11 types of spiritual meditation (and what they’re good for)

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Did you know that there are different types of spiritual meditation?

When you think about meditation, you probably picture a person sitting in a cross-legged position with their eyes closed, breathing deeply.

But guess what? This is only one of many different types of meditation.

The truth is that there are many types of spiritual meditation, each with unique benefits and goals.

Let’s explore 11 types of spiritual meditation that you might not have heard about before. Each offers its own unique benefits and brings something new to your mediation practice.

1) Focused meditation

One of the most common types of spiritual meditation is focused meditation. But before we discuss its benefits, let me ask you a question:

Have you ever tried to focus on any of your five senses?

Whether it’s sight, hearing, taste, touch, or smell, it can be surprisingly difficult to focus on just one sense.

This is because we are constantly bombarded with distractions.

Imagine how difficult it would be to focus on one thing if there were distractions everywhere you looked!

That’s the idea behind focused meditation. It’s a simple way to increase your ability to concentrate and focus on just one thing.

And you know what?

Focused meditation can help improve your ability to concentrate during the day by helping you develop greater focus and concentration. This is especially helpful for people who are easily distracted or have trouble focusing at work or school.

How do you do it?

It’s easy!

You can choose any of the five senses and try focusing on that sense for a few minutes each day (or however long you want). You can also do it longer if you wish!

Let your mind wander and just make sure that you don’t get distracted by other things.

Usually, this type of meditation is often done in a seated position with the eyes closed.

It’s a simple technique that involves focusing your attention on a single point, word, sound or image for an extended period of time.

Now you probably wonder what it’s good for.

Well, focused meditation will help you maintain your attention on particular things and learn how to concentrate without getting distracted.

It will help you learn how to focus your attention on a single object, and it will also improve your ability to concentrate on the tasks at hand.

2) Mindfulness meditation

What have you heard about mindfulness?

If you’re into positive psychology, you probably understand that mindfulness is about focusing your attention on the present moment, and it’s a form of mental training.

And guess what?

It’s also considered one of the types of spiritual meditation where you learn how to be in the moment and to accept your feelings, thoughts, and emotions without judgment.

Perhaps not surprisingly, mindfulness meditation is one of the most popular types of meditation, and it’s also one of the easiest for beginners.

What I mean here is that it doesn’t require any special equipment or clothing. All you have to do is find a comfortable position (sitting or lying down), clear your mind, and focus on your breathing or on an object around you.

In fact, mindfulness is a form of meditation that will help you stay mindful throughout the day by focusing on your breathing, body sensations, thoughts, emotions, and other things that are happening around you.

It can help reduce stress and anxiety by keeping you more aware of what’s going on in the present moment without judging your thoughts and feelings.

But did you know that it can also help you increase self-awareness?

The thing is that when you practice mindfulness, you learn to focus your attention on the things that are happening around you in the present moment.

You will also learn how to let go of any negative thoughts or emotions that are holding you back from achieving your goals.

This type of meditation will help you become more attentive to what is happening around you and in the present moment. It’s also a great way to reduce stress, improve self-awareness, and increase your ability to focus on what’s important in life.

3) Mantra meditation

This one might sound a bit weird to you, but it’s a popular type of meditation that comes from Hindu and Buddhist traditions.

The main idea of this type of meditation is that you focus on a mantra.

What does it mean?

Well, a mantra is a repeated word, sound, or phrase that you repeat to yourself while meditating. It could be a single syllable, word, or even phrase.

For instance, “Om” is the most popular mantra for those who practice mantra meditation.

But other than this, the mantra could be something like ” Namaste”, “Aum”, “So hum (Sanskrit)”, or phrases such as

  • “I am open to the possibilities of the Universe”
  • “I love myself.”
  • “I’m going to become more self-aware”.

or other phrases like these.

So, what’s the point of repeating a word?

Well, as you repeat the word or phrase, again and again, you will slowly start to lose awareness of your surroundings and focus on the word or phrase instead.

It’s like you’re meditating on a word or phrase instead of letting your mind wander.

When you start to lose awareness of your surroundings, it means that you are in meditation.

The purpose of this meditation is to help you focus your attention on the mantra, which in turn will help you clear your mind and concentrate on one thing.

Based on expert opinions, it’s believed that the best mantras for meditation are those that are positive and have spiritual meaning. These mantras can give you a sense of peace and calmness because they connect you to something greater than yourself.

And you’ll probably notice that it’s pretty much like focused meditation. The only difference?

Instead of focusing on your senses, here you choose a mantra and concentrate on it.

So, try to pick a mantra that resonates with you and will help you relax. What’s more, it also has the potential of boosting your self-esteem.

4) Spiritual meditation

Although we’re discussing the types of spiritual meditation, spiritual meditation itself is considered one of the most effective types of meditation.

If you’re a spiritual person and believe in a higher power, then it means that you can use this type of meditation to connect with it.

In fact, this type of meditation is used by many religions such as Christianity, Hinduism, Buddhism, Islam, and Judaism.

