How To Get Your Partner Into Meditation

[caption id="attachment_834429" align="alignleft" width="1068"] Bigstockphoto.com/Relaxed handsome african young man sitting and meditating on office chair[/caption] It can be hard to get men into holistic practices. Who are we kidding—it can be hard to get them to keep up with their modern medicine appointments like checkups and teeth cleanings. If you’re just barely winning that battle with your significant other, then you probably get a blank stare or a role of the eyes when you bring up things like acupuncture, Chinese herbs and—ah yes—meditation. But if you are an avid meditator then you know how amazing the benefits are. How could you not want your partner to experience those? If you really love your SO, then you don’t care if you have to drag him into the room, kicking and screaming; you’re getting him into meditation. Here are ways to get your partner into meditation. [caption id="attachment_700427" align="alignleft" width="420"] WENN[/caption]

Tell him about the pros who do it

LeBron James, Oprah, Arianna Huffington, Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, Steve Jobs and Deepak Chopra are all meditators, to name a few. You can probably list ten people your partner looks up to who meditate and who accredit meditation for their success.             [caption id="attachment_615357" align="alignleft" width="402"] Shutterstock[/caption]

Remind him it’ll be good for his career

Meditation helps you become very clear on what your next career steps should be, what you want out of your career, and how to believe in your ability to achieve those things. If your partner has been banging his head against the wall in his work life, suggest he try meditation for just ten minutes.           [caption id="attachment_700140" align="alignleft" width="420"] Image Source: Shutterstock[/caption]

Start it as a bedtime routine

If your partner suffers from insomnia, you could first introduce meditation as a bedtime routine. Pitch it as a simple relaxation breathing exercise that can lull him to sleep. He’ll discover the other benefits that come with it on his own.             [caption id="attachment_614693" align="alignleft" width="500"] Image Source: Shutterstock[/caption]

Bring up his blood pressure

If your partner has high blood pressure and comes from a family with a history of heart disease, notify him that meditation can reduce blood pressure in some individuals. So maybe he doesn’t need to cut back on some of his other vices quite as much if he picks up meditation.       [caption id="attachment_717909" align="alignleft" width="420"] Image Source: Shutterstock[/caption]

It’s cheaper than alcohol or massages

Tell him meditation leaves you feeling as relaxed (if not more relaxed) than a cocktail or a massage does and it’s free. If your partner loves to pinch pennies and hates to spend money on recreational activities, go with the financial pitch.             [caption id="attachment_620403" align="alignleft" width="500"] Image Source: Shutterstock[/caption]

Ease him into the music and the crystals

You may burn sage, hold crystals and play special meditation music when you meditate, but you’re going to have to ease your partner into those things. Just create a tidy, clean space for him and spray a little cleansing spray before he lies down.       [caption id="attachment_824800" align="alignleft" width="420"] Bigstockphoto.com/High Angle View Of Young African Female Janitor Cleaning Hardwood Floor With Vacuum Cleaner[/caption]

Promise him a reward

Promise your partner that if he doesn’t feel better after meditating that you will do his apartment chores for the week. He and you will know, based on the undeniable zen smile on his face and relaxed breathing, that the meditation worked. He won’t even want to lie and say it didn’t to get his reward—people become very honest after meditating.             [caption id="attachment_702823" align="alignleft" width="420"] Image Source: Shutterstock[/caption]

The first time, he’ll need to be calm

Even though your partner needs meditation more than ever when he’s stressed out, know that that’s the last time he’ll be willing try it for the first time. When your partner is stressed out, he is still in the mindset of “Need to do more, need to rush around.” Get him into meditation when he is relaxed; he’ll learn to do it when he’s stressed out on his own.             [caption id="attachment_714075" align="alignleft" width="420"] Image Source: Shutterstock[/caption]

Try some guided recordings

Your partner may need a little guidance, but he could feel too insecure to have you guide him through the meditation. Find a few guided meditation recordings for him. You may want to ask the male meditators you already know what they listen to (in other words, what won’t be too out there for your partner).             [caption id="attachment_612727" align="alignleft" width="420"] Corbis Images[/caption]

Show him the studies

Men like to see the numbers! They want hard facts. They want studies. Well, the studies are out there about how meditation helps with depression, chronic pain, anxiety, insomnia and more. Send your partner the studies.               [caption id="attachment_701345" align="alignleft" width="420"] Image Source: Shutterstock[/caption]

Let him see you when you’re done

Meditate when your partner is home so he can see how clearly relaxed and happy you are after it. You can’t quite convince your partner what good meditation does for you if he’s never around to see it.               [caption id="attachment_712126" align="alignleft" width="420"] Shutterstock[/caption]

Tell him it could improve your sex life

Because meditation helps us be fully present in our bodies, aware of and grateful for every sensation, it can make sex so much better. Consider mentioning that to your partner.               [caption id="attachment_712175" align="alignleft" width="420"] Image Source: Shutterstock[/caption]

Set aside time for it

If your partner still has the ironic belief that he is too stressed out to meditate then you certainly can’t get him into it when he’s busy. Find a day you know he’ll be free and relaxed—this could even be on vacation—and schedule meditation. If he knows he has nothing else to do at that time, he’ll be more prone to get into it.             [caption id="attachment_607642" align="alignleft" width="420"] Corbis[/caption]

It can help break bad habits

Does your partner need to quit smoking? Cut back on drinking? Wean himself off of fast food? Ease up on watching adult films? Meditation can help a lot. If he’s at the point where he’s willing to try anything to break a destructive habit, that could be your time to make your move.               [caption id="attachment_697511" align="alignleft" width="468"] Shutterstock[/caption]

Put all his favorite things in the space

Create a space full of things that have positive associations for your partner. You could bring out photos of his favorite family members or memorabilia from his childhood. Holding onto things that make you happy when you meditate can help you get into it.

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