At its heart, meditation is fairly simple. Really, it’s all about being fully committed to the present moment. In pursuit of this goal, meditation may involve sharpening your focus and attention; being more mindful of your body and your breathing; or even processing difficult emotions.
There’s no one right way to meditate. On the contrary, there are a number of ways to practice meditation, and it may take some experimentation to discover which type of meditation is right for you.
As you seek the type of meditation that’s best for you, here are some of the primary options to consider.
Different Types of Meditation
1) Mindfulness Meditation
If you’ve encountered any type of meditation before, chances are it’s mindfulness meditation. Not only is this the most popular type of meditation in Western culture, but it’s also the one that’s most directly linked to traditional Buddhism.
Mindfulness meditation is all about paying attention to the different thoughts that pass through your mind… not judging them, not becoming involved with them, but simply observing them.
As you practice mindfulness meditation, you might make note of different thought patterns that emerge. To help you concentrate, you might focus on your breathing, your feelings, or bodily sensations.
Mindfulness meditation is a great option for beginners, as it’s fairly easy to get into without the need for a teacher or guide. Indeed, there are plenty of apps that can help you. Mindfulness meditation can also make a great pairing with CBD, which may help you to experience heightened awareness, clarity, and focus.
2) Spiritual Meditation
If you adhere to a particular religious tradition, then you may wish to incorporate your meditation practice with your spiritual convictions. For Christians, this might mean contemplative prayer or meditation on a piece of Scripture. For Jewish individuals, it might entail kabbalistic practices. You get the idea.
3) Focused Meditation
Focused meditation invites you to concentrate on any one of your five senses.
You might focus on something internal, but you can also focus on something outside of yourself. For example, you may focus by listening to repetitive music; counting your breaths; counting beads; or gazing at the moon.
While it’s simple in concept, focused meditation can actually be really tough for beginners. Learning to control your attention is no easy feat!
4) Movement Meditation
Meditation doesn’t have to involve stillness or stasis. On the contrary, many people focus best when their body is in motion.
Of course, the most common type of movement meditation is yoga. However, there are plenty of other physical activities that can empower your movement meditation practice. Some examples include walking, gardening, or doing tai chi.
If you’re someone who tends to find peace in action, movement meditation might be right for you.
5) Mantra Meditation
Common to Hinduism and Buddhism, mantra meditation involves repeating a short phrase, or mantra, over and over; you can do so quietly or loudly, and the mantra can be either a piece of Scripture, a prayer, or a totally secular self-empowerment affirmation. It’s totally up to you!
6) Transcendental Meditation
Transcendental meditation actually has a lot of scientific backing. It’s been studied quite a bit and found to be a pretty good way to induce a state of inner peace and calm. You might do this by repeating a mantra or by following the guidance of an instructor.
Indeed, because this type of meditation usually requires some kind of guide, it can be one of the toughest to get started with. And yet, due to its scientific clout, it may also be one of the most tantalizing and appealing.
7) Loving-kindness Meditation
Loving-kindness meditation is all about opening your heart and mind to give and receive love from others. Your meditation practice might mean sending your well-wishes and positive energy out toward other people.
Because it’s designed to promote love and empathy, it can leave you feeling full of love and expansion.
Use CBD to Empower Your Meditation
No matter which type of meditation you choose, you can enhance your focus and clarity through the addition of CBD. That’s something we’d love to help you with. At Asé Pure Naturals, you’ll find natural, holistic, vegan options, cruelty-free, non-GMO CBD products, all made in the USA. Take a few minutes to explore our inventory , and reach out with any questions about our selection.
