In today's fast-paced world, finding moments of peace and balance is more crucial than ever. Meditation offers a pathway to tranquility and mindfulness, but with so many types available, how do you choose the right one for you? This guide will explore various meditation practices, helping you discover the perfect fit for your lifestyle and mental health needs.
Benefits of Meditation
Meditation is not just a practice but a journey to self-discovery and inner peace. It has been scientifically proven to reduce stress, improve concentration, and enhance overall well-being. Whether you're seeking a moment of calm or a deeper connection with your inner self, meditation can offer a solace unlike any other.
🎾 I've been practicing meditation since I was in high school to help me find awareness and achieve a peaceful state of mind. I played tennis and softball in High School and before playing games, I would always put-on headphones and meditate to help me keep calm. ⚾ I was feisty in High School and meditation helped me a ton with my aggression issues.
Today, I still practice meditation to always help me stay grounded, especially during super stressful situations. Meditation is all about breath work and bringing your awareness to it to alter your consciousness, find awareness and achieve peace. ☮️
How to Get Started
Getting started with meditation doesn't require any special equipment or an extensive amount of time. Begin with just a few minutes a day, in a quiet space where you won't be disturbed. Choose a type of meditation that resonates with you and remember, practice makes perfect.
👉 If you're dealing with a lot of stress or feel a lot of anxiety, I highly recommend for you to try meditation. Practicing it for at least 15 minutes a day will change your life, I guarantee it! 👈 If you have ever read or listened to, "Think Like A Monk" by Jay Shetty, he guarantees it too. He recommends starting with 15 minutes a day to start your meditation practice.
Types of Meditation Practices
Mindfulness Meditation
Mindfulness meditation encourages living in the moment, focusing on the present without judgment. It's about acknowledging your thoughts and feelings without getting caught up in them.
Walking Meditation
For those who find peace in movement, walking meditation combines the physical act of walking with mindfulness, focusing on each step and breath, connecting deeply with the environment.
Guided Visualization
Guided visualization, or guided imagery, involves visualizing positive images and scenes with the guidance of a teacher or recording, promoting relaxation and stress relief.
🐶 I go out on nature walks daily with my new handsome puppy, an Australian Shepherd named Rambo and practice walking meditation where the movement guides me as I observe nature's beauty 😍 I do this for at least 45 minutes - 1 hour a day.
MORE EXAMPLES OF MEDITATION PRACTICES
There are a lot of meditation practices. Here are some popular ones:
1. Loving-kindness meditation
2. Focused meditation
3. Mantra meditation "OM meditation"
4. Transcendental meditation
5. Spiritual meditation
6. Progressive relaxation
To learn more about meditation and several of its techniques, I recommend that you checkout Giovanni's website at https://liveanddare.com/types-of-meditation/
WHAT ARE THE HEALTH BENEFITS TO MEDITATION?
There's a ton of benefits of meditation! To name a few, meditation can:
1. Lower your blood pressure
2. Reduce your stress and anxiety
3. Help decrease pain
4. Improves learning
5. Improves your decision making capabilities
Since I am focusing on giving a huge shoutout to Giovanni's website, he also wrote an amazing article called "76 Benefits of Meditation and Mindfulness (Scientific Research)." I love how he gathered a ton of research on meditation benefits into this article to make it abundantly clear that meditation is amazing because it has been proven to work and brings a ton of benefits to your life! Check it out at https://liveanddare.com/benefits-of-meditation/
What You Can Do Today
Embarking on a meditation practice can seem daunting at first, but finding the type that resonates with you can transform your mental health and bring a profound sense of peace and balance to your life. We encourage you to explore these practices and find your pathway to inner peace.
Call to Action: Have you found a meditation practice that works for you? Share your experiences in the comments below or explore more on our website to deepen your meditation journey.
Wish you all an amazing, safe, and healthy rest of the week!
Much love ❤️
Yanitza or Yani for short