The Variety of Ways You Can Meditate
By: Kimberly Fosu
Tags: Creativity, Ideas, Mindfulness, Leadership, Inspiration

There’s something for everyone

The Variety of Ways You Can Meditate

There are many ways to tap into divine guidance and reach a heightened state of awareness without needing a mat

Allow yourself to become fully aware and present in any moment. (Photo: Krismas)

Dealing With Life

My daughter was wreaking havoc in the living room; there were toys and popcorn crumbs everywhere and it was starting to get to me so I went into the bathroom to get some alone time.

I stood in front of the bathroom in the superhero pose standing with my spine straight staring deep into my eyes in the mirror as I closed them to be fully present with myself.

After about three minutes she rushed in there asking what I’m doing and why my eyes are closed. I told her I’m meditating.

She said, “That’s not how you meditate, mommy. You need to sit down.”

“Nope, I can meditate standing up too!” I said to her while demonstrating how I was just observing my mind and focusing on breathing.

Most mornings, when I’m able to sit down in meditation, she joins me. She’s used to sitting down with legs crossed.

I told her there are so many other ways mommy can meditate including standing quietly with my eyes closed — or open as long as I can observe myself, my surroundings, and my breath.

Meditation Is an Act of Self-Love

Meditation is a great thing for the body, mind, and soul, and that’s why many people know and talk about it.

It is an act of self-care and self-love in which we experience a heightened state of awareness so we can tap into mindfulness and have ease accessing our inner guidance.

It helps us manifest our deepest desires by focusing the mind on the things we desire. Meditation is good for you but it’s still one of those things you know is good but don’t do enough of — like exercising regularly, stretching daily, drinking lots of water, and eating fruits and veggies.

I find it hard to meditate sometimes because of how difficult it is to control my thoughts and when I have to sit down and cross my legs to do it, it starts to feel like a chore. Nobody likes chores!

When I sit still with my spine straight for extended periods of time, it’s sometimes uncomfortable on my back. But that’s no excuse not to meditate!

There are several ways to tap into divine guidance and reach that same state of awareness without needing to sit.

I can meditate while I’m on the move or waiting in line at the grocery store. All I have to do is to be present and observe my thoughts.

Here are some meditation techniques I use to raise my vibration without needing to sit still for long periods of time:

I can meditate while appreciating the blue skies, the golden sun, the shimmering moon, or the passing clouds. (Photo: Stefan Keller)

Observation Meditation

In this type of meditation, all I do is become an observer of myself, my surroundings, my thoughts, and my emotions without judgment of the things I’m observing. I just have to become aware without attaching myself to people, situations, or thoughts. I observe to perceive my inner truth.

It is the easiest way to meditate every day. No matter where I am or what I’m doing, I can simply observe myself and my surroundings as a way to be mindful and slow my thoughts.

I can do this right before falling asleep when I’m struggling to drift off and I can do it in the morning when I don't feel like getting out of bed just yet.

I can sit down in a chair under a shade or stand on my balcony and observe my surroundings while enjoying the view, listening to the sound of the rain, or listening to what the birds are trying to tell me.

I can do it while appreciating the blue skies, the golden sun, the shimmering moon, and the passing clouds from afar. I do it as I walk in the park while observing a child play with a ball or watching the birds fight over crumbs.

I can meditate while I’m in the shower by blessing the water cleansing my body and feeling it’s warmth on my skin. If I’m feeling creative, I can visualize the water washing away the stress off of me, and then I watch it all go down the drain. Bye, bad vibes!

I can even do it while doing chores like washing the dishes or cooking! Most things can become a meditative practice.

Or I can grab the mat and sit with my legs crossed to meditate for an hour when I feel like it!

Observation meditation can be done anywhere and at any time. All you need to do is to be aware, observe, and be mindful.

Allow yourself to become fully aware and present in the moment.

By questioning negative thoughts, thinking, or saying positive affirmations or mantras, you are treating yourself with compassion like you would treat your best friend. (Photo: Viktor Forgacs)

Affirming Meditation

This is a very effective way for me to calm my anxious mind.

It becomes an act of self-love that comforts and soothes me every time I'm feeling ungrounded. By affirming and repeating positive and encouraging words and sentences to myself, I’m showing myself love and compassion.

