Meditation is a simple, yet life-changing habit that I recommend to everyone.
While it is a very popular practice, people who have never tried it before are often confused and overwhelmed by the different techniques and the amount of information that they can find about this subject.
So, how do you know where to start?
Throughout this article, I will show you different types of meditation so that you can decide which ones fit you best. Remember that you cannot go wrong with meditation, so you shouldn’t be afraid of making mistakes. Plus, you will get better in time, as the key to enjoying its numerous benefits is to be consistent with your practice.
Why should you meditate?
Before going into the specifics of each type of meditation, let’s find out why this practice is so popular and how it can transform your life.
Check out some of the numerous benefits of meditation:
- Reduces stress and anxiety: It is scientifically proven that meditation can reduce stress and improve anxiety levels. In fact, this is one of the main reasons why people meditate.
- Enhances self-awareness: Another great benefit of meditation is that it helps you understand yourself better and become more aware of the reasons why you are doing certain things or taking certain decisions.
- Improves focus: Once meditation becomes a regular habit, you will notice that it will be easier for you to focus on your daily tasks.
- Makes you kinder: Meditation can help you foster compassion. The best thing is that not only will you extend your love to those around you, but also to yourself.
These are only some of the benefits of this amazing practice, as there are many others that you will discover throughout your journey.
Now that you know why you should give it a try, check out the types of meditation below and find out which one suits you best.
- Mindfulness meditation
Mindfulness meditation is probably the most popular type of meditation nowadays.
How does it work?
The purpose of this practice is to focus on the present moment and to simply observe the thoughts that pass through your mind. Don’t judge your thoughts, just notice them. An efficient way to do this is by focusing on your breath. Concentrate on how you breathe in and out and, whenever you notice that your mind starts wandering, return to your breath.
While it sounds very simple, it might be quite difficult to stay focused in the beginning. But don’t worry, it is completely normal and you will get better with practice.
This type of meditation is great for improving focus and cultivating awareness.
- Loving-kindness meditation
Loving-kindness meditation, also known as Metta meditation, can fill your soul with love, kindness, and compassion.
To practice this, breathe deeply and open your heart to give, but also to receive love. Focus on sending positive messages to the world. You can either think about specific people, about yourself, or you can cultivate a general loving attitude.
This is an amazing practice that can help you in many ways. Not only will it improve the relationship you have with yourself and with your loved ones, but it can also help you get over feelings of anger towards others. For example, if you are in a conflict with someone, try to think of them while doing this exercise and channel positive thoughts towards them.
- Progressive relaxation
This practice is also known as body scan meditation and it involves scanning different parts of your body and releasing tension from them.
Once you focus on a certain part of your body, try to help it relax. It’s recommended to start with the lower part of your body, more specifically with your feet, and then progressively go all the way up to your head.
Don’t rush it, as the point is to relax, and enjoy the process. Once you’re done with the body scan, take a few minutes to enjoy the sensation and cultivate a feeling of gratefulness.
- Visualization
Would you like to be more motivated to work towards your goals?
If so, then this type of meditation is great for you. It is similar to mindfulness meditation but, instead of focusing on your breath, you focus on a mental image. By picturing yourself accomplishing the goals you are working towards, it will be much easier to keep motivated and to maintain a positive attitude about the process of getting where you want.
- Gratitude meditation
One of the most efficient ways to improve your well-being is by practicing gratitude.
We often take for granted or neglect the good things in our lives and we feel sad because we constantly want more. However, sometimes all we need is to take a few minutes to appreciate what we already have. That’s what gratitude meditation can help us do.
Therefore, take a comfortable position and contemplate upon all the things you are grateful for. Cultivate an appreciative attitude towards those things and focus on the reasons why they make you happy.
Final thoughts
I hope this article has been helpful to you and that you found at least one type of meditation that suits your needs. For more tips on how to get started with meditation, check out my guide for beginners.
Also, don’t forget to let me know in the comments what type of meditation is your favorite and why!
