Many of us plan to get re-focused on a meditation or mindfulness practice as the new year dawns... Once the initial enthusiasm wears off, we find that it's difficult to stick to the 20 or 30 minutes that we think we should be putting into "sitting on the mat". How long should a meditation be, anyways?

How long should a meditation be?

Well, guess what? You do not need to do 30, 20, or even 10 minutes! You can do 3 minutes! You can do 3 minutes twice a day! You can do a SINGLE mindful repetition of a mantra. Whatever you can do, do it and do not feel guilty or annoyed that you were not able to do more that day. Once you notice the effects your mini-practice has had on you, you'll be motivated to do more.

This is crucial for a beginner meditator, or someone who is re-establishing their practice! Completed 3 minutes of meditation is worthy WAY more than a longer practice that never gets done!

Length of meditation and its effects

Did you know that different lengths of time meditating have different effects on you?

3 minutes - affect your circulation and blood chemistry.

11 minutes - the pituitary gland the nervous system start changing.

22 minutes  -  the negative, positive, and neutral minds start to synch up, affecting your mental integration.

31 minutes - mind, the aura, and the 31 tattwas are balanced.

In 62 minutes your "shadow mind" and your positive projection are integrated.

2 ½ hours completes the cycle of prana and apana so what you gain will hold through the cycle of the day. It holds change in the subconscious.

A short meditation practice can work!

As you see, even 3 minutes can have profound effect on your body chemistry, which will have a positive effect on your physical and mental wellbeing. Never underestimate the power of mini-meditation! And afterwards, congratulate yourself on a job well done!

If you'd like to join a community of beginner meditators just like you, and start moving from chaos to serenity and joy, Meditate to Soar: Practices for Mental Balance and Elevation is a place for you! Together, we learn the tools of mindfulness and meditation that will support us in building a practice for more fulfilling, empowered life.