Types of Meditation – Which is Best for you – Detailed Guide

Types of Meditation – Which is Best for you – Detailed Guide. Meditation is a simple way of freeing your mind, forgetting about daily anxieties and focusing on mental relaxation. Going into a meditative state involves learning to become a passive observer of one’s thoughts. It does not mean suppressing them or attempting to force them to disappear.

Meditation can be defined as a set of techniques that are intended to encourage a heightened state of awareness and focused attention. Meditation is also a consciousness-changing technique that has been shown to have a wide number of benefits on psychological well-being.

If you are a Meditation Beginner Read this post first

You can meditate in many ways, and there’s no single “correct” approach.

Familiarize yourself with the different types of meditation that are on offer. While some of the more esoteric variations are best practiced under the direct guidance of a highly qualified teacher, with valid instructions many kinds of meditation are quite manageable for beginners and quickly lead to positive results once a regular practice has been established. Nothing prevents you from trying more than one kind and seeing which one seems like a good fit.

Meditation Class

As we are back to “normal” times, you could plug “mindfulness meditation classes near me” into your search engine and bingo! you’d immediately have a choice of venues, reviews and websites to peruse. Indeed, free meditation classes and beginners’ mindfulness courses have often been offered in community spaces, places of worship. Sometimes the presence of fellow meditators and guides is a real advantage, especially if you’ve got questions about meditation or just want to compare notes. Whatever skill we are learning in life, having an experienced teacher we can trust and relate to is important.

It can be an online or offline meditation class under a teacher which will set you on path of meditation. As initially joining a class will get you into habit of meditation. There is peer-group motivating you, and since you have paid for it you are likely to be more continuous.

Guided Meditation

Guided meditation describes a type of meditation led by a teacher, in person or via audio or video. Here I am particularly discussing audio guides.

There are numbers of apps and youtube audios guiding you through meditation process. This is free mostly and best suited for people who can commit a particular time of day daily.

You are guided by a voice which navigates you from awareness to mindfulness, focusing on your breath and body parts.

Binaural beats

What are binaural beats?

When you hear two tones, one in each ear, that are slightly different in frequency, your brain processes a beat at the difference of the frequencies. This is called a binaural beats.

Humans use music and rhythm as mood enhancers. Be it in social gatherings or late study nights, we use audio stimuli to set the “right mood” and improve our cognitive performance.

Read more on this topic and also I have recommended the Binaural beats I listen while meditating.

Mindful Meditation

Mindfulness meditation is a mental training practice that teaches you to slow down racing thoughts, let go of negativity, and calm both your mind and body. It combines meditation with the practice of mindfulness, which can be defined as a mental state that involves being fully focused on “the now” so you can acknowledge and accept your thoughts, feelings, and sensations without judgment.

Those who learn its techniques often say they feel less stress, think clearer

There are many simple ways to practice mindfulness. Some examples include:

• Pay attention.
• Live in the moment. 
• Accept yourself. 
• Focus on your breathing. 

You can also try more structured mindfulness exercises, such as:

• Body scan meditation. Lie on your back with your legs extended and arms at your sides, palms facing up. Focus your attention slowly and deliberately on each part of your body, in order, from toe to head or head to toe. Be aware of any sensations, emotions or thoughts associated with each part of your body.
• Sitting meditation. Sit comfortably with your back straight, feet flat on the floor and hands in your lap. Breathing through your nose, focus on your breath moving in and out of your body. If physical sensations or thoughts interrupt your meditation, note the experience and then return your focus to your breath.
• Walking meditation. Find a quiet place 10 to 20 feet in length, and begin to walk slowly. Focus on the experience of walking, being aware of the sensations of standing and the subtle movements that keep your balance. When you reach the end of your path, turn and continue walking, maintaining awareness of your sensations.

Mantra Chanting

Mantra is a Sanskrit term, with “man” meaning “mind” and “tra” meaning “release.”

Meditation doesn’t come easily to everyone, and many people find it takes time and practice to maintain focus. A mantra can make this easier by reducing wandering thoughts. Repeating a mantra while meditating can also help you find a natural breathing rhythm.

Choosing a mantra

When it comes to finding a mantra, there’s really no wrong way to go about it.

Other types of mantras associated with more specific goals include:

• deity mantras
• healing mantras
• chakra mantras

If there’s a specific goal or intention behind your meditation practice, why not incorporate this into your mantra? In case you need guidance in finalising your mantra mail me at apurvalalranjan@gmail.com

To feel calmer or relieve a low mood, for example, you might choose something like:

• “I am calm.”
• “My life is full of joy.”

