Meditation is becoming increasingly popular in modern society. In fact, all types of meditation are seductive in their ability to relax, invigorate, lead to spiritual awakening… Each offering its own benefits, the different meditation techniques are all equally valid.

However, it’s important to choose the one that suits you best before embarking on any type of meditation. Find out more about each type of meditation below.

All types of meditation and their benefits

There are so many methods of meditation. We’ve selected a few to give you an idea of just how powerful meditation can be for our spirituality and personal development.

BUDDHIST MEDITATION: THE PATH TO NIRVANA
With its origins in present-day Nepal, Buddhist meditation is one of the best-known meditation techniques. Its greatest asset? Its benefits for the cardiovascular system. What’s more, it requires no particular level of skill or strength… and can be practised by people of all ages. Also known as Western meditation, Buddhist meditation leads us to wholeness.

TRANSCENDENTAL MEDITATION: CHOOSE WITH CARE
This meditation was tested, applied and established by yogi Maharishi Mahesh in 1955. Also famous as the meditation of choice for The Beatles, Transcendental Meditation is practiced by over five million people worldwide. Perceived by some as a cult, Transcendental Meditation nevertheless offers so many benefits. To practice it, you need to contact a licensed teacher. A session lasts 15 to 20 minutes, and you’ll need to schedule two sessions a day if you want to take full advantage of its virtues.

VIPASSANA MEDITATION: DEVELOPING CONCENTRATION AND WILLPOWER
Of all the different types of meditation, this is the one you can’t beat. In fact, vipassana meditation is attracting more and more practitioners because of all the benefits it offers. For greater well-being and to combat addiction, vipassana meditation is extremely effective.

GUIDED MEDITATION: FOR A QUALITY INITIATION
This variant offers a wide range of meditation techniques. Guided meditation encompasses many techniques, including traditional meditation, guided imagery, sound meditation and many others. As the name suggests, it involves meditating while being guided by audio or video support, or both. Guided meditation is suitable for beginners, for those who want to regain their self-confidence and for those who simply want to enjoy a relaxing meditation.

DYNAMIC MEDITATION: GOOD FOR BODY AND MIND
Dynamic meditation differs from other types of meditation in that it requires movement. Most beneficial when practiced in the morning, dynamic meditation revitalizes both mind and body. A session lasts an hour and is divided into five stages. Music is often included in a session, although this does not make it a sound meditation.

TIBETAN MEDITATION: ONE TYPE OF BUDDHIST MEDITATION
This is a Buddhist meditation that also leads to spiritual awakening. But in addition, Tibetan meditation aims to enable the practitioner to attain the highest level of knowledge, sufficiency, fundamental goodness… or simply nirvana. Tibetan meditation can therefore help you regain a healthy lifestyle on the path to truth.

FIND YOUR PLACE IN THE UNIVERSE WITH MANDALA MEDITATION
Mandala meditation is a special technique that uses the mandala as a meditation tool. Observation of the various harmonious forms helps the practitioner to find his or her place in a universe that has always seemed confusing. In this way, mandala meditation is perfect for helping those who are working on themselves, as it helps to strengthen their self-confidence and self-esteem.

MINDFULNESS MEDITATION: ONE OF THE MOST LIFE-ENHANCING TYPES OF MEDITATION
This technique is a mixture of all the traditional Buddhist methods. Since its introduction to the University of Massachusetts Medical School in 1979, mindfulness meditation has been used in many health care institutions. Bringing compassion and empathy to life, mindfulness meditation also effectively combats stress.

How to choose between the different types of meditation?

Talking about meditation without saying which one, is like talking about medication without mentioning its name. Apart from the ones we’ve listed, there are so many other types of meditation to discover and practice. Don’t take the risk of choosing one without first finding out about it. In fact, you should choose your meditation on the basis of the virtues it offers.

You need to know what you need before you start. Know why you need to meditate. Is it to fight an addiction? Perhaps it’s to boost your energy and stamina? In short, define your reasons for meditating beforehand, as they will help you choose the right meditation for you.

Let’s get down to business

We’ve looked at a number of meditation methods, each of which has proven its effectiveness in every respect. Now it’s time to make up your mind and take action. Practice one of these meditation methods and improve your quality of life.