5 Types Of Meditation You Can Practice Everyday
What Is Meditation?
Meditation is simply a practice of different techniques such as focusing the mind on some object, sound. In simple words, meditation is training the attention of your mind. Many people have different definitions of it like thinking deeply about something, mental exercise, sitting quietly for a while, or chanting something. No matter what the definition of it is the only thing you need to understand is meditation is a healing process. Meditation is a great tool for reducing stress and understanding yourself. Often, we don’t understand what we want in life. Meditation helps greatly in this situation.
History Of Meditation
The most ancient evidence of the practice of meditation is in India. In Hinduism meditation is a spiritual and religious practice. Around 1500 BCE the written evidence is founded in Vedas. In India the first-ever evidence of meditation is wall arts that were from 5000 to 3000 BCE, that shows people seated in a meditative pose.
Around the 6th to 5th centuries the multiple levels of meditation are found in sutras in Buddhism. Some evidence in Judaism that tells meditative practices are inherited from their predecessors.
5 Types Of Different Meditation techniques
- Mindfulness Meditation
- Focused Meditation
- Spiritual Meditation
- Mantra Meditation
- Visualization Meditation
We are going to learn about all of these techniques one by one. Not everyone is comfortable in doing one specific technique of meditation. If you feel comfortable doing something you will practice it more. So there are 5 different techniques of meditation you could choose according to your comfort.
1. Mindfulness Meditation
Mindfulness meditation is training that teaches your mind to relax and letting go of negative thoughts. Mindfulness meditation originates from Buddhism and in the modern-day, it is called Vipassana meditation. This meditation does not need a mentor, it can be practiced alone easily.
How to get started
- Find a quiet place
- Get comfortable in that space
- Close your eyes and breathe deeply
- Relax and stay focused
- Start from taking 10 to 20 deep breathes daily for most benefits.
2. Focused Meditation
Focus meditation is a kind of meditation that requires concentration. This meditation is very useful for stress relief and increasing focus. In this meditative technique, you have to focus your attention on something like an object, sound, or feeling. The thoughts are going to come into your mind rapidly but try to stay focused. Do not try hard because this technique is not easy as it seems but it is a very powerful meditation technique. As you do this more and more it becomes easy.
How to get started
- Sit or Lay on something and relax
- Close your eyes
- Pick a target for your focus. Usually focusing on your breathing is easy
- Breath normally but focus on your breathing
- Let go of the thoughts they are going to come and go.
- Don’t worry if you wander in thoughts
- Try to bring your focus back to breathing.
3. Spiritual Meditation
Spiritual meditation is like a prayer that connects you to your true self. This meditative technique shows you the depths of your reality, who you truly are. You will feel love and happiness during the process. Spiritual meditation can be practiced at home and in a temple. This meditation is also Buddhist teaching.
How to get started
- Sit quietly with your back straight
- Focus on your breathing
- Try to understand the patterns of your breathing
- Let go thoughts
- Do this for at least 10 minutes.
4. Mantra Meditation
Mantra meditation simply means mind release. In Sanskrit phrase “man” means “mind” and “tra” means “release”. In this technique repeat a word during meditation. That word is a mantra that helps the mind to release and it also helps to stay focus during the meditation process. There are different mantras you can repeat during the meditation.
They are-
- Om or Aum
- Om Namah Shivaya
- I am that I am
- Hare Krishna
How to get started
- Sit with your back straight
- Take 5 to 10 deep breathes
- Pronounce the mantra
- Repeat it as you are breathing
- Stay focused
- You can use a timer if you want to.
5. Visualization Meditation
It is a meditative technique that focuses on something specific such as a goal you want to achieve, a person, or a memory. This method involves imagining the outcome into reality, how it makes you feel. This meditation technique is very useful in achieving your dreams. Visualization has tremendous power. Many people use this meditation for inner peace and stress relief.
How to get started
- Sit comfortably
- Visualize your goal in pictures
- Take deep breaths
- Use affirmation as you breathe to support visualization
- Be positive about your goals
Meditation is not a hard process but it is not for everyone. You are not going to learn this in a small period time it takes time.
Don’t try too hard if you cannot do it properly. Stay calm and patient it is a very beautiful journey to learn about yourself.