By Jennifer McDougall
Our day-to-day lives are often times very busy, and our minds become extremely scattered if we do not take the time to relax and let go of our worries and stress. All it takes is 10 to 15 minutes in a quiet place to ease tension and achieve a sense of peacefulness and mental clarity. Meditation is the key to balancing your mind, body, and spirit. Below are 5 types of meditations you can begin doing today.
Before you get started, find a quiet place in your home, your backyard, or even under a shady tree in your favorite park. Sit in a comfortable seated position – it can be a simple, crossed-leg style, half-lotus, or full lotus. Rest your hands on your knees, either palms facing up if you’re looking to receive energy or palms facing down if you’re looking to be more grounded. Some practice with their fingers in the “gian mudra” position where your index fingers and thumbs touch to make an O shape. Do what feels comfortable for you.
1. Focused Meditation:
Calm your thoughts and focus on one thing. Eyes may be open or closed.
2. Mindfulness Meditation:
Attention on the abdomen when breathing and/or on the awareness of your breath.
3. Body Scan Meditation:
Take three deep breaths. Close your eyes. Start from the top and slowly (mentally) scan down your body, and notice pain and tension at each point you reach. Be aware of what you feel and let the pain and tension dissolve as you continue downward through your body.
4. Mantra Meditation:
A mantra is a sacred sound, syllable, or group of words that are repeated several times during mediation that has psychological and spiritual power.
5. Chakra Meditation:
Chakras are energy points that are centrally located in the subtle body. During this type of meditation, you will focus on one chakra at a time. This also includes incorporating a bit of mantra meditation into the mix.
Check out Chris Prentiss’s “Meditation on the Perfect You” for a powerful, guided meditation that will help you transform into the person you have always dreamed to be.
