Im looking to get more into meditation... How long do you normally mediate for? Any good tips on how to center your focus?
15 minutes is a good place to start, the idea is you dont want to set a goal that you won't be able to reach
you can build up to an hour in the morning and an hour at night, but it takes a while to become comfortable with sitting that long
start with anapana breathing (focus all your attention on the ring on the inside of your nostril where the air flows in, and out)
you use your natural breath so dont try to control the breath, but if you are having trouble feeling it then you can have a few slightly stronger breaths so you are able to feel it
of course eyes closed the entire time you are meditating, opening your eyes for 1 second will distract you and ruin your focus
while you are learning to meditate you will experience something called 'monkey brain' which is where almost every 3 seconds, a thought or scenario from the past of future will pop into your head
simply give no importance to anything other than the awareness of your breath at that exact second and moment
also it is best if you stay as still as possible whilst having completely relaxed all the muscles in your body, and having a straight neck and back (a firm cushion under ur posterior will help with this)
theres so much to tell a novice meditator but i cant keep typing all day so check out this
e-book