5 Meditation Styles To Achieve Peace, Mindfulness and Harmony Within

1. 5 Meditation Styles To Achieve Peace, Mindfulness and Harmony Within Meditation is a practice that allows the mind to enter a deep, profound peace. It has been around since ancient times and has been a part of many religions and beliefs. When practiced routinely, meditation can help an individual achieve mental clarity and emotional peace. Meditation can be difficult for a beginner. It requires focus on an object or thought and the goal is for the mind to be calm and silent yet alert. However, there are many tricks and tips to help the mind achieve this goal. The easiest way to begin meditating is by focusing on the breath, acknowledge the thoughts that come and then go back to focusing on the breath. Start with short periods of time, such a 5 or 10 minutes, and then increase the time each session. This will eventually train the mind, making deeper meditation achievable. There are many reasons to seek the mental calm produced by meditation. According to The Chopra Center, many people meditate to relief stress, achieve a deeper sleep, lower cholesterol, reduce anxiety and produce an overall feeling of wellness. No matter what the reason, there is a form of meditation that will fit everyone’s lifestyle and purpose. Here, we explore 5 of our favorite meditation styles.

2. Kundalini Yoga is a form of meditation which encourages the release of kundalini energy. It is a spiritual and physical practice that include various breathing techniques, meditation and mantra chanting. It is a practice used to build physical energy and increase consciousness. To use this form of meditation to calm and focus your mind follow the steps below from yogajournal.com: 1. Come to a comfortable sitting position with a straight spine on the floor or in a chair. Rest the backs of the hands on the knees. 2. Inhale deeply and begin to chant aloud the mantra: Sa ta na ma alound for 2 minutes. It means 'Truth is my identity'. "This mantra allows you to meditate on your highest Self. 3. On the syllable sa, touch the index finger of each hand to the thumb; on ta, touch the middle finger to the thumb; on na, touch the ring finger to the thumb; on ma, touch the pinkie to the thumb. Continue these finger movements throughout the exercise. Imagine that the sounds come in through the crown and exit through the third eye in an L shape. 4. Continue the chant in a loud whisper for another 2 minutes. 5. Next, say the chant silently and internally for 2 minutes. 6. Then say it in a whisper for 2 more minutes. Finish by chanting aloud for 2 minutes. 7. To finish, take a deep breath and reach your arms overhead. Exhale, and draw your hands to your chest in prayer position. Zen Meditation (Zazen) Zazen is typically the primary practice of the Zen Buddhist tradition. It is generally used to gain insight of existence. It is practiced in a quiet place, seated on a mat or cushion, with crossed legs. Traditionally it was done in lotus or half- lotus position. Mindfulness Meditation is the practice of intentionally focusing on the present moment. It is a simple practice that allows you to pay attention to sensations, thoughts, and emotions that arise during practice without judgement. Simply sit comfortably, notice what your body is doing, soften your gaze or close your eyes, focus on your

3. breath and notice when your mind wanders from your breath. Be kind to your thoughts and bring your focus back to your breath. When you are done lift your gaze or open your eyes and notice how you feel. Loving Kindness Meditation (Metta Meditation)- Metta means kindness, benevolence, and good will. It is a meditation style that helps us to develop a loving- kindness towards ourselves, so that we will eventually have this kindness towards others. It promotes forgiveness and self-acceptance. To commence this style of meditation, find quiet time for yourself (even a few minutes will work) and sit comfortably. Close your eyes, relax your muscles, and take a few deep breaths. First, practice this meditation with yourself as the subject, by repeating kind phrases that reassure you, that you are fine the way you are. Thank yourself and be positive. Later you can move on to those who are easy for you to think of with love and kindness. Then finally shift to those that are a little more difficult to deal with. This will help with forgiveness and understanding. Self-Enquiry and “I Am” Meditation is the main practice of the yoga of knowledge which is said to be the highest of the yogas. This type of meditation investigates the question of “Who am I?” using self-inquiry as a method to reach self-realization. Although the process is simple and direct, this practice requires a level of spiritual maturity and a readiness of the mind that are typically developed through other practices. Start by tracing the root of your thoughts back to the “I” which is where all thoughts start. There are two parts to our thoughts, the subjective factor which is the I, me or mine and the objective factor, which is a state or condition that “I” is in such as activities of the mind and body. This practice is centered in the thought that the mind is in the objective state quite often, and rarely looks inward to see the true self separate from external concerns. Self-inquiry allows us to discover the pure subject, “I,” separate from emotion, sensations and outside concerns. This is the primary method through which Self-realization is achieved. Many people may find starting meditation to be a daunting task. Sitting on the floor, in silence letting the mind do what it does. However, it can be a fulfilling practice, bringing everything from emotional and mental clarity to love and kindness for others. You don’t need much to start meditating. Simply find a few minutes, grab a quiet spot, take a few breaths and follow the meditation style that interests you the most. You can also find stress relief products and essential oil accessories to reduce your stress while meditation. Happy meditating!