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Practical Meditation for Beginners: 10 Days to a Happier, Calmer You

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Master 10 meditation techniques in 10 days with the step- by-step method in Practical Meditation for Beginners.

The key to building a solid meditation practice is in the practice itself. From Zen and Vipassana to walking meditations and body scans, the simple practices outlined in Practical Meditation for Beginners make it easy to build an ongoing meditation routine that is best for you.

Written by experienced meditation teacher Benjamin Decker, Practical Meditation for Beginners offers a clear 10-day program for learning 10 different meditation techniques―one for each day of the program. Newcomers and experienced meditators alike will enjoy the ease and variety presented in Practical Meditation for Beginners.

In the pages of Practical Meditation for Beginners you’ll find:

Logical chapter organization that sets a daily structure for building your meditation skill set
Step-by-step instructions to help you fully engage in each of the 10 techniques
Thoughtful writing prompts for recording daily insights in your Meditation Notebook
Accessible and effective, Practical Meditation for Beginners is a true how-to guide that will empower you to meditate with confidence right away.

180 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 2018

1635 people are currently reading
652 people want to read

About the author

Benjamin W. Decker

8 books12 followers
Ben Decker is a social activist, meditation teacher and entrepreneur. His love for meditation & the spiritual teachings of ancient traditions goes back to childhood. Ever the idealist and enthusiastic learner, this enthusiasm for meditation has won him praise by Conscious Lifestyle Magazine as “one of the world’s leading meditation teachers,” and Well + Good as a “superstar meditation instructor.” Ben has shared his love of meditation with thousands. His work is universal, well-rounded and rooted in ancient wisdom & modern pragmatism.

In Los Angeles, Ben is a founding Meditation Teacher at Unplug Meditation, Wanderlust Hollywood, The DEN Meditation & Mystic Journey. A lifelong meditator, the spiritual household of his youth held strong emphasis on discipline and spiritual development. He receives ongoing private mentorship in Mindfulness through the OpenMind Training Institute and at The Institute For Transformational Thinking. Ben hosts an annual wellness retreat at Rythmia Life Advancement Center in Playa Avellana, Costa Rica

Modern, entertaining, and easy to understand, Ben’s classes take even the novice meditator into a deep exploration of their own psyche.

In Fall of 2016 he launched his first online meditation offering on the Unplug Meditation Guided Meditation App.

He worked closely with anti-human trafficking organization Unlikely Heroes in the United States and The Philippines and received the Unlikely Heroes Legacy Award in 2012. He also supports the efforts of anti-human trafficking organizations Children of the Night, Saving Innocence, International Justice Mission, The Somaly Mam Foundation, and Together 1 Heart, as well as humanitarian aid organizations Generosity.org and the American Red Cross.

Once praised by Forbes as a "legendary PR maven," and "a shining example of the talent the philanthropic community needs to attract," Decker left a prolific career in Hollywood to dedicate his professional life to sharing the universal teachings of global ancient traditions and conscious activism.

Endorsed by New York Times Bestselling Authors Marianne Williamson (A Return To Love) and Sharon Salzberg (Real Happiness), his first book, Practical Meditation For Beginners becomes available worldwide in May, 2018.

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Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
Profile Image for Dul.
411 reviews241 followers
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May 16, 2023
Es la primera vez que leo un libro sobre meditación y debo decir que me gusto seguir la guía.


En esta guía el autor nos aventura en un viaje en la cual nos muestra las 10 meditaciones en estos 10 días. Algo que debo incluir es que el autor puso preguntas para qué pudiéramos expresar lo que sentimos mientras estábamos meditando e incluso en cada meditación nos recomienda algunas lecturas.


No soy experta, pero me pareció una muy buena experiencia y lo recomendaría para personas que quisieran empezar con la meditación e informarse a la vez.
Profile Image for Sara Bruhns.
70 reviews2 followers
October 24, 2020
Excellent practical guide exploring different meditation techniques for a complete beginner. Exactly what I was looking for!

Decker introduces the reader to 10 different meditation (I had no idea there were that many!) techniques on a curated journey that starts super simple and short, and slowly expands your abilities and length of meditation. He goes over all the basics like body and hand positions, and his stepped guide for the meditation itself is very easy to follow. There's no need to feel intimidated with this guidebook!

