Meditation has been practiced for hundreds of years as a way for people to focus and redirect their thoughts.

At the moment it’s gaining popularity as a method for dealing with stress by encouraging practitioners to take time out of their busy schedule to relax, rejuvenate and reflect.

The main benefits of meditation are:

*Reduced stress.

*Improved concentration.

*Increased self-awareness.

*Increased happiness.

*Slows the aging process.

*Benefits cardiovascular and immune health.

There are many different types of meditation and experts encourage individuals to find the right method for them depending on their lifestyle, the time they have available, and what they want to get out of it.

Three of the most popular types of meditation practice are mindfulness, transcendental and focused.

Mindfulness meditation is one of the newest forms of meditation. It involves paying attention to your thoughts as they pass through your mind, observing them and noting any patterns. This practice combines concentration with awareness.

Transcendental meditation is the most popular around the world with approximately five million followers. It uses a mantra or series of Sanskrit words to help practitioners focus and each student receives a specific chant based on a several factors such as the year they were born and gender.

Focused meditation is any kind of meditation that concentrates on the five senses. Practitioners commonly concentrate on the movement of breath, as it flows in and out of the body, and this helps people to focus and remain calm.

Sources: Huffington Post / Healthline