10 Simple Ways To Meditate

Cultivating mindfulness is the key to overcoming suffering and recognizing natural wisdom: both our own and others'. How do we go about it? In the Buddhist tradition and in Contemplative Psychotherapy training, we nurture mindfulness through the practice of sitting meditation. There are many different kinds of meditation.

NOTE: Mindfulness is now being talked about everywhere it seems, businesses, classrooms and even in the military. To learn it these is no requirement that you change your beliefs or religion, just learn the techniques and go as far as you will.

Mantra meditation is the basis of arguably the most well-known form of meditation in the West, Transcendental Meditation (TM).

NOTE: Don't let their list of Mantra's scare you off, you can use almost any word or phrase in a Mantra Meditation. Words such as peace, love, om, relax, or you can use "one" which in many studies has proven to work as well as any but without ties to a particular belief system.

When I was on my first ever meditation retreat - two weeks of intensive meditation in the Scottish Highlands - I'd sometimes hear the instruction, "And now we'll just sit." No further instruction was given! And we'd sit there for a period of time - maybe ten minutes, maybe thirty minutes.

NOTE: Just sitting sometimes called Shikantaza in Zen is a rather advanced form of mediation even though it may be the simplest of all. Beginners to meditation might want to try something with more structure before jumping into no structure.

With all of the different teachers, schools of thought, and techniques on meditation, it can be overwhelming to just choose one and get started. On the other hand, no matter what your style or preference, with the beauty of information sharing on YouTube, you can probably find a...

NOTE: Guided meditation is just what it sounds like, someone takes you a journey using a combination of words, music and sometimes visual cues. The guided meditation journey can be very enjoyable, relaxing and heart opening.

Learn about the Transcendental Meditation technique for inner peace and wellness. Evidence-based results. Serving men and women at TM® centers worldwide.

NOTE: I took TM more than 20 years ago and found it for me to be a helpful stepping stone to other techniques. It's simple but offers more involvement if you so choose. Many people learn it and integrate the short meditations into their daily life. As with any meditation teaching, in the beginning take what you can use and leave the rest for a later time.

Tai Chi is an ancient Chinese martial art form often referred to as the practice of "meditation in motion." The gentle, flowing movements in Tai Chi promote relaxation, stress relief and conscious awareness of the present moment. Tai Chi may help reduce stress, depression and anxiety, improve your balance and coordination, lower your...

NOTE: Tai Chi can be a wonderful meditation practice in motion. I've found it is best learned with a teacher or group because others can help with movement and postures that can be hard to see by yourself.

The word Qigong (Chi Kung) is made up of two Chinese words. Qi is pronounced chee and is usually translated to mean the life force or vital-energy that flows through all things in the universe. The second word, Gong, pronounced gung, means accomplishment, or skill that is cultivated through steady practice.

Meditation can be challenging. Even after you've had a taste of its benefits and long for those sweet moments of inner calm, clarity, and deep connection, it can be hard to just sit.