With the pulls of living in a fast-paced, hyper-online society comes a higher likelihood of stress. Many use different meditation styles as a way to counter the stress and become accustomed to mindfulness.
Meditation is all about focusing your mind for a period of time to achieve a state of inner bliss. Peace, serenity and inner calm are the fruits of a meditative lifestyle. There are several pathways and techniques to explore. If you’re ready to try it out or add something new to your wellness repertoire, there is a meditation style that will work perfectly for you.
Meditation Styles for Every Day of The Week
Guided Meditation
Guided meditation is a walk-through meditation session. It is particularly useful if you’re new to meditation or value the expertise of a teacher. Listening to audio clips, using an app or joining a class are some ways to access guided meditations. This form of meditation also can be in yoga sessions and morning meditation.
Body Scans
Body scans are a form of meditation that focuses in on the sensations of the body. After relaxing, an individual may ‘scan’ the body for any pain, tension and other feelings. This is often a pre-meditation activity to reconnect with the body first.
Loving Kindness
Loving kindness meditation is a meditation style that focuses on sending love and positivity to yourself or another being. The aim is to send or receive compassion and kindness in your desired direction. For example, you could envision yourself or selected person engulfed in love and positivity. You also could repeat loving mantras and affirmations.
Kundalini
Kundalini meditation is about moving energy along your chakra points until it reaches your crown for optimal enlightenment. This meditation style is all about awakening dormant energy and blocked energy portals in the body. Sometimes, people practice it alongside Kundalini yoga. Kundalini often requires support, so if you’re new to this form of meditation, it may be best to start with a guided meditation/teacher.
Qigong
Qigong meditation is a traditional Chinese meditation that translates to “master of one’s energy.” This meditation combines breathing exercises, controlled breathing and gentle movement. Qigong focuses on meridians, or energy pathways, to provide an anxiety-reducing, focused practice.
Vipassana
Vipassana, or insight meditation, is a form of meditation that’s rooted in “seeing things as they are.” As an ancient Indian meditation style, it focuses on awareness and observation. Vipassana is the form of meditation that Buddha taught and focuses on creating peace in the body through self-control, aim and steadying the mind. It is best to practice this meditation in nature, but this is not a requirement.
Heart-opener
The heart-opening meditation is exactly as it seems. It is a meditation to open the heart, usually at the start of the day. To engage in this meditation, lie or sit with hands placed over your heart. Meditate on loving energy and imagine yourself radiating that same energy.
This meditation serves to connect you with love, compassion and bliss, which are all states of being that resonate with the heart chakra. Heart-opening meditations usually align well with crystal usage. A rose quartz is a crystal that compliments heart-opening meditation.