The different types of meditation help keep your body and mind healthy. Meditative practices have existed for centuries and since the last couple of decades, the use of meditation has increased due to the rise of interest about the teaching of the eastern cultures and the stress and anxiety of modern life.
There are some basic, fundamental differences among the kinds of meditation that most people practice,
The different types of meditation techniques that have evolved from Hinduism, Christianity, and Buddhism can be classified under five categories:
1. Concentrative Meditation:
In this practice the objective is to cultivate a single-pointed attention on some object, such as a sound, an image, the breath, or a flame. Through the training of consistently returning to the object of focus, the mind develops the capacity to remain calm, stabilized, and grounded. Many Western meditation teachers start beginners with this practice, most commonly focusing on the breath. In some advanced practices, states of bliss may be reached.
The different types of techniques that will help you gain concentration include:
- Zen meditation
- Transcendental Meditation
- Om meditation
- Shine Meditation or Samadhi
- Chakra Meditation
2. Reflective Meditation
Reflective, known as analytical meditation and refers to disciplined thinking need to choose a question, theme, or topic and focus your analysis or reflection upon it. Initially, your thoughts may wander to other topics but then you need to train your mind to come back to the topic in question. It is one of the most important types of meditation and is considered to have a calming effect on the mind. It stimulates transformative power and provides you with great conviction and strength to change the course of your life.
There are different types of questions or reflective ideas that you can focus on, such as:
- Who am I?
- What is the true purpose of my life?
- What is my role in this universe?
- How can I help remove the sufferings of others?
3. Mindfulness Meditation
Mindfulness is a combination of concentration and open awareness. Mindfulness is found in many contemplative traditions, but is most often identified with the Theravadan Buddhist practice of vipassana, or “insight meditation.” The practitioner focuses on an object, such as the breath, bodily sensations, thoughts, feelings, or sounds. The focus is not as narrow as in concentrative meditation, for there is a simultaneous awareness of other phenomena.
There are different types of techniques in this category that you can practice, like:
- Vipassana meditation
- Deep breathing meditation
- Body scan meditation
- Visualization meditation
- Mindful breathing
- Mindful eating
- Sitting Meditation
- Walking Meditation
4. Heart-Centered Meditation
Heart-centered meditation will help you release all your fears and sadness and bathe in the radiance of loving kindness and compassion. It is also known as the heart chakra meditation. Practicing this meditation over a period of time will help you to heal your heart and that of others.
This meditation technique helps in opening the heart chakra and removes any negative energy that exists. In order to practice this meditation technique, choose a quiet place, set the right posture and focus on the heart area while inhaling and exhaling slowly but smoothly. You can also connect your heart to the heart of a teacher or a person you feel that is compassionate. This is considered as one of the important types of meditation techniques.
5. Creative Meditation or Visualization
A different type of meditation technique, this form of meditation will enable you to consciously cultivate as well as strengthen different qualities of your mind. It focuses on strengthening qualities, such as appreciation, joy, compassion, patience, empathy, love, gratitude, compassion, humility, fearlessness, and tenderness, among others.
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