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ty is.”- David Lynch</p><p id="ff57">Being calm and peaceful are common experiences during meditation, but energy and creativity travel beyond clichés. I always encounter a boost in all four of these feelings following meditation. The plethora of meditation routines I tried this year showed me how to use the right style at the right time.</p><p id="15a3">One of the most common styles is spiritual meditation. Many sorts of meditation fall under this umbrella; this type is used in secular and non-secular rituals to build meaning and connection to a higher power. Mantra meditation is a similar practice with Hindu and Buddhist roots, but it is used in many rituals around the world. The most common mantra is <i>om</i>; chanting this word is aimed at deepening awareness and can be found in eastern as well as western traditions.</p><p id="fc48">Two popular meditation methods in the west are mindfulness and transcendental meditation(TM). Mindfulness is derived from Buddhist techniques that center on concentration and awareness. TM is traditionally practiced twice a day and is meant to induce a state of peace and calmness. This approach has been popularized by celebrities and scientific research, but is regularly used by frauds to exploit those in search of tranquility.</p><p id="b6a6">Another way one can find contentment is through loving-kindness meditation. As the name suggests, this method involves opening the mind to receiving and giving love. Practitioners use mantras and visualizations to cultivate compassion, kindness, and acceptance towards themselves as well as others. During visualization meditation, one envisions positive scenes, images, or figures to build motivation and focus while reducing stress.</p><p id="2362">As I mentioned in a previous article, focus isn’t exactly the easiest state to attain, but there are meditation techniques that can help. One formal practice that requires attention is focused meditation. By concentrating using any of the five senses, internally or externally, one can achieve mindfulness and relaxation. This can be done using mala beads, listening to a gong, staring at a candle flame, or feeling your breath.</p><p id="33b1">Movement meditation is another form that is great for those who have trouble with attention. This style involves gentle or dynamic movements such as: walking, gardening, qigong and tai chi. Mindful movement can deepen one’s connection with their mind and body.</p><p id="75ba">Progressive relax

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ation is another method that demands conscious action. This style is commonly referred to as body scan meditation. It uses awareness to reduce stress and help with sleep. This practice is present in yoga nidra, NSDR, and breathwork which are similar, but commonly disputed protocols for relaxation.</p><p id="2a06">While perusing the many forms of meditation, I became indecisive when it came time to choose which form to practice. After trying on many hats, I fell into a steady routine consisting of three styles: mindfulness in the morning, movement meditation in the afternoon, and loving-kindness at night. I would regularly pivot and substitute one type for another at my own leisure. Remaining mentally flexible complements any routine!</p><p id="74e1">Overall, it depends on your mood, the time of day, any medical conditions you may suffer from, and your preference. Do your best and try as many styles as possible to gain a well-rounded perspective. It’s okay if you become overwhelmed. Follow the energy that piques your interest and get creative!</p><div id="b163" class="link-block"> <a href="https://readmedium.com/breathwork-meditation-but-it-helps-4b78a3f56d32"> <div> <div> <h2>Breathwork ≠ Meditation, But it Helps</h2> <div><h3>The Third of Seven Lessons from 1,000 Meditations</h3></div> <div><p>medium.com</p></div> </div> <div> <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/1*HOJIHrvwsL2TnCBXSjtGiA.png)"></div> </div> </div> </a> </div><p id="1974">Not a member yet? Support my writing on Medium by joining through the link below:</p><div id="a9e6" class="link-block"> <a href="https://medium.com/@awzarenk22/membership?source=publishing_settings-------------------------------------"> <div> <div> <h2>Join Medium with my referral link - Alec Zarenkiewicz</h2> <div><h3>Read every story from Alec Zarenkiewicz (and thousands of other writers on Medium). Your membership fee directly…</h3></div> <div><p>medium.com</p></div> </div> <div> <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/0*NUNOoo_kNJP-Ie6h)"></div> </div> </div> </a> </div></article></body>

The Many Types of Meditation

The Second of Seven Lessons from 1,000 Meditations

This is the second of seven articles about the lessons I learned from one thousand meditations. If you missed the first post, check it out here:

Photo by Lesly Juarez on Unsplash

Last year, I set a goal to meditate every day to cope with my lifelong companion: Anxiety. I recorded my sessions and managed to reach 1,000 meditations by the end of the year, blowing my primary target out of the water. The second of seven lessons I learned during my meditation journey is that there are so many different types of meditation.

Beginning a meditation practice can be overwhelming. Although it naturally promotes relaxation, finding the right routine for you can be stressful. I discovered countless meditation styles in the past year — there are so many ways to meditate!

“I thought when I started meditation that I was going to get real calm and peaceful and it’s going to be over. It’s not that way; it’s so energetic. That’s where all the energy and creativity is.”- David Lynch

Being calm and peaceful are common experiences during meditation, but energy and creativity travel beyond clichés. I always encounter a boost in all four of these feelings following meditation. The plethora of meditation routines I tried this year showed me how to use the right style at the right time.

One of the most common styles is spiritual meditation. Many sorts of meditation fall under this umbrella; this type is used in secular and non-secular rituals to build meaning and connection to a higher power. Mantra meditation is a similar practice with Hindu and Buddhist roots, but it is used in many rituals around the world. The most common mantra is om; chanting this word is aimed at deepening awareness and can be found in eastern as well as western traditions.

Two popular meditation methods in the west are mindfulness and transcendental meditation(TM). Mindfulness is derived from Buddhist techniques that center on concentration and awareness. TM is traditionally practiced twice a day and is meant to induce a state of peace and calmness. This approach has been popularized by celebrities and scientific research, but is regularly used by frauds to exploit those in search of tranquility.

Another way one can find contentment is through loving-kindness meditation. As the name suggests, this method involves opening the mind to receiving and giving love. Practitioners use mantras and visualizations to cultivate compassion, kindness, and acceptance towards themselves as well as others. During visualization meditation, one envisions positive scenes, images, or figures to build motivation and focus while reducing stress.

As I mentioned in a previous article, focus isn’t exactly the easiest state to attain, but there are meditation techniques that can help. One formal practice that requires attention is focused meditation. By concentrating using any of the five senses, internally or externally, one can achieve mindfulness and relaxation. This can be done using mala beads, listening to a gong, staring at a candle flame, or feeling your breath.

Movement meditation is another form that is great for those who have trouble with attention. This style involves gentle or dynamic movements such as: walking, gardening, qigong and tai chi. Mindful movement can deepen one’s connection with their mind and body.

Progressive relaxation is another method that demands conscious action. This style is commonly referred to as body scan meditation. It uses awareness to reduce stress and help with sleep. This practice is present in yoga nidra, NSDR, and breathwork which are similar, but commonly disputed protocols for relaxation.

While perusing the many forms of meditation, I became indecisive when it came time to choose which form to practice. After trying on many hats, I fell into a steady routine consisting of three styles: mindfulness in the morning, movement meditation in the afternoon, and loving-kindness at night. I would regularly pivot and substitute one type for another at my own leisure. Remaining mentally flexible complements any routine!

Overall, it depends on your mood, the time of day, any medical conditions you may suffer from, and your preference. Do your best and try as many styles as possible to gain a well-rounded perspective. It’s okay if you become overwhelmed. Follow the energy that piques your interest and get creative!

Not a member yet? Support my writing on Medium by joining through the link below:

Self Improvement
Mental Health
Lifestyle
Meditation
Mindfulness
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