There is powerful Hindu word “OM” and chanting this brings much power and calmness.

Hindu Mantras : “OM”, “OM NAAH SHIVAAY”, “OM SHANTI”

Buddhist Mantras: Om mani padme hum

Reiki Meditation 

This age-old Japanese practice is a way of restoring energies into your body. It is a unique way of healing your body, both mentally and physically. It is done using a combination of hand gestures to go with meditation.

What Is Reiki Meditation?

Reiki meditation is a process through which you can experience silence and a quiet mind. The Reiki meditative energy is healing and loving. It involves symbols and mantras to facilitate your meditation experience. This ranks high among the traditional healing systems.

It is advisable to take Reiki learning from a Reiki teacher before practicing. I would recommend you my teacher L. Rupali from SACRED LOATUS, Bengaluru. if you are interested Contact her for more info rupalilal24@gmail.com

Yogic Meditation

“Yoga,” from within the Yoga Tradition proper, can be thought of as an end state, that of the stilled mind.  Any practice which leads to the stilling of the mind could conceivably be considered a yogic practice.  Yogic meditation is thus a concentration practice.  The most common object of concentration is Isvara (“God’) represented by the repetition of the symbol om, but other objects may be used, depending on the inclination of the meditator.  

Different types of yogic meditation

• Bhakti Yoga meditation : through devotion
• Dhyana Yoga (Jnana) : Through concentration
• Kundalini Yoga Meditation : through chakra awakening
• Hata Yoga : a set of physical postures & breathing
• Kriya Yoga Meditation : Kriya yoga is a collection of meditative exercises taught by Indian yogi guru Paramahamsa Yogananda.

Silent Meditation

The toughest of all and the my goal in this journey.

Sitting hours in absolute silence, nothingness, peace and ecstasy from within unaltered by external factors.

Vipassana meditation is a form of silent meditation, invites you to use your concentration to intensely examine certain aspects of your existence with the intention of eventual transformation. Vipassana pushes us to find “insight into the true nature of reality,” via contemplation of several key areas of human existence: “suffering, unsatisfactoriness,” “impermanence,” “non-self,” and “emptiness.”

There is nothing to be taught in Silence. This form of meditation is fairly straightforward because it uses the object of our breath to focus attention, to anchor the mind and maintain awareness. Notice your mind starting to wander? Simply return to the breath. This is toughest as mind tends to wander. But with practice you will attain highest level of peace and calmness.

Types of Meditation

Here I am summarising the types of meditation and the way you must begin to hold on to path of great life through meditation.

1. Meditation Class : If you are very serious about your meditation journey then being associated with a group or teacher is recommended. This will lead to your better understanding of process and long term commitment. You can contact me for meditation class by mailing apurvalalranjan@gmail.com
2. Guided Meditation : A type of meditation led by a teacher, in person or via audio or video. When starting out, having an expert lead you through the basic steps of your meditation practice is recommended. You can access various apps or youtube videos for beginning with guided meditation.
3. Binaural beats : This is a step up from guided meditation and my personal favourite. I have a detailed blog post on WHAT ARE BINAURAL BEATS? HOW TO USE THEM. I have recommended the link of music I practice.
4. Mindful Meditation : Mindfulness meditation is a mental training practice that teaches you to slow down racing thoughts, let go of negativity, and calm both your mind and body.
5. Mantra Chanting : Think of a mantra — a word or phrase you repeat during meditation — as a tool to help release your mind. It can make a lot of difference, especially if you have trouble concentrating or getting in the right frame of mind. I recommend “OM” chanting but you can choose your.
6. Reiki Meditation : Reiki healing is a form of energy work which works through the body’s existing energy centres and energy systems. You have to take a Reiki class or do it with a Reiki Practitioner for maximum benefits.
7. Yogic Meditation : It is a rigorous practice of concentration on mantra exclusively to bring about one-pointedness of mind.  You can start by guidance via youtube videos and free classes, but to achieve higher level it is advisable to join a proper class. I follow Isha Yoga by Sadhguru.
8. Silent Meditation : This is simplest yet most difficult meditation form. Controlling wandering mind is challenging and in silence Brain can travel thousand of miles in a second. But once you get hand of this practice you will experience a Zen you are always longing for.

Hope this blog Types of Meditation – Which is Best for you – Detailed Guide motivates to start your meditation journey. Share with your loved ones to set them on the Path to Great Life. If you need any guidance or have any questions write to me apurvalalranjan@gmail.com