Several Types of Yoga Meditations, but don’t know which is the right option for you? Find a yoga meditation that suits you here.
Introduction
Start with your objective. What is your reason for wanting to practice Meditation? Is your goal to receive and give loving-kindness? Or become more closely united with the divine? Or is it to achieve peace of mind? Once you have a goal, you can find a type that supports your goal. In this article, you will learn about the various types of yoga meditation available.
Psychotherapists, spiritual leaders, and maybe even a neighbor you don’t know maybe practice some form of Meditation to improve their mental, emotional or physical well-being. Dozens of different yoga meditations have sprouted over the years. Many of them are available now, so it’s easy to get confused. How do you go about choosing one to practice?
Different Types of Yoga Meditations
Here are seven better types of yoga meditation you may wish to consider.
Kundalini Yoga
Kundalini yoga has gained popularity over the years. Thanks to celebrities such as Rusell Crowe, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Sting, to name a few. Kundalini yoga meditation differs from the usual Meditation you practice in yoga classes, where you sit in stillness for a few minutes. Kundalini is active.
In Kundalini Yoga, instead of sitting still and letting your hands relax on your lap, you use your arms and hands to make mudras or hand gestures. It also involves chanting mantras and breathing exercises.
Kundalini is one of the better types of yoga meditation. Kundalini is the life energy in your Root chakra that sits at the base of your spine. This life energy lies dormant and needs awakening. This awakening happens when you meditate, chant a mantra, and bring your arms up. Awakening the Kundalini brings enlightenment.
Body Scan Meditation
A Body Scan Meditation relaxes the body and prepares it for Meditation. You would practice this Meditation before the start of a yoga class for centering or after the class to relax the body for Savasana.
Body Scan Meditation involves observing your body parts experiencing tension and relieving them of it. It helps your body relax and relieves it of physical pain. If you have trouble sleeping, this Meditation prepares the body for a good night’s rest.
Mindfulness Meditation
Another good type of yoga meditation is Mindfulness Meditation. You can do it anytime and anywhere. It involves being aware and gently bringing yourself to the present moment without judging yourself or attaching meaning to any thought that might arise as you remain still.
Mindfulness meditation is often combined with other types of Meditation, such as Body Scan and Breath Awareness.
According to research, mindfulness meditation increases emotional regulation, reduces stress levels, improves memory, and makes you kinder and more compassionate toward yourself and other people.
Loving Kindness Meditation
If you’re struggling with giving loving-kindness to yourself and other people, this might be for you. Also called Metta or Compassion Meditation, it is one of the more popular forms of Meditation.
In Loving Kindness meditation, you first start with directing positive thoughts and well-wishes to yourself. Typically, a session could start by mentally reciting sentences with, “May I” For example, it could go like this: “May I be happy. May I be healthy. May I be safe. May I be free.” Next, you give the same well wishes to other people and beings, even to people you don’t feel any love for. “May you be happy. May you be healthy. May you be safe. May you be free.”
According to a study published in 2015, practicing Loving Kindness Meditation effectively enhances people’s positive emotions. Other studies show that it improves mental health.
Mantra Meditation
Mantra Meditation is a type of Meditation in which you repeat a word or phrase that promotes intention and focus. It comes from the teachings of Hinduism and Buddhism. One of the most common mantras in Meditation, especially yoga, is “Om.”
In Mantra Meditation, you may quietly repeat the word or phrase inside your head or say it out loud. You may also chant it or sing it. In yoga, mantras are usually in Sanskrit. For example, “Om Shanti, Shanti, Shanti.” However, it can also be in English, such as this, “I am light and at ease.”
Mantra meditation improves mood, reduces stress, eases anxiety, and improves memory.
Visualization Meditation
Visualisation Meditation is a common meditation technique spiritual leaders and psychotherapists use. Alternative medicine, such as Reiki, helps the meditator achieve relaxation, peace of mind and healing.
Visualizing uses an idea or a visual image to calm the mind and the body. People often use it to prepare for a deeper state of Meditation, where the mind is in a state of transcendence. It is similar to mindfulness since it invites you to use all five senses to become aware of a particular image.
Many professional coaches use visualization techniques to enhance their athletes’ motivation, self-efficacy and confidence. It also primes the brain for success and improves motor performance.
Transcendental Meditation
Maharishi Mahesh Yogi founded Transcendental Meditation (™). It is a silent type of Meditation that is practiced daily for 15-20 minutes. It involves silently chanting a mantra.
A teacher has to be certified to teach Transcendental Meditation. It is a non-religious relaxation technique that provides stress relief and access to higher states of consciousness. The practice has roots in Hinduism. That’s why some sociologists and scholars believe it to be religious.
Finding the right one for you
Some types of Meditation help you achieve relaxation, peace of mind, and overall good health. Others focus on being one with God or the divine. Choose the ones that align with your own goals.
The Bottomline
The key to Meditation is consistency. No matter which type of Meditation you practice, you will reap the benefits only if you are consistent with your practice.
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