Did you know there are actually several different styles of meditation? I had no idea. I mostly assumed it was one-size-fits-all, and once I learned of more options, I felt more interested in finding one that resonated with me specifically.
The most common types are breath-focused, often called mindfulness meditation, but another popular type is known as transcendental meditation, which is mantra-oriented. You can explore meditation through apps on your phone, or check out specific restorative or meditative yoga classes at local studios. For many, selecting a guided meditation is key to sticking with it.
“A big meditation roadblock is having unrealistic expectations and giving up too soon,” said Kim McIntyre, a meditation teacher and stress relief specialist. “People have heard that meditation quiets the mind or makes you feel blissed out. When that doesn’t happen on the first or second try, they give up. They decide that they don’t like it, or that they aren’t good at it — but, they haven’t really given it a chance."
She said, "The easiest way around this roadblock is to start with guided meditations and/or a meditation app. A guided experience makes it easier to feel some positive effects early in the process. The better it feels, the more likely people are to want to stick with it — also, with the instruction built in, people are less likely to worry about whether or not they are doing it right.”