Meditation Explained
One of my favorite things about yoga and hiking is choice. There is a hiking path and a yoga style for each and every one of my many moods, wants and needs. Meditation is the same way! Let’s go through 4 major groups of meditation practices that work well for beginners.
1. There are types of meditation where we put our awareness outward.
You might focus on one thing, like sitting by a lake and focusing on the sight and sound of the waves. Or perhaps move and actively notice the little things in your surroundings, like taking a silent hike.
2. Other types of meditations place our awareness on our body.
You might progressively tighten then relax major muscle groups, or do a slow top-to-bottom body scan. There might be an outside sound or voice that guides you. Breath work at the beginning of a yoga class is a type of body awareness meditation.
3. Another group of meditation puts our awareness on our thoughts.
Some techniques are for emptying out the thoughts completely. While others are for actively noticing each thought that waves into your mind before letting it wave out. Meditation practices that have us visualizing something, like the beach or a happy-place, also fit into this group.
4. And finally, there are types of meditation where our awareness connects with a higher power or universal energy.
This would include sitting in prayer. This would also include meditating to a repeated mantra, and meditations where you actively send out good vibes to your fellow humans.
Science backs up the benifits of meditation. (There are studies that have explored the effects of meditation on anxiety, mental stress, depression, anger…) And the truly amazing thing about meditation is that you get benefits from only doing a few minutes a day.
So there you go, the nuts and bolts of meditation!
Until next time,
Laura
Want more?
Being Present: how it feels and how to find it (yogatrailtalks)
