“Meditation is not my thing.” How many times have you said this or heard someone say this? Other excuses we often tell ourselves – “I don’t have time.” “It doesn’t work.” ‘I can’t do it right.”
Finding the right kind of meditation is like finding a sport you like. There is something for everyone. Even people that think they don’t like it.
The Different Types of Meditation
- Transcendental Meditation – you must pay to learn this type of meditation. Using the same phrase or mantra, you meditate for 15-20 minutes twice per day.
- Zen Meditation – usually done seated in lotus position or in a chair. The most important part is to keep the back straight and focus on your breath.
- Vipassana Meditation – goal is to focus on a “primary object” to ground one’s self.
- Mindfulness Meditation – the practice of intentionally focusing on the present moment.
- Mantra Meditation – using a word or phrase to focus the mind. Best done with eyes closed.
- Qigong – a mind-body exercise for health, meditation, and martial arts. It usually involves slow, rhythmic movements, inner focus, and regulated breathing.
- Guided Meditation – a more modern practice that is great for beginners. Through apps or CDs, someone guides you through as you learn to meditate.
- Yoga Nidra – designed to be done before bed to induce total body relaxation and a deep meditative state of consciousness.
There are literally hundreds of different types of meditation depending on how you categorize them. The challenge is finding the right fit for you. Once you find it though, then you can start to reap all the health benefits you have heard about meditation.
We also have our own MBSR (Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction) Course right here at our center. Sign up for the next class, which will be starting soon!