An added bonus is that for each meditation, he includes suggestions for deepening the experience. So now that I'm done with my 10 days, I'll still be referring back to this book not only for refreshers on each technique but also for tips as I become more advanced.

I don't have a single complaint about this book! I would highly recommend for anyone with even just a passing interest in meditation; this 10 day program is a great way to dip your feet without needing to commit. And for anyone who's serious, this a great, comprehensive starting point for the practice itself.
Profile Image for Ana-Maria Petre.
140 reviews51 followers
March 14, 2022
As a casual meditator, I was looking for a more structured approach in my meditation practice. This was just what I needed. It is very straightforward and well organized and it helps give some consistency to someone like me. Most of the different practices in this book I'd heard about before, some I haven't tried before because they didn't sound comfortable (mantra meditation, I'm looking at you). But I was surprised to find I actually liked many of these that I wasn't expecting to like. Also, the note taking at the end of each was tremendously helpful in figuring out what clicks best with me. Overall, a very simple and useful little read.
Profile Image for Karla ✨.
103 reviews1 follower
June 1, 2023
Siento que es una guía bastante útil y fácil de seguir, ya que paso a paso nos enseña diversas maneras de meditar, con el objetivo de encontrar cuáles se adecuan más a nuestro estilo de vida 💚
Profile Image for Will O'Hara.
128 reviews5 followers
August 11, 2025
good introduction to meditation, and a good way to begin a consistent practice. also has lots of other recommendations for deepening your practice
Profile Image for Rachel DeVaughn.
1,063 reviews31 followers
September 30, 2018
This book is divided up in 10 days-10 chapters to help readers start their journey with meditation. The author included a chapter on "how to use this book" and states that research says it can take as few as few as four days to experience measurable benefits from meditation.

The author recommends following the program straight through for the full 10 days without shipping a day.

At the end of each chapter/day there is space for journaling, steps to take before and during each meditation practice, what you'll need and going deeper into that days practice.

I found day 4 (mindful eating) and day 6 (walking meditation) most helpful to me.

I received a copy of this book complimentary for blog and social media review. All opinions are my own.
Profile Image for Lauren.
200 reviews3 followers
November 13, 2018
Great intro to meditation. The author goes through 10 different types of meditation in a step by step format and also includes ways to deepen your practice for each type. Will definitely continue to reference this book.
Profile Image for Cheri Flake.
Author 1 book11 followers
September 8, 2018
This is an excellent intro to meditation. Highly recommended.
Profile Image for T. Laane.
732 reviews94 followers
April 8, 2025
What a nice surprise this book is. In the beginning it claimed to give 10 different ways for meditation, I thought I would get 10 different mantras etc - but no, it adressed many valuable new thins like eating mindfully, listening to all parts of your body, listening to past hurtful experiences etc. And yea, the typical mantras and “OHM” were there too :D And with each one it listed the benefits - e.g. with eating (and drinking) mindfully takes way less quantities to feel satisfied etc.
MINDFULNESS AND SELF-PERCEPTION. The thoughts we have about ourselves, including the negative ones, are often distorted. So You are not as negative as you think. Remind yourself that your thoughts are not necessarily true - you're not the thoughts themselves but the thinker behind them. And a much better one than your critical thoughts might say :)
MEDITATION PRACTICES. The book offers a variety of meditative exercises to deepen mindfulness. One practice involves focusing on the space around you - left, right, front, and back - while breathing deeply and becoming present in that awareness. Another emphasizes mindful eating: when you eat or drink with intention, savoring every bite or sip, you naturally avoid overeating and appreciate your food more. Walking meditations teach mindfulness with each step, imagining you're kissing the Earth with your feet and sensing every nuance of movement. There's also mantra meditation, where repeating affirmations like "I am happy and healthy" engages both supportive and critical aspects of your mind, helping you uncover areas for growth and change.
BODY AWARENESS AND HEALING. Lying down and focusing on each part of your body brings both relaxation and reflection. As you concentrate on each limb or area, you may realize how well (or poorly) you treat that part, inspiring positive changes to care for yourself better.
EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE. Sitting with grief or bad memories encourages acceptance rather than resistance. Pairing with someone who is grieving and refraining from interrupting their tears (e.g., by offering tissues) demonstrates the power of holding space for emotions without judgment. When you recognize that emotions and thoughts are temporary, you gain the ability to let go of those that no longer serve you.
LOVE AND KINDNESS MEDITATION. Sending love and kindness to everyone, including those you dislike, is transformative. Initially, it might feel unnatural, but it fosters deeper understanding by encouraging you to understand their motives, upbringing, and personal challenges. This exercise bridges the gap between resistance and acceptance, allowing you to see others - and all reality - more clearly, without fighting against their personalities. It’s a profound step toward understanding and empathy.
MINDFULNESS IN DAILY LIFE. The book highlights how mindfulness, even in simple acts like eating or drinking without big gulps and bites, can elevate your awareness and bring you closer to appreciating the present moment. Yesterday after reading, I noticed my own lack of mindfulness while eating, and this realization underscored the importance of these practices.
FINAL INSIGHT. When you face the right direction in life, all you need to do is walk forward. This quote beautifully encapsulates the power of mindfulness and meditation: aligning yourself with the path you wish to take and trusting each step as it comes.
Profile Image for Serrat Books.
261 reviews17 followers
July 21, 2023
Este libro es una verdadera joya para quienes desean comenzar su práctica de meditación. Ofrece una guía clara y concisa con 10 tipos diferentes de meditación para principiantes, cada técnica viene con explicaciones paso a paso y ejemplos prácticos que facilitan el aprendizaje. 