So what’s the point of this type of meditation?

Well, for starters, it brings you closer to your higher power. The aim of people who practice spiritual meditation is to connect with a higher power and develop an understanding of it.

As you meditate, it’s likely that you’ll experience a sense of calmness and peace. In fact, some people who practice spiritual meditation claim to have experienced enlightenment.

But that’s not all!

It also helps you find a sense of peace and calmness.

And that’s because during the practice you will focus on your breathing and let go of all negative thoughts.

Many people also like to use this type of meditation before going to sleep at night or when they feel anxious or depressed.

So if you’re looking for spiritual guidance, this type of meditation may be for you. But keep in mind that spirituality is a very personal journey and there is no right or wrong way to do it.

Most importantly, you can easily practice it right at your home, in a calm and quiet place. So if you feel like you’re lacking spiritual guidance, then I suggest giving this type of meditation a try.

5) Visualization meditation

Do you believe in the power of visualization techniques?

If you’re among those people who regularly use visualization techniques, then you may want to give this type of meditation a try.

What is visualization meditation good for?

Well, the truth is that it can boost feelings of peace and relaxation.

But you know what else?

It will help you use your creative skill and develop your imagination by creating positive images in your mind.

The practice usually involves visualizing a place that makes you feel safe, comfortable, and relaxed. You can use visualization techniques to help you meditate by imagining your favorite place or a place that’s relaxing for you.

For example, if you have a garden in your backyard and it always makes you feel calm and relaxed, then try to visualize that garden when meditating.

Some people even like to use vivid colors when doing this type of meditation.

For example, imagine yourself sitting in front of the ocean with the beautiful blue water surrounding you. Then imagine how the sun feels on your skin as gentle waves wash over your feet.

Try to be as detailed as possible when using visualization techniques during this type of meditation.

When it comes to visualizing things, here are some tips that may help:

  • Think about the things that make you feel good such as a loved one or something pleasurable like a great vacation spot.
  • As you visualize these things, remember to use all your senses. For instance, think about how it smells, tastes, and feels when you’re there.
  • You can also try using guided imagery.

So, get ready and remember to use all your senses when doing this type of meditation.

6) Loving-kindness meditation

Are you trying to enhance your feelings of kindness, self-love, and acceptance?

If you’re struggling with low self-esteem and want to improve your self-acceptance and love towards others around you, then this type of meditation may be just what you need.

The basic idea of loving-kindness meditation is that you’re trying to develop feelings of love, kindness, and compassion for yourself and others.

When you meditate on loving-kindness, you focus on the positive aspects of your life. You also try to focus on the positive qualities of other people.

In simple words, it’s a type of meditation that involves sending love and compassion to yourself and others.

The practice involves training the mind to be kinder and more compassionate toward oneself and others. The goal is to develop unconditional love for yourself and others.

And guess what?

People who practice loving-kindness meditation report feeling more positive emotions and having better psychological well-being

As a result, they feel more connected with themselves, others, and the world around them.

What’s more, loving-kindness meditation can help reduce stress and anxiety, lower blood pressure, boost self-esteem, increase positive emotions, improve sleep quality, and promote positive traits like kindness, gratitude, forgiveness, patience, empathy, and compassion.

The practice consists of repeating certain phrases or visualizing certain things in order to cultivate positive feelings toward oneself or others. In other words, it’s a way to show love to yourself or someone else.

7) Transcendental meditation

Do you know what the word “transcendental” means?

It refers to something that is beyond the limits of space and time. In other words, it’s a type of meditation that takes you to a place where there’s no space or time.

Transcendental meditation (TM) is one of the most popular types of meditation in the world today. It was developed by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi in the 1960s.

Now you probably wonder what’s the purpose of this type of spiritual meditation.

Well, people who practice transcendental meditation aim to achieve a state of piece and calm. The technique involves sitting with your eyes closed and repeating a mantra for 15–20 minutes twice per day.

The mantra is usually a meaningless sound, such as “aum” or “shreem”.

However, you can use any word or phrase that you find soothing and meaningful to you.

Believe it or not, some people even use their own names during meditation.

You can also use the words love, peace, happiness, or anything else that makes you feel good when thinking about it.

As you repeat your chosen mantra silently within your mind or out loud, your attention will naturally begin to wander away from it.

You’ll notice this as thoughts start entering your head and as sounds around you become apparent again.

When this happens, simply bring your attention back to the mantra again and focus on repeating it for another minute or so before letting go of it once more.

The result?

You’ll become more aware of yourself and your intentions and develop a better understanding of the nature of your own consciousness, as well as the world around you.

8) Movement meditation

Want to know another great type of spiritual meditation to increase your focus and concentration?

Movement meditation is a type of spiritual meditation that involves moving or dancing while meditating.

The idea behind it is to create movement in your body while focusing on what you’re doing.

