Written by Mindfulness Expert, Katie Wolf
As we step into the New Year, many of us are drawn to fresh starts and setting goals for a healthier life. One of the most transformative practices you can bring into your daily routine is meditation. It is a powerful tool with numerous benefits, including stress relief, reduced anxiety and depression, improved sleep, and the ability to live fully in the present moment.
If you’re new to meditation or simply looking to refresh your practice, we’ve got you covered. Our mindfulness expert, Katie Wolf, shares her favourite meditation technique that supports inner healing, restful sleep, and living in the present.
Katie’s top meditation techniques
My top meditation technique uses the breath and sound together to anchor into the present moment. This involves focusing all awareness and attention on the breath whilst listening to the healing vibrations from sound. If it helps, you can count each breath. This combination works to slow down the constant thoughts in the mind and brings us right into the present moment.
The beauty of being fully in the present moment is that we cannot be anxious about the future as it does not exist, nor be stuck in the past, as all we really have is the present moment. In this space, there is peace and clarity, away from worries and regrets.
It's important to remember that thoughts will naturally arise during meditation. Rather than resisting them, simply acknowledge their presence without any judgment. Allow them to come and go without trying to give them too much energy. I like to visualise thoughts as clouds floating in the sky, allowing thoughts to do the same. This gentle approach makes meditation feel less like a task and more like a return to yourself.
Aside from being in the present moment, sound meditation is best for improving sleep as it gently guides your brain into a theta brainwave state, which is the state we enter just before we fall asleep. The soothing sounds can lower your heart rate and respiratory rate along with promoting deep relaxation making it easier to transition into sleep. Sound baths are also a great way to enhance sleep quality and may help reduce insomnia over time.
My biggest advice for meditation is to be consistent with practice. It's more beneficial to meditate for 5 minutes every single day than for 1 hour once a week. By integrating small and regular sessions into your routine, you can maintain lasting mental clarity and emotional balance.
Take this New Year as an invitation to slow down, breathe deeply, and find joy in the present moment. Learn more about meditation and mindfulness with Katie’s expertise here.
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