Meditation, long associated with traditional Eastern religious and wellness practices, is increasingly becoming popular in the West. At a basic level, meditation trains the mind to focus exclusively on a given activity, thought, or object. It can lead to deep relaxation, peace of mind, and self-awareness.
There are different types of meditation. The most common are mindfulness meditation, movement meditation, mantra meditation, and transcendental meditation (TM).
The type of meditation you take up will be determined by what you want to achieve. What are the characteristics of the different meditation techniques?
Mindfulness meditation
Mindfulness meditation is the act of being completely aware of your current activity. It means being involved totally in what you are doing, without any distractions. It entails clearing your mind of any other thoughts, stresses, and concerns. As a beginner, it’s advisable to go step by step. Just find a quiet place to sit comfortably. Next, close your eyes and concentrate on your breath. When distracted, simply acknowledge the distracting thoughts, then bring your thoughts back to your breath.
Movement or walking meditation
In movement meditation, you are encouraged to focus on your movement. For instance, if you are walking, you need to focus on every movement of your feet. It entails becoming aware of the lifting and lowering of every foot, taking in every sensation that you experience. This creates mind-body awareness. Movement meditation comes in handy when you find it difficult to stay still. You still focus on an object of awareness while moving.
Mantra meditation
In mantra meditation, you chant a word, a phrase, or a sound repeatedly to clear the mind and induce concentration. You can chant the mantra loudly or quietly. After chanting the mantra for a while, you become more alert and aware of your environment, and your spiritual strengths come to the fore. Mantra meditation is ideal if you enjoy repetitions and don’t like silence.
Transcendental meditation (TM)
Founded by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, transcendental meditation induces a state of peace and calmness. To practice transcendental meditation, you need instruction from a certified TM instructor. The instructor comes up with a mantra that you then repeat during meditation.
The above are just a few of the meditation methods available. Choose the one that suits you. You can teach yourself some meditation methods, whereas you need an instructor for others.
