How I Meditate: Biet Simkin Shares

Many of our readers want to meditate, but have a hard time fitting the practice into their days. Others are too intimidated to start. To make it a little easier to meditate, we've reached out to a few of the pros to show you how they practice. Meet Biet Simkin, a leading meditation teacher, artist, and founder of The Center Of The Cyclone, based in New York City. Hopefully she will inspire you to tune in, breathe deep, and calm down.

Where do you meditate?

An empty, well-lit studio space.

When?

Midday, I usually meditate as soon as I wake up, or in the first few hours, and then again later in the day.

What type of meditation do you practice?

I'm practicing the Center of the Cyclone meditation, which is a system I founded. It is a collection of ancient techniques that I felt were well-suited for a more emotional meditation.

Props used?

I usually meditate on a cushion, surrounded by Indian blankets. I always light a candle, and I usually gaze at fresh-cut flowers.

One of my favorite things to do is to gather with hundreds of my friends and lead them through a meditation. When I'm leading, I'm also meditating. Meditation is the art of being present and transmuting moods, feelings, and ideas so that they all flow easily through the system.

What is your advice for people who can't sit still?

If you can't sit still, start with a 30-day commitment to a 10-minute, slow-moving meditation. One option could be doing a yogic eye exercise where one rotates the eyes in a clock wise and then counter clockwise motion several times back and forth while breathing. Another more kinetic option would be a slow moving dance across ones room while breathing and gazing at a candle.

If all that sounds too distracting one can also just sit still and try a mantra of "I can sit still" over and over in the mind. Because the truth is generally we are all very "wrong" about what we can and can't do!

And what if they still can't get started?