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7 Types Of Meditation And Which One Is Right For You
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Most often than not, life is stressful. Meditation is an efficient way to battle stress. It comes with a range of other benefits, including improved focus and sleep, emotional and mental health, and better mood, as well as such physical benefits as lowered blood pressure and resting heart rate.
Different types of meditation exist. Whether you are new to meditating or looking for a way to branch out, you will surely find a style that will cater to your needs and preferences.
Different types of meditation exist. Whether you are new to meditating or looking for a way to branch out, you will surely find a style that will cater to your needs and preferences.
7 Different Types Of Meditation
If you are interested in trying new meditation techniques but are not sure where to start, here are seven types of meditation to learn about and make a choice.
1. Mindfulness Meditation
Mindfulness meditation is one of the most popular types of meditation. This practice implies paying close attention to all the thoughts running through your head. Even if you are experiencing negative thoughts, you shouldn’t push them away. Instead, you should try to accept them and let them go.
This mindfulness practice helps calm your mind and learn to not judge your thoughts and feelings.
What makes this meditation style so popular is that it can be practiced anywhere, anytime, and without any props. You can practice mindfulness just by sitting comfortably and concentrating on your breath and observing how your body feels. You can also concentrate on an object or practice mindfulness while doing housework. The key is bringing all your attention to the present moment.
If you are interested in trying new meditation techniques but are not sure where to start, here are seven types of meditation to learn about and make a choice.
1. Mindfulness Meditation
Mindfulness meditation is one of the most popular types of meditation. This practice implies paying close attention to all the thoughts running through your head. Even if you are experiencing negative thoughts, you shouldn’t push them away. Instead, you should try to accept them and let them go.
This mindfulness practice helps calm your mind and learn to not judge your thoughts and feelings.
What makes this meditation style so popular is that it can be practiced anywhere, anytime, and without any props. You can practice mindfulness just by sitting comfortably and concentrating on your breath and observing how your body feels. You can also concentrate on an object or practice mindfulness while doing housework. The key is bringing all your attention to the present moment.
2. Body Scan
Body scan meditation is closely linked to progressive muscle relaxation. This meditation is especially helpful for people who feel tension in certain muscles. This practice implies closing the eyes and scanning the body to find the areas of tension. Tightening and relaxing certain muscle groups is often a part of body scan meditation. Aside from helping you relax, this meditation technique also helps improve self-awareness and focus. It helps relieve chronic pain and anxiety.
3. Transcendental Meditation
Transcendental meditation is a simple meditation technique everyone can try. To practice it, you simply need to sit comfortably and close your eyes. You don’t need any guidance or props. Silently repeat a mantra for 15 to 20 minutes. Do this practice twice a day. The benefits of transcendental meditation include increased productivity and focus, improved focus, reduced stress and anxiety, better sleep, etc.
4. Loving-kindness Meditation
If your goal is to promote compassion and focus on loving energy toward yourself and others, then this is the meditation style you should try. This meditation style is good for people who often experience feelings of anger and fear. The loving-kindness meditation is also good for reducing stress and anxiety. When practicing loving-kindness meditation, you should open your mind and heart to receiving love from others and sending love too.
Body scan meditation is closely linked to progressive muscle relaxation. This meditation is especially helpful for people who feel tension in certain muscles. This practice implies closing the eyes and scanning the body to find the areas of tension. Tightening and relaxing certain muscle groups is often a part of body scan meditation. Aside from helping you relax, this meditation technique also helps improve self-awareness and focus. It helps relieve chronic pain and anxiety.
3. Transcendental Meditation
Transcendental meditation is a simple meditation technique everyone can try. To practice it, you simply need to sit comfortably and close your eyes. You don’t need any guidance or props. Silently repeat a mantra for 15 to 20 minutes. Do this practice twice a day. The benefits of transcendental meditation include increased productivity and focus, improved focus, reduced stress and anxiety, better sleep, etc.
4. Loving-kindness Meditation
If your goal is to promote compassion and focus on loving energy toward yourself and others, then this is the meditation style you should try. This meditation style is good for people who often experience feelings of anger and fear. The loving-kindness meditation is also good for reducing stress and anxiety. When practicing loving-kindness meditation, you should open your mind and heart to receiving love from others and sending love too.
