Achieving Zen: 5 meditation practices to start your day with

Meditation is a spiritual practice that has been around for centuries. From calming anxiety to improving productivity, the mindful practice offers several benefits and helps an individual lead a healthy and peaceful life. 

Let us take a look at the five kinds of meditation practices that one can follow.

Mindfulness Meditation

One of the most popular meditation forms, mindfulness meditation helps in deeply understanding how the mind operates, thus improving self-awareness. To practice this style, one can simply close their eyes and deeply feel their body and thoughts. Including breathwork during the practice can help in lowering stress and anxiety.

Also Read: World Health Day 2022: 5 tips to improve your health

Mantra Meditation

Popular in Hindu and Buddhist cultures, mantra meditation involves chanting religious or spiritual phrases mentally or verbally. One can perform this meditation style by sitting upright in a comfortable position and chanting mantras.

Trataka Meditation

Trataka meditation aims to declutter the mind and control overwhelming thoughts. It boosts concentration and strengthens the muscles in the eyes. To practice this style, begin by igniting a candle and placing it at your eye level. Then, sit in a relaxed position and deeply focus on the center of the flame by keeping your eyes steady. Without blinking, gaze at the flame for as long as you can. Gently close your eyes when you need to. 

Also Read: Want to lose weight? Incorporate these 5 habits into your routine

Visualization Meditation

Practicing visualization meditation can help enhance mood levels and boost overall happiness. To perform this practice, sit and visualize a thought or a scenario that evokes feelings of joy and peace. The technique helps in tricking the brain into a happy mental state.

Chakra Meditation

The most complex form of meditation, chakra meditation stems from the Yogic philosophy of chakras. The philosophy suggests that the human body is made up of 7 chakras or energy centers. Acknowledging and focusing on these energy centers is said to offer a high spiritual connection with oneself.

To practice this meditation style, sit upright and rest your hands on your thighs. One by one, deeply focus, feel and visualize your chakras that are starting from your spine, all the way up to your head.