Guided Meditations & Breath Work
When you are just starting your meditation practice, it can be overwhelming to know exactly where to start. Both beginner and more experienced meditators can benefit from setting meditation goals, exploring different types of guided meditation techniques, and having a better understanding of how meditation can positively affect your brain and overall well-being.
Guided meditations are led by an experienced meditation teacher, either in person, over a live broadcast, or via pre-recorded audio or video. While guided meditations can be utilized by both new and experienced meditators, those new to the meditation practice may find the extra guidance provided by an instructor especially helpful.
There are many different types of guided meditations to choose from and your preferences may vary depending on your emotions, the time of day, and your meditation goals.
- Visualization meditations : This active meditation technique encourages you to imagine calming scenes, best-case scenarios, or replay past positive events. Visualizations can be used to help you prepare for high-performance opportunities, such as athletic events, presentations, and negotiations.
- Emotional release meditations : These guided meditations help you let go of negative emotions by locating in your body and releasing the tension associated with them. This technique can help improve your emotional wellbeing and mood.
- Body scan meditations : This meditation technique encourages you to move your attention from one part of your body to another, sequentially relaxing your muscles as the meditation progresses.
- Breath awareness meditations : This guided meditation technique encourages you to keep your focus on your breath throughout your meditation session.
- Focused attention meditations : These guided meditations encourage you to direct your attention to a single object, such as your breath, a sound, sensation, or a part of your body. When your thoughts wander, you are encouraged to return to your point of focus. This meditation technique can help increase your ability to concentrate.
- Mantra meditations : Mantra-based guided meditations encourage you to repeat a word, phrase, sentence or positive affirmation either out loud or to yourself in order to help you find your focus, develop more calm, and increase positive emotions.
