5 Simple Types of Meditation To Relax Your Mind

Did you ever stop and wonder how many different types of meditation techniques there really are out there?

I may not know the exact number to that question, but I know there are enough meditation techniques that you can take your pick and choose the one that will suit you best.

To help you get started on your search, here are five types of meditation you can take for a test drive and decide which one is right for you.

1. Breath watching meditation

Is it really possible for meditating to be as simple as paying close attention to your breath for a few minutes? You’d better believe it! This is one of the most basic and simplest types of meditation out there.

Start this technique by relaxing in whatever comfortable position works best for you.

Then, close your eyes and start to give conscious attention to your rhythm of breathing. When you breathe through your nose, your diaphragm gets involved and oxygen is moved all the way to the bottom of your lungs. If at any point your mind wanders, re-focus your attention on the sensation of air moving in and out of your nostrils.

You can elaborate on this technique and perform a Zazen Meditation by counting your breaths from one to ten and then starting over from the beginning.

Start out by performing this meditation technique for ten minutes and then slowly progress until you can sit and watch your breath for an hour.

2. An empty mind meditation

Empty mind meditation is exactly what it sounds like. It is cultivating a state of mind in which there is absence of any thought; an emptying of all thoughts from your consciousness.

The process for this meditation involves sitting still, usually in a “full lotus” or cross-legged position, and letting the mind empty itself of all thoughts. Just sit and let go of the “monkey mind” that distracts you from a state of peace and tranquility.

This meditation is one of the most difficult, particularly since any effort seems to just cause more chatter in the mind. For best results, perform this meditation in a very quiet environment where you will not be disturbed.

3. Walking meditation

Walking meditation can provide two benefits at once; both exercise and peace of mind. You can do this meditation outside or simply pace back and forth in any room. The key is to pay attention to the movement of your legs and body and also your breathing as you walk. Feel your breath go in and out and feel your feet when they come into contact with the ground.

If your mind begins to wander, just keep bringing your attention back to walking and breathing. Walking meditation outdoors can sometimes seem difficult because of the constant distractions. If you look on the positive side though, it can serve to help you to strengthen your ability to focus despite distractions.

4. Mindfulness meditation.

Mindfulness meditation is a technique that Buddhists call Vipassana, or insight meditation. Vipassana meditation was made popular by Gautama Buddha over 2500 years ago and it is considered the way of self transformation through self observation. Through deep introspection, Vipassana meditation is the art of becoming deeply aware of what is right here, right now. Your only focus is on what’s happening in and around you at this very moment and to become receptive to all of your thoughts and feelings that are consuming your being at every moment.

You can begin with a simple breath watching meditation technique and then shift your attention to any thoughts that are running through your mind, anything that you feel in your body and even the sounds that you hear around you.

The key to this meditation technique is to be mindful without being judgmental or analytical.

5. Mantra meditation.

If you find it difficult to keep your mind from wandering by using the breath watching technique, there is another type of meditation that might just suit you better. It may be easier to keep your mind from wandering if you concentrate on something specific; a point of focus.

This is where a mantra can come in handy. A mantra is a word or phrase you repeat as you sit in meditation and is often times given to you by an experienced guru in some traditions. If you choose to perform this type of meditation on your own, you can use any word or phrase, such as an affirmation, that works best for you. You can also choose to either repeat it out loud or silently in your head as you meditate.

There are many other types of meditation techniques out there that you can experiment with such as meditating on loving-kindness or just meditating on a single object of focus. Each of these types has its own advantages and effects. You may find that at different times and for different purposes you want to use several different types of meditation, so choose what’s best for you.

You can also use brain wave entrainment products such as binaural beats cd’s and mp3’s and also light and sound machines (also called mind machines) that will help to coax your mind into altered states of theta consciousness so you can experience deep states of meditation in the quickest possible time.

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Yours in Success,

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