Lo que más me sorprendió gratamente es la variedad de técnicas de meditación que presenta este libro. Las explicaciones son fáciles de seguir, lo que lo hace accesible para cualquier principiante. Cada capítulo explora un tipo diferente de meditación, y te sientes como si un experto estuviera guiándote paso a paso. La lectura es fluida y amigable, lo que hace que la meditación se convierta en una experiencia agradable y relajante. 

La simplicidad y claridad con la que se abordan los diferentes tipos de meditación hacen de este libro una lectura imprescindible para principiantes. Cada capítulo está diseñado de manera inteligente, lo que permite que la información se absorba fácilmente. Además, los beneficios físicos y mentales de la meditación están muy bien explicados, lo que motiva a seguir practicando. Es un recurso valioso para quienes buscan paz interior.

Me quedé impresionada con la cantidad de información valiosa que este libro ofrece.
Profile Image for Valery VS.
22 reviews3 followers
May 11, 2023
🧘🏻‍♀️ Está guía para principiantes es una muy buena opción para iniciar con la meditación, pues el autor ha tomado las cosas más importantes de otras lecturas y además ha plasmado sus experiencias propias en esta guía para que sea lo más completa posible.

🕊️ Me parece sorprendente que haya tanto aquí y a la vez sea tan corta. Esta guía no es simplemente un paso a paso de cómo practicar la meditación sino que está dividido en 10 etapas, para 10 días.

🌱 Cada una de estas etapas tiene una estructura muy fácil de seguir que ameniza toda la práctica.
1. Introducción de la práctica (¿Qué es?)
2. ¿Que necesitas? (Materiales)
3. Como hacerlo (Imágenes de referencia).
4. ¿Que obtendrás? (Beneficios)
5. Observaciones
6. Notas del día (Aquí cada quien escribe su experiencia)

🌈 Hay que darnos cuenta que meditar no solo se trata de sentarse y respirar, sino hay mucho más, desde la forma en la saboreamos un aperitivo, hasta como caminamos y observamos el entorno. Todo esto nos lo cuentan en esta guía y aunque quizá no queramos meternos de lleno en la meditación, alguna experiencia nunca está de más y les aseguro que irá para bien.
Profile Image for Ahlina.
Author 1 book66 followers
Read
May 30, 2023
Jamás me había puesto a meditar hasta que leí este libro. Siempre creí que meditar solo sería sentarte y poner tu mente en blanco pero gracias a la guía para principiantes comprendí que es mucho más que eso 🫶

Es cierto que comenzar con este hábito es algo complicado pero tener un libro que te acompañe lo hace mucho más rápido, además que te sintetiza todo lo que tienes que saber de cada tipo de meditación e incluso te enseña otras lecturas que te pueden ayudar a entenderlo mejor.

Fue una experiencia linda, algunas veces difícil por mi falta de concentración y también diría que relajante.