This type of spiritual meditation has been used by many different types of spiritual traditions and cultures throughout history.  In fact, the earliest records of movement meditation date back to ancient times, when people would dance while they prayed at temples called “oracles.”

These oracles were places where people could go in order to receive advice from the gods.

Today, some people use movement meditation as a form of exercise or even as a way to connect with their creative side.

Here’s what you need to know about the benefits of movement meditation:

  • Movement meditation is a type of meditation that involves the body. It’s a great way to exercise and get rid of stress at the same time.
  • The practice is simple and easy to learn.
  • It’s also very effective in reducing stress and anxiety, as well as improving concentration, mood, and self-awareness.

And guess what?

As it turns out, physical activity can be just as effective as a mental activity when it comes to relieving stress!

So, if you’re looking for practical ways to find peace in action, movement meditation is a great place to start.

9) Progressive relaxation

To be honest, this particular type of meditation is a little bit different from all of the others on this list.

The fact of the matter is that progressive relaxation is more of a relaxation technique than a type of spiritual meditation.

How does it work?

Well, progressive relaxation aims to reduce tension in your body by focusing on different muscle groups.

To do this, you need to focus your mind on the sensation of tension in a body part. Then, you’ll slowly move through your body, one muscle group at a time, while focusing on relaxing that specific area.

Having said that, though, progressive relaxation is an extremely effective method for dealing with stress, boosting your mood, and improving your overall health.

In progressive relaxation, you’ll be focusing on your body and trying to relax every part of it in turn. It’s a type of body scan meditation, which means that you’ll be intentionally focusing on different parts of your body as you meditate.

By doing this, you’ll be able to relax your muscles and get rid of any excess tension that might have built up in them.

This will help improve both the quality and quantity of your sleep at night, help reduce stress levels throughout the day, and even make you feel calmer overall!

10) Yoga meditation

When someone mentions “yoga”, chances are that the image that comes to mind is a person in an awkward position, contorting their body into strange shapes.

And of course, this image immediately revives associations of meditation, doesn’t it?

Well, that’s because yoga and meditation are deeply intertwined.

As a matter of fact, yoga is one of the most effective ways to deal with stress and anxiety, as well as improve your overall quality of life.

Some forms of yoga are more meditative than others. It all depends on what you’re looking for.

If you want a form of meditation that will help you achieve extreme states of consciousness, get rid of stress in a very deep way, and even learn to levitate or walk on water, then it’s time for you to try out some advanced yoga techniques!

On the other hand, if you’re just looking for something simple to do at home that will help relieve stress and anxiety levels so that you can be more productive throughout the day…Then a more basic form of yoga might be right up your alley.

And if this is the case, then I highly recommend trying out some form of Hatha Yoga. It’s a great way to relax both your mind and body at the same time!

But you know what?

Well, it turns out that there’s actually a lot more to yoga than meets the eye. In fact, there are several different forms of yoga that vary in terms of their focus and intensity.

One of the most popular forms of yoga is known as “meditation yoga”. As the name implies, this type of yoga focuses on meditation as much as it does on physical exercises.

It also aims to help people achieve greater spiritual awareness through this combination of physical and mental exercises.

If you’re looking for a combination between meditation and exercise, meditation yoga is definitely worth exploring!

So, try to find yoga poses that are well-known for their meditative aspect. This will help you achieve a meditative state more easily, and you’ll also be able to focus on your breathing while doing so.

The key here is to focus on your breathing as much as possible while doing the poses.

11) Chakra meditation

And finally, the last type of meditation we’re about to cover is chakra meditation.

Chakra meditation is a type of meditation that involves focusing on the seven main chakras in the body – which are known as “energy centers”.

These energy centers can be open, aligned, and fluid. The three of them will help you restore harmony with the universe, reach greater states of consciousness, and even achieve a higher level of self-awareness.

On the other hand, blocked or imbalanced chakras can lead to a variety of negative effects, including anxiety, depression, and even physical illnesses!

This is why it’s so important to make sure that your chakras are open and balanced. And the best way to do this is by practicing some chakra meditation techniques.

So how can you get started?

Concentrate on the location of your body, become familiar with chakras and their meaning, and then begin to focus on your breathing.

This will help you to relax and open your chakras. Once this is done, you can start focusing on the colors associated with each chakra, its element, and its purpose in the body.

And once you’re comfortable with this process, try visualizing each of your chakras in a color of light that’s associated with it. For example, if your root chakra is red (which it should be), then imagine a bright red light at the base of your spine!

This will help you to reconnect with these energy centers and restore harmony with the universe. And doing so will also help you reach greater states of consciousness – which is what we’re ultimately aiming for!

Final thoughts

Have you already decided which meditation style you’re going to try first?

As you can see, practicing meditation can be done in a variety of ways. And there are plenty of styles to choose from.

Most importantly, each type of spiritual meditation will require you to focus on your breathing and has similar benefits for your mental, spiritual, and physical well-being.

So the next time you find yourself in need of a quick spiritual recharge, try one of these meditation techniques!