Four types of meditation to keep you calm

Meditation is an ancient practice that’s been used over the years to keep people calm, to strengthen the connection between mind and body, and to improve awareness and concentration.

With our hectic modern day schedules, the popularity of mediation is rising as a way to combat the high levels of stress.

Transcendental Meditation
This is considered the most popular and most scientifically studied type of meditation. Transcendental Meditation or TM uses a mantra or series of Sanskrit words to help the practitioner focus during meditation rather than just following breathing. This differs from ordinary mantra meditation as practitioners are given a specific mantra by a teacher.

Mindfulness Meditation
Mindfulness Meditation involves paying attention to your thoughts as they go through your mind, without judgement. You observe and note patterns but do not become attached to the thoughts. The aim of mindfulness is not necessarily quieting the mind, but to allow the practitioner to focus on the present moment, without judgement. This meditation focuses on the breath to anchor you to the present moment.

Mantra Meditation
With Mantra Meditation, repetition of a word, phrase or sound is used to focus and clear the mind. As the practitioner repeats the mantra, the mind is freed from all other thoughts. Many people enjoy this kind of meditation because they find it easier to focus on a word than on their breath. It’s an excellent meditation practice for those who don’t like silence and enjoy repetition.

Focused Meditation
This type of meditation involves concentration using any of the five senses. During focused meditation you can concentrate on something internal, like your breath, or something external like counting beads on a chain. Any concentration meditation will involve consistent mental effort to build up the ability to focus without falling prey to distraction.

Sources: Mindful, Healthline, The Chopra Centre, Mental Health Daily