The Types of Meditation

Meditation focuses your mind on one thought, phrase, sound or sight

Breath-centered meditation

Also called mindfulness meditation, this basic type of meditation has you focus on the breath entering and exiting your body. Allow your breath to move freely and focus on the sensations in your rib cage and abdomen. This style of meditation is simple enough that you can use it in a variety of circumstances, to quickly ease stress and refocus your mind.

Mantra meditation

In this style of meditation, you repeat a particular word or phrase (mantra) that has spiritual significance to you. The most popular meditative mantra is “OM,” a phrase originating from the Hindu Vedas and thought to be the basis of all sounds in the universe. By repeating this phrase you create a comforting sense of vibration in the abdomen, chest and throat, which helps to still and focus the mind.

Meditation on sound

This style uses peaceful and melodic music or a peaceful sound in nature as the point of focus. Concentrating on the gentle rhythms of a carefully chosen sound can be very useful in refocusing the mind.

Object focus meditation

Here, you select an item that creates in you a feeling of peace or beauty and concentrate your thoughts on that object. What you choose is up to you, but favorite objects include a lit candle, fire in a fireplace, a tree or flower, an work of art, and water.

Visualization meditation

With this form of meditation, you focus on a vision or image that becomes the sole focus of your mind. For example, you may imagine a peaceful scene in nature to achieve stress relief, create a vision of health when illness is present, or reflect on positive events or people you love to feel happiness.

Active meditation

Walking is a very relaxing form of active meditation. Your focus becomes the physical feelings you experience within your foot as you take each small, slow step. You can do this in your home or outside, if interruptions will be few.

Chakra meditation

This form of meditation has you focus on the subtle internal energy centers of the body, known as chakras, which have been used for contemplation and spiritual development in both East and West for thousands of years.

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