One primary approach to meditation is to become familiar with different methods of breathing: energizing and calming techniques. Pay attention to your normal way of breathing during regular activities. Do you tend to shallow breathe? Do you notice that when you are anxious you "forget" to breath? Do you find yourself holding your breath? We all have developed some non-productive breathing habits. Noticing what they are is the first step to correcting them.
When you first begin to practice there is a tendency to expect results. Think about your purpose for meditating. Calming the mind, developing greater mental clarity, energizing the body are some of the 'results' one could expect. Or are you looking for spiritual expansion or bliss? All of these occur; but each moment of what we normally think of as advancement (a movement -- an active, visible, viable effect) will come in it's own time. Those moments will appear when you set aside agendas and think of meditation as a gift you give to yourself each day; a few minutes of quality time spent with just you and your self.
There is no need to push for perfect technique. It's a bit like sex. Your lover can have perfect technique but if there's no real energy flow between the two of you it just doesn't work. So drop the idea of concentrating exclusively on technique, and just breathe and observe your energy flows. Your self will respond to this intimate communication.
Inhale slowly, deeply, through the nostrils. Simultaneously, distend the abdomen, filling the lower lungs with air. Continue the inhalation by slightly contracting the abdominal muscles and expanding the chest, lifting the shoulders to allow more air to enter the upper lungs. Hold this breath for 5 seconds. Then exhale, slowly, reversing the process by relaxing the shoulders, chest, and then contracting the abdomen. Repeat this breath slowly three to ten times.
Repeat the process for the Calming breath, but increase the speed at which you rotate through the cycle; do not pause between inhalation and exhalation, and exhale through pursed lips.
The Huna Breath (the larger wave) is a combination of 4 sets of 4 inhalations/exhalations of the smaller wave (the Dolphin Breath).
The Dolphin Breath (the smaller wave) consists of the following movements: (1) hold the image of inhaling upward from the feet & downward from just above the head, simultaneously, (2) image the breath meeting at the heart chakra (pausing), and (3) image the exhalation as flowing outward from the heart chakra into one's surrounding energy body.
Repeat the Dolphin Breath for 4 sets of 4 breaths to complete one Huna Breath. Pause, without breathing, for five seconds between each set and sense the outer energy body. Energy gathered with intention, stored with intention, and offered with intention is an integral key to the success of this meditation.
Next prepare to send your intention to the supraconcious (High Self) in as concise visual/emotional terms as possible. ( It can be beneficial to pursue an open inquiry: to request whatever information would be of most value at the present moment).
Gather the energy you have stored and send this as a gift to the higher aspects of self (above the crown chakra).
Activate the emotional body by considering the importance of pursuing this information and the contact with that part of your self that possesses far reaching vision. Visualize your request clearly, and with as much detail, as possible. If the request is specific and a timeframe for completion is appropriate, then give one.
Gather the intention into an energy ball, and ask Low Self (subconscious) to relay your message to High Self (superconscious). Allow the energy to rise from your feet to the top of your head. Now release the intention to that space beyond your physical form. Give thanks to the higher aspects of self for the information you will receive. And wait, without expectation, with as little preconception and wandering thought as possible.
It is helpful to record whatever impressions you receive. This signals the subconscious that you are indeed listening. The subconscious is your relay mechanism. If it perceives that you (conscious mind) aren't truly interested in the answer, it tends to ignore your request to deliver the question.
This is an old samurai technique of sleeping in focused attention.
Drop your attention into your Chi point (the chakra just below the navel). Maintain your attention at this location until you fall asleep. This is an excellent way to gather energy.
It is also very helpful for maintaining a hypnogogic state. If you still fall off to sleep too soon you will at least gather more energy for your next attempt. By using this method, I have been able to hover on that borderline between wakefulness and sleep for two to three hours; and with only three hours sleep still feel rested and alert in the morning.
An added advantage: it will be impossible for anyone, no matter how steathily they approach, to surprise you in your sleep. This was one of the reasons for it's use by the warriors of old.
There are some very good articles about the nuances of meditation, variations of, and differences in types. I recommend you read some of these excellent materials: Skillful Means.