Different Meditation Types and Benefits

There are so many different meditation types and the benefits are amazing.

Meditation is a great tool for rebalancing ourselves. Sometimes just sitting in silence is enough to clear our minds and move through whatever funk we are in. We very seldom just sit in silence and watch our minds. We are usually on the go, getting things done physically and also on the go in our minds, not paying attention to the present moment. Meditation allows us to connect with our higher self and sit and watch our busy thoughts go by.

Check out the different types of meditations to experience.

Here are just a few:

• Focused Attention-focusing on a single object. This may be the breath, a mantra, external objects or part of the body.
• Open meditation- monitor all aspects of the experience, without any judgments or attachments.
• Zen-seated on a mat or cushion in a lotus or half lotus position. Eyes focused on floor 3’ in front of you, watching thoughts go by.
• Vipassana-this is similar to focused attention meditation, moving on to developing “clear insight” on bodily sensations and mental phenomena, observing but not clinging to any.
• Mindfulness-this is intentionally focusing on the present moment, accepting all and not judging it, paying attention to sensations, thoughts and any emotions that arise.

Here are some of the benefits of meditation:

1. Stress Reduction- The biggest impact that meditation has on our health is a reduction of stress. It has been proven that chronic stress causes all sorts of problems including high blood pressure, decreased immunity, and impaired cognitive function. When we have stress, our body releases the “stress hormone,” cortisol. Elevated levels of cortisol in your system are a problem on many levels and finding a way to reduce cortisol could help prevent a number of health issues. This is where meditation comes into play.
2. Lower Blood Pressure- Meditation can help normalize blood pressure because of what’s called the “relaxation response,” which helps produce more of the compound nitric oxide. Nitric oxide helps blood vessels open which then helps reduce blood pressure.
3. Increased Immunity- A healthy immune system is crucial to living a healthy life. A number of recent studies have shown that meditation can also play an integral role in maintaining and even strengthening your immune system.
4. Brain Development- Quite a few studies have come out linking meditation with an increase in cortical thickness, an increase in grey matter in both the hippocampus and frontal areas, and an overall increase in brain volume. With medical imaging technology, researchers can actually watch what meditation does to the brain in real time and over an extended period of time.
5. Irritable Bowel Syndrome- In 2011 a study published in theAmerican Journal of Gastroenterology shows that an 8-week program of meditation targets issues linked to IBS, such as anxiety, stress, and depression, and helped to reduce the severity of the IBS symptoms compared to a control group who did not participate in the meditation program.

You don’t have to meditate for hours to obtain results. As little as 5 minutes a day can make a difference. In all of my individual and couples retreats, I teach and incorporate meditation.

Hopefully this has helped you get more acquainted with the different types of meditation and their benefits.