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Guided Meditation

Last Updated: June 15, 2022

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Meditation is a simple practice, yet, it is not easy and takes great skill to master. Because of this, many people feel that they do not have the patience meditating requires, often discouraging them from getting involved in mindfulness exercises. This is where guided meditation offers a simple solution.

Guided meditation is a process where participants meditate following the instructions given by a professional teacher. It is unique from regular meditation by incorporating the audio element, often narrated by an experienced teacher.

 

What is Guided Meditation?

woman performing guided meditationGuided meditation involves conventional aspects of meditation practice, such as deep breathing, visualization, and attention to sound. The idea is to quiet the brain so the practitioner can rest and relax while in an awake state. One will let go of distracting thoughts during the practice and tune in to the present moment with open awareness.

Meditation often takes practice and does not come naturally. The mind is a thought machine, making it very difficult for the mind to quiet and stop thinking. This makes it hard to let go of negative feelings, but when we do, we can gain a better perspective on situations in our inner life when we are in a state of stress. One short guided practice will allow practitioners to feel calm and relaxed, equally important as getting regular exercise or fitness.

Guided meditations give practitioners the essential tips and fundamentals to practice meditation independently while offering vital skills in individual practices. The narrated guidance provides us with a healing space for deep relaxation. Here, we can reflect on our feelings through the teacher's guidance to access a calm and relaxing state.

 

Benefits of Guided Meditation

the benefits of guided meditationThere are extensive benefits to a guided meditation that support mental and physical health.

Some of the many benefits include:

A good night’s rest is essential to mental and physical health, and guided meditation is one of the most common and helpful solutions for those who have trouble sleeping at night. There are specific guided meditations that are precisely orchestrated to bring people into a deep state of rest. It takes minimal effort and allows new practitioners to develop their mindfulness skills.

Practicing guided meditations that adhere to one’s goals in life can help people manifest a better outlook on the world and be a better version of themselves. Whether to be happier, quit smoking, or accomplish another personal goal, guidance can help one achieve growth.

 

Types of Guided Meditation

There are many different types of guided meditation practice. Teachers can turn most foundational meditation exercises into guided meditations, making them highly flexible. Here are three of the most common guided meditation styles that people practice:

 

Walking meditation

Walking meditation is an exercise where one draws their attention inward while their physical body moves and their mind wanders. The exercise improves awareness of surroundings, helps one stay in the present moment, and can reduce stress and relieve past worry.

 

Yoga Nidra

Yoga Nidra, also known as yogic sleep, is a guided meditation that brings the practitioner into a deep state of consciousness that sits on the border between waking and sleeping. Practitioners access this state by paying attention to the body through a body scan, breathing, guided imagery, and other mindfulness meditation techniques.

 

Body scan meditation

Body scan meditation is a simple practice involving narrowing focus to each part of the body and systematically noticing the sensations from feet to head. This brings self-awareness to each body part and exposes pains, tension, and other lingering feelings.

 

Visualization Meditation

In this mindfulness meditation, one will focus on something specific, hold it in their mind, and imagine the outcome of this becoming a reality. This is an effective practice to help people reach their goals through guidance and manifestation.

In addition to these styles, other forms of guided meditation include loving-kindness meditation, visualization meditation, gratitude meditation, and many more. Begin meditating with an open mind to find the mindfulness meditation exercise that best resonates with you.

 

Frequently Asked Questions

How to practice guided meditation

People can practice guided meditation anywhere, anytime. Whether in the morning, at work, or in the evening before sleep, guided meditation content is highly accessible and can accommodate people's unique schedules as it is attainable on one's mobile device. Plugging into a meditation podcast makes it easier to practice guided meditation. If one's browser does not support the audio element, applications such as Headspace or Calm offer a great solution.

 

What is self-guided meditation?

In many ways, self-guided meditation is the opposite of guided meditation for more experienced practitioners. It clears negative energy while supporting inner peace and positive thinking, focusing one’s attention to clear the mind.

During self-guided meditation, the practitioner will begin by creating a healing space for themselves and setting an interval bell. They may wish to turn on some meditative background sounds to listen to and focus on. Be sure to go in with a plan, whether by repeating a mantra, focusing on your breath, or practicing visualization.

 

Can guided meditation be dangerous?

Although rare, some case studies have highlighted adverse side effects from meditation practice. These studies outline that it can increase depression, anxiety, and psychoses. Even though this is true in rare cases, there are minimal studies that looked into the issue in depth.

 

What app for guided meditation?

Many apps provide extensive access to different guided meditations and finding an app that best suits your needs is essential.

For paid subscription, here are some of the more popular apps to sign up on:

  • Calm
  • Headspace: Meditation and Sleep
  • Ten Percent Happier

For free app downloads, there are the most commonly used options to sign up for:

  • Smiling Mind
  • Insight Timer
  • MyLife Meditation

Many people also choose to sign up for a free trial to see which application best suits them.

DISCLAIMER: This is not a substitute for professional medical advice, and you should call your doctor to receive medical advice.

 

ANAHANA MEDITATION RESOURCES

MEDITATION WIKIS

Chakra Meditation

Meditation Techniques

Body Scan Meditation

Guided Meditation For Anxiety

Meditation For Kids

Morning Meditation

Mindfulness Meditation

Sleep Meditation

Mind Body Connection

Gratitude Meditation

Meditation For Anxiety

Guided Meditation

 

MEDITATION BLOGS

How Meditation Helps With Stress

How Meditation Changes The Brain

How Meditation Works

Meditation Music

Meditation Gifts

Meditation Benefits

What is Meditation?

 

References

Headspace - Guided Meditation and Mindfulness Techniques

The effect of a one-time 15-minute guided meditation (Isha Kriya) on stress and mood disturbances among operating room professionals: a prospective interventional pilot study - PMC

What is guided meditation?

Can Meditation Cause You Harm? | Greater Good.

Guided meditation: A regimen for mental health

A perception theory in mind-body medicine: guided imagery and mindful meditation as cross-modal adaptation

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