Finding your groove: picking the meditation style that’s right for you

There are nearly too many styles of meditation to list; but, each as a common goal: to allow the mind some time out from the bustle of everyday life. Where some meditation styles help you to focus, others help you to let go of any concentration.

Meditation is touted for its many health, particularly mental health, benefits. A little deliberate relaxation and some deeper breathing is good for everyone. In fact, two of our team members often practice meditation on their lunch breaks.

Whether you’re wanting to try Tibetan Buddhist meditation methods, Transcendental Meditation, or perhaps a speaker-led visualisation type of meditation, there are some things you might like to consider:

• First, it’s best to choose to meditate at a time that works with your own rhythm. If you’re a morning person, wake up a little earlier to reserve time to meditate. You might like to start in increments of ten minutes, and work up to a longer time frame. If you’re an evening person, attempt to meditate in the quiet of night (before you become too sleepy, of course).
• Some people prefer to meditate laying on the floor, on a yoga mat, but if you find you have a tendency to fall asleep easily, you might need to sit up. On that note, try to find a comfortable sitting position. If you’re not comfortable with your legs folded in a Buddha-inspired fashion, take a seat on a chair. You might like to sit with one hand on each knee, or with your palms facing up. Find your own style, and don’t despair if the first doesn’t work.
• Many meditation enthusiasts find music or a guided, spoken mediation helpful (something like Headspace). This can be a good way for beginners to settle in. If you think you’d prefer to enjoy a quieter meditation experience, you might like to focus on an object, your breath, or even a mantra to help you get into it.
• The most important thing to consider is that it may not be as easy as it sounds. Sometimes, a brain that’s buzzing with stimulous and too many thoughts can take a while to empty. So, if at first you don’t succeed, try again, and again, and again. And, pretty soon, you’ll notice how far you’ve come. If you’re not sure about how to get started,  it can be helpful to attend a class, or start with an app, to get you in the swing of things.

How do you like to meditate? Tell us how you found your style…