Meditation is a widely practiced, ancient technique that allows you to calm your mind. The goal is not to completely empty your mind, which many people often think, but meditation is about observing and accepting your thoughts. It helps you to see the world without judgment and eventually puts you in a state of consciousness that is very different from the state you usually experience. There is not one correct way to practice meditation. Different types of meditation exercises serve different purposes. We cover some of them in this blog post.
Meditation for anxiety
When you feel anxious, your body reacts to it. You start to experience shortness of breath, and your heart rate and blood pressure rise. If you do not take action, it has a negative impact on your health. Luckily, with meditation for anxiety, you gain control over this situation. Practicing deep breathing meditation, for instance, helps you lower your breath and evoke a calming response within your body.
Meditation for sleep
By practicing meditation for sleep, you learn to let go of your worries and impressions of the day and to relax entirely. Breathing exercises are an excellent way to achieve this, but another useful exercise is Body Scan Meditation. The goal here is to become aware of every single part of your body by mentally scanning it, starting at your feet and working your way up to the top of your head. You can do this while seated, but if you lie down, you can stay in the same comfortable position and gradually fall asleep right after your meditation session ends.
Meditation for focus
In our busy lives, we are constantly triggered by everything around us. While having a conversation, we eat, work and check our phones, all at once. It seems efficient, but as we perform more and more tasks, we become less focused. Concentrating on one thing gets more challenging. By using meditation for focus, you learn to put all your attention on either an object, sensation, or sound. As a beginner this may be difficult, as you get distracted fairly easily. So instead, you can use simple moments in everyday life to train your focus. For example, turn off the TV and radio while eating, put your phone away and use all your senses. Look at your food, absorb the smell, and chew with full attention. As you entirely focus on the food, you are able to enjoy it more consciously.
Meditation exercises and the Wim Hof Method
When practicing the Wim Hof Method, you learn various breathing and meditation exercises that help you release your inner fire! These exercises, in combination with cold therapy and some good old commitment, yield multiple benefits. For example, our practitioners report that they sleep better, experience less anxiety, and enjoy a boost in concentration, but they also gain better sports performance and lower blood pressure. So, wait no longer and start with the Wim Hof Method yourself by joining one of our online video courses.