginner-friendly online meditation classes from world-renowned meditation teachers. Whether it’s your first time or you’re coming back to the meditation practice after some time away, we have a library of beginner meditation videos, including mindfulness meditations, visualizations, body scans, breathing techniques, and guided meditations, so you can learn at your own pace. Along with yoga classes, our online meditation courses offer many different types of meditation you can stream anywhere, any time, and on any device.