Meditation involves training the mind to focus and redirect thoughts. It can help with negative thoughts by redirecting or quieting them. Meditation is often used to cultivate mindfulness, awareness, and an overall sense of calm and well-being. Through regular practice, meditation can reduce stress, improve concentration, promote emotional health, and enhance self-awareness.
Types of Meditation
Transcendental meditation involves silently repeating an affirmation or mantra. Transcendental meditation mantras are always personal statements, such as “I am loved” or “I am calm.” Repeating the mantra helps achieve a state of relaxed awareness, which is why many recommend transcendental meditation for anxiety and stress.
Body scan meditation involves focusing on one body part at a time, taking notice of any tension or other sensations. By scanning your body, you improve your awareness of how your body feels and how emotions or stress impact your body.
Meditation can also be used for pain relief, and the good news is, it’s free and has no side effects – a rare encounter for chronic pain sufferers! Guided meditations, as well as transcendental or body scan meditations, can help manage pain.
Meditation on Netflix
The “Headspace Guide to Meditation” on Netflix is a series that provides a practical and accessible introduction to meditation. Led by Andy Puddicombe, a former Buddhist monk and co-founder of Headspace, the show offers guidance on meditation techniques and how to integrate mindfulness and meditation into our daily lives.
Each of the eight animated episodes begins with an introduction to a specific meditation practice that will be the focus. Episode 1 describes how to get started with a meditation practice based on breathing. Episode 3 focuses on gratitude and reflection meditation. Puddicombe shares tips, analogies, and insights from his experience as a monk to help structure the meditation session. The episode ends with a guided meditation that reinforces the key lessons and concepts.
Free Meditation Resources
YouTube is an excellent resource for free mediations. Some videos explore how to meditate and offer recordings of guided meditations based on your needs or interests. Explore the many channels for meditation on YouTube that can help you start your practice and choose the ones you like. For example, Medito has a YouTube channel linked to an app and podcast on meditation that can be used for free.
The Philadelphia Free Library also regularly offers free meditation workshops in its branches. They also have books and videos on meditation that you can borrow to learn more. Click to explore the Philadelphia Library catalog of events and catalog of books. Or visit your local branch and ask a librarian for help.
There are meditation apps for beginners, including Insight Timer. Some apps require payment while others are free or offer reduced pricing based on needs.
You can also check out the many yoga studios and meditation centers around Philadelphia that host mindfulness and meditation sessions in person. They likely won’t be free, but an in-person meditation walkthrough may be helpful for beginners just starting a meditation practice.
Meditation and Mental Health
Discovering how to meditate is a great step in taking care of your mental health. While you’re at it, give yourself a quick check-up from the neck up by taking a quick, free, anonymous screening online.
