My Favorite Types Of Meditation
This Friday is dedicated to meditation and connecting to your true Self, or big S self or atman. Meditation can be very beneficial to your life and your yoga practice. Taking time to find stillness and breathe. These are my favorite types of meditation that I practice in my daily life.
mantra
Mantra is a saying that you repeat in your head. I live for mantras as a form of meditation for my own practice. I like to associate a word with my inhalation and a different word for my exhalation. Repeating these words aligned with my breath.
Visualization
Visualization is just that. You visualize an object, scene or scenario in your head and focus on it while you sit in stillness with your breath. You can visualize yourself in a forest with the sound of rain surrounding you, or on a deserted beach in the middle of the Caribbean. The options are limitless. My favorite visualization is laying on the beach in the sand while water flows. Similar to the waves rolling at the shore. As the waves roll in they pass over my body and take with it anything I don’t need in my life. I teach this in my classes sometimes when it fits with what we have done for the practice.
Guided
I have found the Calm app and/or mindfulness app have been very useful in my meditation practice. This is a great way to start for beginners. You can find segments of any length and with different focal points. I love this because it forces me to sit still while I listen. This is at the top of my list of my favorite types of meditation because I struggle in completing it on my own. I need the guidance and forced time to sit in stillness or I will find a reason to get up and do something else.
When it comes to meditation you really have to find what works for you. Start small and build on your practice. It may be uncomfortable, but sometimes we have to sit through the uncomfortable to find ease and comfort. A strong meditation practice can be life changing. It can also help you with your physical asana practice allowing you to find a deeper connection to your body and your movement.
How do meditate? Looking for meditation videos check back soon to join the Pacific Yoga Fit community to access our mediation videos.
