Metta? Nidra? Mindfulness? Which Meditation Type is Right For Me?
“Meditation” is a broad term capturing many diverse styles of practices from varying traditions and philosophies, but there are a few things they all tend to have in common:
Deep relaxation
Focus
The goal of self realization or enlightenment
Finding the style(s) that work for you can highly depend on your needs, such as guided or unguided, and the benefits that would most impact you, such as deeper rest, focus, energy, spiritual connection, less stress, or something else.
[Explore the research here pertaining to depression, anxiety, and more.]
This, of course, is why it’s so troubling to hear that someone tried meditation once or twice and decided it wasn’t for them. This leaves a whole world of benefits closed! That’s why we’ve created a library of 30 meditation videos for you to try. See what suits your body, heart, and mind best, or simply read on to explore the different types, what they’re for, and where they come from…
Meditations for Concentration & Focus
Mantra
Zen
Chakras
Meditations for Relaxation
Mindfulness
Yoga Nidra
Sound bath experience
Meditations for Psychological Healing & Self-Realization
Loving-kindness (cultivating compassion)
Yoga Nidra (healing subconscious mind)
Chakras (healing layers of emotional programming)
Some have used the library as a supplemental resource, while others have used it as a 30-day challenge to kickstart a new habit (practice). Whatever you choose, here’s what you’ll be able to explore:
Mindfulness Meditation
What is it: "Mindfulness is awareness that arises through paying attention, on purpose, in the present moment, non-judgmentally." - Jon Kabat-Zinn
Derived from: Buddhist lineage
Techniques: Focus on breath (anapanasati), bodily sensations (body scan), or sounds (sound meditation)
Best for: Stress reduction, increasing self-awareness, enhancing emotional intelligence
Loving Kindness (Metta) Meditation
What is it: A practice focused on cultivating an attitude of love and kindness towards oneself and others
Derived from: Buddhist lineage
Techniques: Repetition of phrases like "May I be happy, may I be healthy, may I be safe, may I live with ease" or similar phrases for others and all beings
Best for: Cultivating compassion, reducing negative emotions, improving relationships
Zen Meditation (Zazen)
What is it: Emphasizing sitting meditation to cultivate insight and awareness
Derived from: Zen Buddhism
Techniques: Sitting in a specific posture (usually lotus or half-lotus), focusing on breath (following the breath) or a koan (a paradoxical question or statement)
Best for: Cultivating clarity, insight, and equanimity
Mantra Meditation
What is it: Involves the repetition of a specific sound, word, or phrase to focus the mind and induce a meditative state
Derived from: Vedic / Yogic Lineage
Techniques: Mantras can be silently repeated or chanted aloud, chosen for their spiritual significance or vibrational quality
Best for: Enhancing concentration, calming the mind, spiritual growth
Yoga Nidra Meditation
What is it: Yoga Nidra is a meditation technique that deeply heals stress from the mind through guided visualizations. While the body rests in a lying down position, the mind transcends different levels of consciousness, dropping beneath mental and emotional activity.
Also known as yogic sleep or “psychic sleep”
Derived from: Vedic / Yogic Lineage
Techniques: Focus on body awareness, breath, and visualization to induce deep relaxation and heightened awareness of inner experiences
Best for: Deep relaxation, stress relief, improving sleep quality
Chakra Meditation
What is it: Focuses on the energy centers (chakras) in the body, aiming to balance and harmonize their flow
Derived from: Vedic / Yogic Lineage
Techniques: Visualizing specific chakras, using affirmations or chanting sounds associated with each chakra
Best for: Balancing energy, enhancing vitality, spiritual awakening
Sound Bath
What is it: A deeply immersive, full-body listening experience that intentionally uses sound to invite gentle yet powerful therapeutic restorative processes to nurture the mind and body
Derived from: Various ancient traditions
Techniques: Involves immersion in sounds produced by various instruments (e.g., singing bowls, gongs) to facilitate deep relaxation and meditative states
Best for: Stress reduction, emotional healing, enhancing creativity
Ready to see what meditation can do for depression, anxiety, stress, fatigue, disconnection, productivity, distraction, and your overall wellbeing?