5. Spiritual Meditation
Spiritual meditation is a collective name given to meditation techniques present in different cultures and religions. This meditation technique is good for people who are looking to connect with higher powers and their higher selves. Christian contemplative prayer, Hindu mantra mediation, and metta meditation in Buddhism are some examples of spiritual meditation. If you are looking for spiritual growth, mental clarity, and increased self-acceptance, then finding a type of spiritual meditation that works for you is certainly a good idea.
6. Movement Meditation
Movement meditation is good for people who want to meditate while also having some kind of physical activity. During movement meditation, you should focus on body movements. Movement meditation energizes your body while calming your mind. This meditation style may include walking, dancing, tai chi (a series of gentle exercises), yoga, and stretching.
7. Visualization Meditation
This meditation style uses imagery to promote feelings of relaxation and peace. You can practice visualization meditation in a few different ways. When practicing visualization meditation, you can imagine a positive image or scene, a bright light shining away from you, visualize achieving your goals, etc. When doing this, try not to think about anything else and breathe naturally.
Spiritual meditation is a collective name given to meditation techniques present in different cultures and religions. This meditation technique is good for people who are looking to connect with higher powers and their higher selves. Christian contemplative prayer, Hindu mantra mediation, and metta meditation in Buddhism are some examples of spiritual meditation. If you are looking for spiritual growth, mental clarity, and increased self-acceptance, then finding a type of spiritual meditation that works for you is certainly a good idea.
6. Movement Meditation
Movement meditation is good for people who want to meditate while also having some kind of physical activity. During movement meditation, you should focus on body movements. Movement meditation energizes your body while calming your mind. This meditation style may include walking, dancing, tai chi (a series of gentle exercises), yoga, and stretching.
7. Visualization Meditation
This meditation style uses imagery to promote feelings of relaxation and peace. You can practice visualization meditation in a few different ways. When practicing visualization meditation, you can imagine a positive image or scene, a bright light shining away from you, visualize achieving your goals, etc. When doing this, try not to think about anything else and breathe naturally.
How To Choose The Right Type For You
Trying to find a type of meditation that works for you may be overwhelming. You can, of course, try out different meditation styles and techniques until you find the one that works best for you. But this can rather challenging and may throw you off as you fail to find the perfect match for your needs and preferences.
To make things easier, as yourself a few questions to narrow down the list of meditation types that may be a good fit for you.
What Are The Benefits That You Are Looking For?
While all types of meditation are good for mental and physical well-being, the benefits may differ from type to type. For example, the loving-kindness meditation is exceptionally good when you are trying to find forgiveness, movement meditation is amazing for people who are looking for ways to enhance their physical activity, etc.
Do you want to practice it on your own or do you need someone to guide you? Are you looking for a type of meditation that you can practice at your desk or are you after a practice that will make you move or go out?
Lastly, how do you want to feel after meditating? Are you looking for a practice that will leave you energized or something that makes you feel calmer, nourished, etc.?
Trying to find a type of meditation that works for you may be overwhelming. You can, of course, try out different meditation styles and techniques until you find the one that works best for you. But this can rather challenging and may throw you off as you fail to find the perfect match for your needs and preferences.
To make things easier, as yourself a few questions to narrow down the list of meditation types that may be a good fit for you.
What Are The Benefits That You Are Looking For?
While all types of meditation are good for mental and physical well-being, the benefits may differ from type to type. For example, the loving-kindness meditation is exceptionally good when you are trying to find forgiveness, movement meditation is amazing for people who are looking for ways to enhance their physical activity, etc.
Do you want to practice it on your own or do you need someone to guide you? Are you looking for a type of meditation that you can practice at your desk or are you after a practice that will make you move or go out?
Lastly, how do you want to feel after meditating? Are you looking for a practice that will leave you energized or something that makes you feel calmer, nourished, etc.?
While you will surely benefit greatly from any meditation style you try, it is always helpful to explore and find the style that works best for you. Just keep an open mind and don’t limit yourself!
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