There are many physical and mental benefits to meditation and I’m hoping that when you’ve read this article you’ll wonder why you haven’t tried it before.

The physical are: lowers high blood pressure; lowers the levels of blood lactate, reducing anxiety attacks; decreases any tension-related pain; increases serotonin production that improves mood and behaviour; improves the immune system and increases the energy level, as you gain an inner source of energy The mental benefits are: anxiety decreases; emotional stability improves; creativity increases; happiness increases; intuition develops; a gain of clarity and peace of mind.

If you’re anything like me you spend your life constantly busy, you’ve always got something that needs to be done – work, kids, cleaning, paperwork, more work, sleep is something you know you need more of but you’re lucky if you get six hours a night.

Sounds like your life? Yes, mine too... until recently. I spent August in Los Angeles attending a yoga teacher training course.

Not only did I do hardcore ashtanga yoga nearly every day for a month but I was forced to meditate for 30 minutes every morning – 30 minutes of sitting still, attempting to think of nothing but the present moment and emptying the mind of thoughts.

I’ve attempted meditation many times in the past as I’ve suffered with insomnia on and off for the past 12 years.

I’d tried time and time again, breathing, doing it sitting up, lying down – everything that was recommended.

But nothing seemed to work, my brain was always busy or I’d try to meditate with the wrong attitude, already thinking this isn’t going to work.

The first morning of being forced to meditate in LA was nigh on impossible, I sat there with my legs crossed, back straight, closed my eyes and listened to the guidance from the teacher. All I could think about is how can I sit here for 30 minutes, my back and hips are going to hurt. In fact I did anything but relax.

It continued like this for the first week. Into the second week I could probably officially meditate for about one minute without thinking about anything else.

Then something clicked and I decided to stop beating myself up about not being able to stop thinking about anything else and having the inability to empty my mind. I started just to allow my thoughts to come and go and as soon as I did this meditation actually happened.

it is so difficult for us in this day and age to completely empty our minds due to the busy lives we lead, but just sitting with your eyes closed for five minutes in the morning focusing on your breathing will help you. Soon five minutes will be too short and you’ll need 10 minutes and I’m sure that will increase.

Now I’m back in the UK, and back to reality, I meditate for 10 minutes every night before I go to bed.

There are no rights or wrongs to meditation but give it a go and you will reap the benefits.

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