The Power of Meditation

Meditation can be traced back to India as far back as 10,000 years ago. Though it’s evolved greatly over the years, meditation has traveled the world and its powers still remain immensely popular. Different cultures and religions have adapted meditation and now it’s possible to enjoy it in a number of ways. You might think it requires total silence and sitting cross-legged, but this is only true for those that prefer these techniques. 

If you’re new to meditation, you might find that some of the less common methods work better. Keep reading to learn about some of the most popular styles and see which appeals to you. 

Types of Meditation

Movement Meditation: 

Ultimately, all types of meditation aim to achieve the same thing: balance and inner peace. It might seem unusual, but movement meditation is a great alternative to traditional, more silent methods. Whatever type of movements work for you, whether you follow an existing practice or have created your own, movement meditation is a proven technique that’s popular worldwide. As long as you’re able to concentrate and focus on the moment, it really doesn’t matter whether you prefer staying still or not. 

Mantra Meditation: 

Using a mantra as part of meditation ties into the yoga tradition of repeating a sound or phrase during a session. This process, officially called ‘Japa’, allows the mind to focus much more clearly for some of us and provides a source of balance and peace. This technique doesn’t work for everyone as some of us prefer total silence when meditating, but using a sound or word can be a game-changer. Between “Aum” and “I am that I am”, there are plenty of wonderful mantras that can be used. You can even make up your own mantra if it’s what works best. 

Transcendental Meditation: 

Transcendental meditation works a lot like traditional mantra meditation except you’re required to remain silent throughout. You still repeat a mantra but you’ll need to do it in your head for this technique. The same rules apply and the existing mantras are just as effective, it just depends entirely on whether you can focus more clearly by saying it out loud or not. If you find yourself having other thoughts, just remember to take your mind back to your mantra. 

The Best Type of Meditation For Stress

Mindfulness Meditation:

Mindfulness meditation is no doubt the best type for stress since it lets you reframe and refocus in the present. This practice requires focusing on thoughts and sensations that you’re currently experiencing but dropping any judgments on them you might have. The main reason this practice works best for stress is that it focuses on both mind and body. With mental imagery and breathing techniques, mindfulness meditation helps people achieve mind and muscle relaxation along with total awareness.

There are plenty of resources online for improving these techniques and even teaching yourself how to start meditating in no time.