Me parece una perfecta forma de empezar con la meditación 🧘‍♀️ y es un libro que puedes utilizar día a día pues las indicaciones son muy sencillas y es muy poquito tiempo el que inviertes en esto (10, 15 o 20 minutos), no hay razón para dejarlo de lado una vez que terminen los 10 días.
Profile Image for Adriana Sandoval.
398 reviews1 follower
June 10, 2023
4✨️ ¡Gran libro!
Esta es una guía de 10 días para aprender a meditar, ideal para principiantes.
Cada día es una técnica diferente de meditación, paso a paso con frases clave y diferentes posturas. Esta guía nos explica desde la teoría con cada estudio realizado el cual demuestra los beneficios para la salud en general. Además al finalizar cada día nos deja una página para que podamos escribir nuestra experiencia, ahora les platico la mia; Yo nunca habia meditado y si, realice las 10 meditaciónes, y aunque pude entender la intención de cada una, siendo que no realice ningún progreso en mi, pero eso es obvio, todo es cuestión de constancia y se que adoptando estas técnicas puedo mejorar mi vida para bien. Se los recomiendo si quieren cambiar su vida y su percepción de la misma.
Profile Image for Dodee.
Author 5 books3 followers
June 6, 2021
A great book for novices and advanced meditators alike. Especially if you teach meditation b/c it can help bring yourself back to the fundamentals which can assist in teaching a beginner. For a beginner the photos, illustrations and narration is so easily assimilated that I feel it encourages everyone to try meditation.

Meditating is such a healthy practice. It does so much to increase brain size, sharpen memory and get to know your true self. It is a way to build surrendered focus and connect with the living Spirit of Creation.
Profile Image for Jan Carlson.
927 reviews
December 4, 2021
I attended a webinar on meditation about a year ago which only covered one technique. This book describes 10 techniques including their benefits. The technique I've been using is one of the 10. The book is well-organized and easy to understand. I read the entire book before trying any of the techniques. There were two that interested me, and I've incorporated them in my daily routine. For someone who wants to try meditation, this is a great guide to get started.
262 reviews5 followers
January 12, 2021
Good.

This book was a very different read for me. I honestly didn't know what I was getting into. I am so glad I decided to read this book! It was helpful, insightful, enlightening and educational. I would honestly recommend this book to everyone, even if you're a skeptic on the matter.
5 reviews
December 10, 2023
Great book!

An excellent starting point for anyone interested in meditation.
Most books focus on only one technique, and learning the basics of ten different techniques that build on each other is an amazing experience.
The glossary and suggested reading at the end of each chapter makes this book really worth keeping around.
Profile Image for Ala.
390 reviews9 followers
September 26, 2024
An excellent guide for anyone interested in exploring different meditation styles. The book’s simplicity and practical approach make it accessible and easy to follow. Each meditation technique is clearly explained and laid out in a step by step way, to allow readers to explore and reflect on their experience.
Highly recommended for anyone seeking self peace and serenity.
2 reviews
May 28, 2019
It's truly a practical guide.

Even my goal was not (initially) to begin meditation, it allows me to choose a couple of techniques that I think I may like when I'll begin my journey.
41 reviews1 follower
June 22, 2020
Easy to digest for a new meditatior person. It guides you.and make.it easy and lovely to learn

It guides you through the book
Easy to.learn if you are new in this aspect of your life
With great tips
Profile Image for Kelli.
172 reviews5 followers
January 14, 2019
A lot of great info on the different types of meditation. You're sure to find something that works for you.
62 reviews
Read
October 12, 2019
Good book,easy to read.

I didn't get everything i wanted to out of it i wanted to, possibly because of my concentrating and not because of the book itself.
Profile Image for Tim Ouellette.
Author 17 books24 followers
June 7, 2020
Uplifting

Thos book is a really good primer on meditation. It walked me through the various techniques with a focus on after meditation journaling, a practice I'll continue.
26 reviews
June 18, 2020
Good review of the types of meditation with enough background to get you interested . Not to much data that makes mediating feel like a chore.
3 reviews
August 3, 2021
An amazing book with a lot of information and with bear of other books enjoyable and you can feel better completely
Profile Image for Abhay.
90 reviews
October 8, 2021
Very practical and simple to read.. i really liked it
Profile Image for Élie Fries.
78 reviews
February 4, 2022
Livre très intéressant pour introduire ou réintroduire quelqu'un à la méditation.
Profile Image for Jennifer Cagle.
778 reviews1 follower
September 2, 2022
I thought this was a wonderful book to get a person to begin a meditation journey. It has helpful insights and actually guides a person through ten separate meditations.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews

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