09 Feb What Is Your Style Of Meditation?

Here are some mindfulness facts: 1. Only daily practice and perseverance can provide the desired results and the sole purpose of meditation can be achieved.  Meditation should become part of the daily schedule for beginners. 2. Although there are many styles of meditation, most people assume that meditation is breathing in and out while sitting down. So, beginner or not, we bring you simple meditation techniques to try today.

The most important thing to remember is that, you must find the most suitable technique that works for you. Just because a certain style works for your best friend, doesn’t mean that it’s the best one for you. Different people have different purposes so we mustn’t compare goals or techniques against others. All you need to find is what makes you comfortable and brings peace to the mind.

Another important factor to consider while meditating is the posture you choose. Aside from the types of meditation (which we will discuss below), we also have to consider the best posture for a great meditation experience.  

Let’s start with the most common one: Sitting – Whether you’re on the floor or chair, as long as your spine is erect and shoulders are straight, you’re good to go.  You should feel relaxed and comfortable.

Walking: Who knew you could walk and meditate? Focus on each step with arms relaxed on your sides. You can move freely irrespective of the pace and distance covered. Try to coordinate the breathing with steps while walking.

Lastly, Standing: Stand with legs apart, arms on the sides and knees soft. Keep your chest open, shoulders rolled back and chin parallel to the floor. The whole body should be aligned in a good posture during this position.

Now, let’s get into the techniques. There are many meditation techniques and styles that are equally beneficial for mental relaxation and better health. Some of these techniques are:

1. Guided Meditation: This type of meditation is practised with the help of a guide or a teacher.
2. Mantra Meditation: Mantra meditation is practised by repetition or chanting a certain mantra, work or phrase.
3. Mindful Meditation: Mindful meditation involves taking a break and making yourself aware of your surroundings. This can be the sounds of breathing in and out, or calming sounds like a babbling brook or birds chirping. Many meditative songs can be downloaded online.
4. Yoga or Tai Chi: Both yoga and tai chi involve performing various postures with a concentration on breathing while balancing the movements.
5. Deep Breathing: This is the simplest meditation technique that exclusively concentrates on the deep breaths from the chest.
6. Visualization: For beginners, practising meditation by way of visualization is rather easy. In this traditional method, the meditator usually visualizes a chosen deity or object.
7. Gazing: This kind of meditation is also referred to as Drishti that means to view or gaze. Here the meditator focuses on the object with open eyes.
8. Prayer: In this form of meditation, prayers are recited. These prayers can be written by others or may be in your own words.

So will you sit, stand or walk while you meditate today? Experiment with these meditation techniques and find the perfect style for you!

Nehita Abraham

Nehita is a mindfulness expert who writes extensively on lifestyle management, wellness and ways to lead a healthier and a happier life. She is a part of Aware’s expert team on meditation. She is also an avid artist who spends most her time dribbling amazing stories through art.