When you hear the word “meditation,” what comes into your mind?
For some, they associate it with cultural beliefs. For others, they connect it with religious practices. Meanwhile, for most, it entails practicing self-consciousness to achieve its highest extent.
There are different types of meditation that many people practice differently. But in general, meditation is the set of techniques that people use to achieve a particular aspect or point in their life. This pinnacle is subjective to whoever practices it but it is true in its deepest sense-- meditation is different according to people who practice it. So, it means differently for everyone.
In this article, we will talk about the different types of meditation, how you can practice them, and how they can affect your overall well-being.
Types of Meditation
Undeniably, there are different types of meditation that other people practice as well. In this article, we will talk about 5 of them and how they go differently.
Mindfulness meditation
As its name suggests, this type of meditation involves being conscious about your thoughts and all that affects your train of thought. Rooting from ancient Buddhist practices, beginners often do this type of meditation because it doesn’t need that much supervision. It is easy to practice and is also impactful.
In this type of meditation, you let all of your thoughts flow, accepting every one of them and acknowledging that all those exist. More often than not, if you are practicing this type of meditation, you focus on a single thing. It may be your breathing, an object your eyes land on, or basically anything that catches your attention.
Loving-kindness meditation
Being the type of meditation that aims to let go of grudges, this is highly recommended for those who have troubles in dealing with their inner demons. May it be towards yourself or other people, this meditation helps you let go of anger and disappointment towards anyone, including yourself. On that note, we recommend you incorporate and use a positive energy candle with you as you practice it to aid in boosting positive energy.
Also called metta meditation, this type requires a strong sense of discipline to focus on letting the negative go and only making space for those that help you grow. So much so that you are reciting different mantras that help you keep the ambiance. Affirmations such as, “May I be healthy in all aspects of my life” are uttered upon practicing this type to achieve and develop positive emotions such as joy, love, gratitude, trust, and contentment, thus, the name.
Mantra meditation
Unlike loving-kindness meditation, mantra meditation is not focused on letting go of your emotional chains. Instead, it is about developing or achieving a sense of awareness that allows you to go on top of your head— over your emotions and thoughts. Like mindfulness meditation, this is sometimes associated with Hindu and Buddhist traditions that involve repeating a mantra to focus on. Usually, it doesn’t have to be a phrase or a complete sentence. Sometimes, it’s just a simple sound such as “hmm.”
Not everyone likes silence. So if there are people who practice mindfulness meditation and often focus on their breathing, there are people who want to focus on sounds, like those who practice mantra meditation. However, it should be noted that it doesn’t have to consistently produce a sound. Sometimes, it goes around the head of the one practicing it, too. It’s just that they don’t like the quiet, and they get distracted by silence. And either way is excellent.
Yoga meditation
It is no exclusive information that performing yoga helps improve your physical health, while practicing meditation helps take care of your mind. But, when combined, it is like hitting two birds with one stone and producing two results with just half the input. Well, some would say that yoga in itself is already a form of meditation. And while that is partly true, being lost in the flow of practicing yoga and being mindful of how you feel and what you think of is entirely different.
Both practices help the body in whatever aspect they focus on. But both have different priorities. Yoga aims to attain a healthy body by practicing it consistently, while meditating aims to calm your horses and make you reason by doing it as often as you can, even just for every 5 minutes an hour. When combined, you are entirely letting your body flow however you like. You have no structure or form in mind to follow; you only think of whatever you feel like and do positions that your body would just lead you to.
Focused meditation
This is perfect for those who have problems keeping their attention zoomed into a single thing. As the name suggests, it helps you keep your focus in either one of your five senses. If you’d like, you can focus on what’s going on in your body, such as your heartbeat or your breathing. If not, you can use your sense of hearing and listen to the noise around you. Then when your mind starts to wander, gather yourself together and get back to what you were paying attention to.
It takes discipline to put this theory into action effectively but with consistency and determination, one can excellently practice this meditation and be happy with its bountiful results. If you still have no idea what to focus on while you’d like to practice this type of meditation, we suggest you avail and light a Mecka-Merica Sage or White sage and focus on its flame. That way, you can have something to zone your attention into and focus on.
How to Practice It
You don’t necessarily have to acquire equipment to help you practice meditation. You only need the eagerness and determination to do it and attain its primary purpose— clarity and consciousness.
You can set a time off your day and allot it to practicing meditation. Even as fast as 5 minutes a day can do it for as long as you consistently do it and vow to yourself to make it a habit. Eventually, it will flow naturally to you, and what used to last 5 minutes now turns into 20 because you finally witnessed its benefits.
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