With the hectic pace at which modern life operates, it is no wonder that many of us are losing touch with our inner peace and sense of tranquility. Heart disease and high blood pressure are conditions on the rise in our ever-demanding way of life.
If you ever feel strung out or too stressed to function, meditation is a simple technique that can work wonders and improve your physical, spiritual, emotional and mental well-being.
Types of meditation
There are a number of different types of meditation. Each work in different ways and are preferred by different people. Try out a few of these types to see which works best for you!
Movement Based Meditation
Meditation that uses movement is often a great place to start if you have not tried meditating before. Calm and gentle movements help bring your mind’s attention to the movement rather than racing ahead, thinking about all the things you need to do for the day.
Yoga, tai chi, Qi gong and walking meditations are examples of how movement can be integrated into a meditation practice.
It can be quite hard to silence the mind at times. If you are faced with this challenge, mindful movement can help you focus and clear your mind of unnecessary thoughts while also getting in some physical exercise.
Breathing meditations
Using the breath to bring the mind to stillness is a common meditation technique used across a number of different cultures and practices. In yogic traditions, the art of Pranayama focuses on cultivating the breath and using it to bring focus to the mind while invigorating the body.
Unlike movement based meditations, a certain level of mastery over the mind is needed in order to stay focused during a breathing meditation session. Be patient with yourself if you’re just starting out with this type of meditation.
Guided meditation
Guided meditations are facilitated by a meditation practitioner either in person or through a recording. They guide the listener into a deep state of relaxation by focusing on imagery or sensations in the body.
This type of meditation is fantastic for anyone who has trouble sleeping or bringing their mind to stillness. It’s also well suited to beginners as you’ll be guided through every step of the way by an experienced facilitator.
Just sit back, listen and relax!
Silent meditation
One of the most challenging, yet rewarding, types of meditations is silent meditation. Whether you commit to silence of the body, speech and mind for a dedicated amount of time each day or if you attend a silent meditation retreat, you’ll be sure to gain something from this practice.
It is usually not recommended for beginners to jump straight to silent meditation on their own as a certain level of mental control must be achieved for the practice to be successful. It is far too easy for monkey mind to take over!
A ten day silent Vipassana retreat might be a good option for you if you’re interested in taking your meditation to the next level in a guided setting. In the retreat environment, you’ll be able to dive deeper in your practice without the hustle and bustle of daily life interrupting your flow.
Loving kindness meditation
The meditation practices we’ve mentioned so far are all internally focused. There are also practices which focus externally. Loving kindness meditation, for instance, focuses on sharing love and kindness with all living beings. Known as “metta” in Buddhist traditions, it is a simple act of goodwill and sharing of positive energy.
Similarly, gratitude meditation is also a simple yet powerful practice, focusing on all the things in your life which ignite a warm feeling of gratitude.
Getting started with meditation
Depending on your level of experience with meditation, you might feel comfortable to jump into trying out the different types mentioned above.
If you’re totally new to meditating, feel free to book in a private consultation with us where we can show you how to cultivate a solid meditation practice and guide you along the journey.
You can also book a session if you’re an intermediate or advanced meditator looking to go deeper with your practice.
