Meditation is both spiritual and beneficial to mental and physical health. While "meditation" may conjure thoughts of sitting cross-legged with closed eyes, there are various styles of meditation, each with its own benefits. Nine methods of meditation improve well-being.
In mindfulness meditation, you focus on the present without judgement. It increases awareness of thoughts, feelings, body sensations, and surroundings. Mindfulness meditation improves focus, memory, and emotional regulation while reducing stress, anxiety, and sadness, according to research.
Loving-kindness Meditation fosters kindness and self-compassion. When visualising sending wishes to oneself and others, practitioners say "May I be happy, may I be healthy, may I be safe, may I live with ease". Metta meditation reduces anger, resentment, and increases empathy, kindness, and togetherness.
Chakra meditation focuses on the body's energy centres, or chakras, which are thought to represent different aspects of life and consciousness. Practitioners visualise and balance these energy centres to improve physical, emotional, and spiritual health.
The guided meditation practice of yoga nidra, or yogic sleep, relaxes while maintaining consciousness. Lying in a comfortable position, practitioners follow voice directions to deeply relax body parts. Yoga nidra boosts sleep, stress, and health.