The 34-year-old now meditates daily and has developed the meditation app Soul Alive, where he teaches others the practice through online classes. If you want to begin meditation, it can be hard to know where to start. McLeod offers the following advice...
Let it Go
Do you want to meditate to quiet your mind or de-stress? Whatever problem you want meditation to solve, McLeod says it’s best to forget it.
“By letting go of the outcome you are wanting meditation to deliver on, whatever that might be, you are allowing the present moment to do its magic,” he says.
“Meditation, unlike most things in our life, works through letting go, not by moving forward or achieving something.”
Find your fit
“Just like physical exercise, there are a lot of different ways you can ‘workout’ the mind,” he says.
“Some of us are more visual than auditory, so find a style of meditation that resonates with you.”
Consistency is key
As McLeod explains, the saying “practise makes perfect” is applicable to meditation.
“Aim for consistency rather than length – 10 minutes of meditation every day of the week will outweigh one hour of meditation once a week,” he says.
“By breaking it into regular bite-sized moments, it makes the whole process a lot more manageable and will actually have a greater impact, too.”
Wipe the slate clean
Meditation often comprises similar actions or positions each time you practise, which as McLeod explains can get repetitive.
“Once you’ve been meditating for a while, you may become bored or complacent with it,” he explains.
“By treating every new meditation like it’s the first time you’ve ever meditated, you keep this fresh and curious approach.”