A meditation teacher will tell you, “Meditation is inner astronomy. You discover the stars, the moon and the sun are all inside you.” The allure of learning to meditate is the belief that Eastern philosophy and practice holds the key to understanding oneself. One may go through his or her whole life, always feeling that there is something more to life than the 40-hour work week or following a set of life stages that has been predetermined by societal norms. Meditation brings a sense of fullness, completion and tranquility to those who practice, which is a wonderful coping mechanism in today’s high-stress environment.

The first step in learning to meditate is understanding the concept. The Western notion of meditation is “to focus one’s thoughts or ponder over.” However, the Eastern idea of spiritual meditation is “the all and the everything,” says writer George Gurdjieff. Instead, meditation becomes the absence of thought, judgment and distraction — but rather, the absorption of a sense of serenity and love. Some Westerners hesitate to get involved with meditation because these concepts seem too lofty, but once the mental and physical benefits of meditating are realized, it’s hard to resist.

The “recliner chair method” is useful for people who are learning to meditate and fear that the traditional Asian cross-legged position may be uncomfortable. The same exercise benefits can be achieved by sitting upright in a recliner with your feet on the floor. Another method asks you to set your chair to a medium recline position, relax your legs, point your knees out to the sides of the chair, put the soles of your feet together and put your hands over your chest to direct the energy into your heart. While it may seem like a strange way to sit, meditation students have reported losing all track of time, meditating for two hours without discomfort.

One obstacle many people face when learning to meditate is drowsiness. Many new meditators feel they will be most comfortable lying in a darkened room. However, once heart rate and circulation decreases while meditating, sleep chemicals like melatonin and dopamine will also be released. The end result will be a state of sleep-hypnosis and not true meditation. Meditation instruction trains your body to be as if sleeping but your mind to be fully aware. Your teacher will probably instruct you to sit on a floor cushion with your legs crossed and your eyes open, cast slightly downward.

More and more Americans are learning to meditate, now that the benefits of meditation have been scientifically studied. There is much left to learn, yet brain scans are showing researchers that just 40 minutes of meditation each day can actually change the composition of the brain. Participants in the 2009 Massachusetts General Hospital study increased the thickness in cortical regions of the brain related to visual, auditory, sensory and internal perception. This is also the hemisphere of the brain associated with focus, concentration and awareness. Additionally, meditation was found to slow age-related thinning of the frontal cortex.

In today’s stress filled society, meditation might be just what you need to manage your life more effectively. Learning some easy meditation techniques can calm and focus your mind, and help you gain awareness of yourself and your surroundings.