All I do is repeat a few empowering words and sentences that make me feel awesome. It always calms my mind and allows me to feel peaceful. Here are some affirmations I’m constantly repeating to myself:

Everything is going to be okay. I’m doing the best I can. I’m not alone.

You ever heard of Ho’oponopono?

Ho’oponopono is an ancient Hawaiian healing practice to let go of toxic and dense energies within you to allow the impact of divine words to change and heal the heart of past pain and trauma.

All it requires is repeating these four phrases directed to me, others, or God:

I’m sorry. Please forgive me. Thank you. I love you.

That's it!

I say sorry to myself for the things I did and didnt do in the past, I ask for my own forgiveness, I show gratitude that I'm forgiving and I express my love to my “self.”

The thing with affirmations is that you have to believe and really feel the words coming out of your mouth or the thoughts you are thinking for it to work.

It doesn't work if you can't bring yourself to believe.

No matter where I am or what I’m doing, I can use ho’oponopono and other affirmations or mantras to reprogram my subconscious mind to forgive the past and let it all go.

Guided Meditation

In guided meditation, I’m guided by another person’s voice. Mostly a kind, gentle and nurturing voice in a recording or podcast.

My mind has a tendency to wander where it pleases!

It’s easier to focus on one thing when my mind has a voice to focus on.

I listen to high frequency guided meditations with binaural beats — there's plenty on Youtube — that guides me through the meditation process using vivid imagery and visualization.

When you move the body, you allow the energy that lies in your spine to flow effortlessly promoting balance and harmony. (Photo: Gianluca Carenza)

Movement Meditation

This is a fun way for me to meditate without needing to sit down and focus. I use movement meditation with dancing, yoga, stretching, and sometimes even while running or exercising.

Dancing is a fun way to strengthen my root chakra and ground myself into my body.

When I dance, I move my body in slow circles and I feel the divine feminine — which has nothing to do with being a man or a woman because we all have masculine and feminine aspects within us — and source energy move through my body.

I move my waist and my hips to allow energy to flow in my sacral chakra so I can access my creative and sexual energy — which has nothing to do with sex although it can.

You can also meditate while having sex (ahem!) Just put your back and waist into it while being fully present and enjoying the experience.

Creative and sexual energy in our sacral chakra can be harnessed to create the life we want — it can create magic and even babies!

The abundant energy can be tapped into to manifest our wildest dreams!

The same can be done with yoga, stretching, and running. It’s all about being fully present, observing yourself, and not forgetting to breathe as you move the body slowly or vigorously!

When I run, I observe the breath flowing in and out of me; I feel the way the ground and the rocks feel as my feet hit the ground. I can also walk barefoot in the grass to ground and connect myself to earth while sungazing to strengthen my third eye chakra.

I observe my surroundings by noticing the color of the trees and the smells in the air. I engage every sense in my body, including my sixth sense.

Music and water together work like a charm in the manifestation process. (Photo: Taisiia Stupak)

Manifestation Meditation

This is one of the best ways!

The intention is to manifest something by focusing the mind on a specific outcome. What I do personally is run myself a nice luxurious bath with some epsom salt and some essential oils — because I'm worthy — and I turn on my favorite music that makes me feel really good inside.

I lay in the tub with my eyes closed and I visualize and manifest the life of my dreams! I direct all of my thoughts and energy into a specific outcome, and I manifest the shit out of it! Music and water together work like a charm!

Manifestation meditation can be done during creative projects or sex when you are filled with good feelings and emotions.

If you have something you want to happen for you, like have an application approved, get called for a job interview, or even manifest some money, give this method a try. I’ve even used this method to manifest top writer statuses and viral articles (wink.) All I needed to do was meditate on the outcome I wanted — and do the work to put myself in alignment with my desires.

You don’t need water, music, or sex to do this type of meditation. You can manifest things right before falling asleep or waking up when you are going between states of consciousness and unconsciousness. Those are a powerful space where you’ve released resistance and can therefore manifest the things you want easily.

The only thing is that this method doesn’t work if you don’t believe it.

Before you achieve, you must believe.

Final Thoughts

Meditation is a must, especially if you are looking into spiritual growth and personal development, but it isn’t always easy and life can get so busy that we forgot about it.

Calming the mind is hard work and it takes practice and dedication. Sitting straight for extended periods of time can be a struggle for people with back issues but none of that should stop you from reaping its benefits.

Meditation is good for you and there is a technique for everyone!

What's your excuse?