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How to Meditate – 5 Techniques for Life

Hula Hoop Meditation on the beach in Bali

My first memory of meditation comes from childhood. After a wild day of schoolyard happenings I would lay face up on the trampoline in our back yard and visualise spirals and colours in the sky, relaxing my whole body and calming my mind. I had no label for the practice it just intuitively allowed me to chill out.

In high school a teacher introduced me to full body meditation. We would lay on the classroom floor as she guided us through complete relaxation techniques “Your feet are soft and relaxed, your ankles are soft and relaxed….” all the way up to the face, head and hair. I still use this technique regularly today more than 20 years on.

Since then I experimented with various forms of meditation including crystal meditation, group meditation, Reiki meditations, dance, hoop, breath, yogic, chakra, chanting, colour and floating meditations.

Of all the health giving practices of life I believe it is meditation that has provided the most balance and grounding, encouraging calm and equanimity.

Meditation techniques can be so diverse but there are a few key considerations when taking on the daily focus time.

1. Commit to the practice, set aside uninterrupted time every day.

2. Experiment with techniques that feel good.

3. Notice improvements and shifts but do not be discouraged by frustrations and mind distractions.

4. Give thanks for your practice and be mindful of the effects it has on your daily life.

Here are 5 techniques that you may want to experiment with to bring some calm into your soul and diversity into your practice.

1. Guided Meditation

A guided practice can give powerful focus and direction. There is a huge range of meditation podcasts, recordings, videos and books.

2. Active Meditations

My favourite being the OSHO meditations, in particular the Kundalini Meditation.  These meditations allow cathartic expression and insightful stillness to create a dynamic experience. Full body and soul stirring, certainly not your cross legged yogi in the cave kind of meditation.

http://youtu.be/SAngxzfoIeo

3. Vipassana or Mindfulness

This silent and still practice is about letting the mind and breath do it’s thing while simply observing it’s activities and staying present. The idea is to let thoughts come and go never attaching to any one stream. You may also hear of people going on “Vipassana retreats” where they are in silent practice most commonly for 10 days. Buddhist tradition believes Vipassana gives insight into the true nature of reality.

4. Kundalini (maybe sometimes referred to as Chakra Meditation)

Kundalini refers to the rising flow of energy in the body.  Using the breath actively the idea of Kundalini meditation is often to concentrate on sending the breath or movement up through the energy centers or Chakras.

http://youtu.be/5JYueTqWmyo

5.  Transcendental Meditation

TM is one of the more popular methods of meditation. Often practiced in a seated lotus position with back up straight (although not essential) TM uses mantras and breath to settle into the practice.

HOW DO YOU LIKE TO MEDITATE AND FIND GROUNDED CALM IN YOUR LIFE?