5 Common Types of Meditation.

Have you just taken the meditation quiz? Well here are the results!

I created this short and fun quiz because I see so many people struggling to meditate. And often it is because the meditation style they have been experimenting with just doesn’t align. Its like Cinderella and the glass slipper, you gotta find the one that fits 🙂

As there are so many types of meditation, I’ve condensed them down into 5 different styles below. There are way more types of meditation, which I teach inside my signature meditation programme ‘The Meditation Academy’

What I have learnt over the years is that there is no ‘right’ way to mediate.

We are all perfectly unique and therefore we’ll all resonate with different styles.

What works for you, might not be the right fit for someone else.

So let’s explore the different types shall we?

 

Mindfulness Meditation.

What is Mindfulness Meditation?

Mindfulness Meditation is a great place to get started. It’s a very simple technique, that can be done anywhere. You simply ‘watch the thoughts’, without judging them as good, bad, right or wrong.

As the thoughts enter into the mind, acknowledge them, then let them go & come back to the breath.

The biggest challenge with this style of meditation is that most people think that meditation is ‘stopping the thoughts’, so they get frustrated when thoughts pop up.

But this is NORMAL! The mind is a thought factory & has been beautifully designed to ‘think’.

So mindfulness meditation helps develop a non-judgemental relationship with your own mind, tone down reactivity and keep you calm when sh*t hits the fan!

 

Pranayama/Breathwork Meditation

What is Pranayama?

Pranayama means ‘control of life force’. And our life force is our breath. So pranayama is simply different ways control the breath. 

Did you know that the ancient yogis carefully studied animals for many years? 

They found a direct correlation between quality of breath and life expectancy. 

Mammals with the shortest and fastest breath (mice, dogs, rabbits) lived very short lives, compared to the mammals who took the longest, deepest breaths (elephants, tortoises and whales). 

This was when the yogis realised the importance of slowing down the breath, to not only improve the quality of our existence, but also to live longer healthier lives! 

Below I will teach you a simply pranayama called ‘box breath’.

1. Close down your eyes
2. Breath in for a count of 4
3. Hold the breath for the count of 4 
4. Exhale for a count of 4
5. Hold the breath for the count of 4
6. Repeat as many times as you like

I find it helpful to imagine that I am drawing a box with the breath as I do this. 

If the count of 4 feels too short or too long, then adjust as you need, but just make sure you keep all sides of the square the same count.

 

Walking Meditation

What is Walking Meditation?

Yes, I have good news for you…

Even though you may feel like you are too restless to do a seated meditation, you can still enjoy meditation through a practice called walking meditation.

Brucey Bonus: You can gain steps on your pedometer, whilst meditating.

Double whammy right?

This practice is simple, yet powerful and can bring so many of the benefits of a seated practice.

Walking meditation is a very mindful practise. Here are my simple steps to get started:

1. Leave your phone at home! (do not even be tempted to turn it off and put in your pocket. Leave it at home so that you have no technology attached to your body)
2. Go into nature
3. As you walk start to notice what is around you. Look at the trees, plants, water, animals, sky, ground. Anything you can see, really SEE it. Take mini moments of gratitude for all the beauty that exists. Acknowledge your body that is able to walk, your breath that keeps you alive. The sun on your skin, the wind in your hair.
4. Allow the walk to be a long and immersive experience.
5. Allow your mind to wander. You may find the solution to a problem, you may have a million dollar idea (yes to more of those!) or you may just feel that imaginary backpack you’ve been carrying…just drop off your shoulders.

Enjoy! 🙂

 

Guided Meditation

Want to move away from the busy monkey mind ASAP? Well ‘all aboard’, here is your one-way-ticket to stillness.

By listening to someone else’s voice and guidance, you’ll have a focus point & can move into states of deep relaxation.

This type of meditation is perfect if you have a lot on your busy, or your mind is always racing.

Here is one of my favourite guided meditations. It is called ‘Intuition Meditation’ and you can download it here.

 

Soul Connection / Spiritual Meditation

What is Soul Connection or Spiritual Meditation?

Soul Connection Meditation is perfect if you want more from meditation than only finding ‘stillness in the mind’. They focus on connecting with your intuition, asking questions & receiving deep, powerful insights.

If you are a seeker, who is always asking questions on your next steps/life purpose/your inner truth, then this style of meditation can support you to find the answers you need.

 

Free Resources

Learn about yoga nidra meditation and download here

Watch interviews with amazing guest experts on my YouTube channel here

Check out these episodes on my Podcast for more insights into meditation:

The 5 Biggest Meditation Myths

Transformation through Meditation

Stepping into Spirituality

 

Online Meditation Course

If you are ready to fully commit to your mental & emotional health, join me on a 5-week transformational journey through my signature online meditation course ‘The Meditation Academy’