Meditative exercises have been a part of different ancient cultures and are still getting explored by researchers. Meditation can help us achieve a sense of calmness and harmony with nature. Most traditions have their own ways of achieving a meditative state. Different practices around the world are known to impact consciousness, develop awareness, and achieve peace. Today there are many meditative practices that are popular among people who live a healthy lifestyle with the help of meditative exercises. Here are different types of meditative exercises you should know about.
Mindfulness meditation
This type of meditation is originated from Buddhist teachings and is the most popular meditative practice today. Mindfulness meditation helps you create a flow of your thoughts, which reduces the stress in the brain and provides a calm state. With mindfulness, you will be able to stop mind chattering and focus your attention on what you want.
Spiritual meditation
Spiritual meditation is a practice that originated from eastern cultures that helps you to reflect on yourself. It helps you seek a deeper connection with your inner self. Spiritual meditation involves different elements such as sage, cedar, sandalwood, frankincense, and more. One can practice spiritual meditation at home or at places of worship.
Focused meditation
Focused meditation is a modern practice that involves all five senses. In this practice, one must concentrate on any of the five senses. You can focus on your breathing or put on an object in front of you to focus your attention. You can also listen to a melody to gain focus. If you do wander around, you should practice bringing your mind back to work.
Movement meditation
While most meditation activities require you to relax and meditate, movement meditation involves walking in calm places like a garden, forest, beachside, etc. Here, movement guides your meditative state. It is a good meditative exercise for people who find peace in action and also like to travel around instead of sitting idle.
Mantra meditation
Mantra meditation involves Hindu and Buddhist traditions where you are supposed to chant a word or a phrase while you try to focus your mind. The most popular word in mantra meditation is “Om.” It does not matter if you speak the words aloud or quietly as long as your mind focuses on what you say. It allows us to experience different levels of awareness.
Transcendental meditation
Transcendental meditation is a practice that is created after several scientific studies and numerous studies. It is a customizable mantra meditation where the words and phrases are given individually to the practitioner based on their requirements. It is said to be effective for beginners who want to achieve the state of meditation quickly. However, it is not a traditional form of meditation and is only used in the medical field.