Find Your Flow: A No-Nonsense Guide to Different Meditation Styles

August 21, 2025

Of course! Here is an engaging blog post about different kinds of meditation.

Ever feel like your brain has 20 tabs open, all playing different videos at once? You try to focus, but your mind is a chaotic buzz of to-do lists, worries, and that one song you can’t get out of your head. You’ve probably heard the advice: “You should try meditating.”

For many, the word “meditation” conjures an image of a serene monk, legs twisted into a perfect pretzel, sitting silently on a mountaintop for hours. That’s a beautiful image, but it can also be incredibly intimidating.

What if I told you meditation isn’t a one-size-fits-all practice? It’s more like a buffet. There are dozens of styles, and you don’t have to force yourself to like the one everyone else is talking about. The goal is to find the flavour that nourishes your mind.

So, let’s ditch the pressure and explore some of the most popular paths to finding your inner calm.

1. The Classic: Mindfulness Meditation

What it is: This is the rockstar of the meditation world, and for good reason. Mindfulness is simply the practice of paying attention to the present moment without judgment. Most often, this involves focusing on your breath—the gentle rise and fall of your chest, the sensation of air entering your nostrils. When your mind wanders (and it will!), you gently guide it back to your breath.

Who it’s for: The Overthinker, the Beginner, anyone feeling overwhelmed by the past or anxious about the future.

Try it Now (2 Minutes):

  1. Sit comfortably in a chair, feet flat on the floor. Close your eyes.
  2. Take a deep breath in through your nose and slowly exhale through your mouth.
  3. Now, just breathe normally. Mentally count “one” as you inhale and “two” as you exhale.
  4. Continue counting up to ten, and then start again from one. If you lose track, no worries! Just gently start over.

2. The Heart-Warmer: Loving-Kindness (Metta) Meditation

What it is: If mindfulness is about awareness, Loving-Kindness is about intention. This practice involves directing feelings of love, kindness, and goodwill towards yourself and others. It’s like a workout for your compassion muscle.

Who it’s for: The Self-Critic, anyone struggling with resentment or anger, or those who simply want to cultivate a more positive outlook.

Try it Now (3 Minutes):

  1. Find a quiet, comfortable position.
  2. Bring to mind a person you care about deeply. As you hold them in your thoughts, silently repeat phrases like: “May you be happy. May you be healthy. May you be safe.”
  3. Now, turn that kindness inward. Picture yourself and repeat the same phrases: “May I be happy. May I be healthy. May I be safe.”
  4. You can extend this to neutral people, and even people you find difficult. The goal isn’t to force a feeling, but to offer the intention.

3. The Mover & Shaker: Walking Meditation

What it is: Can’t sit still? No problem! Walking meditation turns the simple act of walking into a practice of awareness. Instead of focusing on your destination, you focus on the physical sensations of movement—your feet connecting with the ground, the rhythm of your steps, the air on your skin.

Who it’s for: The Restless Soul, the Nature Lover, anyone who spends too much time sitting at a desk.

Try it Now (5 Minutes):

  1. Find a short, clear path where you can walk back and forth (even a hallway works).
  2. Begin to walk at a slow, natural pace.
  3. Bring your full attention to one of your feet. Feel it lift off the ground, move through the air, and make contact with the floor again. Then switch your focus to the other foot.
  4. Don’t try to walk in a special way. Just notice the feeling of walking.

4. The Sound Wave: Mantra Meditation

What it is: Sometimes, focusing on the breath feels too abstract. Mantra meditation gives your busy mind a job: repeating a word, sound, or phrase. This “mantra” acts as an anchor, preventing your thoughts from drifting away on the sea of distraction. The most famous mantra is the sound $Om$, or $Aum$.

Who it’s for: The Easily Distracted, the Music Lover, anyone who finds silence deafening.

Try it Now (2 Minutes):

  1. Sit comfortably and close your eyes.
  2. Choose a simple, calming word like “peace,” “calm,” or “one.”
  3. Silently repeat your chosen word to yourself, aligning it with your breath if that helps (e.g., breathe in, mentally say “peace,” breathe out).
  4. When your mind wanders, just return to the sound of your word.

5. The Daydreamer’s Delight: Visualization Meditation

What it is: This is a guided journey for your mind. Visualization meditation uses the power of your imagination to create a peaceful, healing inner landscape. A guide (either a person, an app, or your own inner voice) walks you through imagining a serene place, like a sun-drenched beach, a quiet forest, or a starlit sky.

Who it’s for: The Creative, the Visual Thinker, anyone seeking a mental escape or looking to manifest a goal.

Try it Now (4 Minutes):

  1. Close your eyes and take a few deep breaths.
  2. Imagine a place where you feel completely safe and relaxed. It could be real or imagined.
  3. Use all your senses. What do you see? (The colour of the water, the leaves on the trees). What do you hear? (Gentle waves, rustling leaves). What do you feel? (Warm sun on your skin, a cool breeze).
  4. Spend a few minutes simply being in this peaceful place.

The Best Meditation is the One You Actually Do

There is no “right” way to meditate. The perfect practice for your friend might not be the one for you. The key is to experiment. Try one for a week. See how it feels. Be curious, be patient, and most importantly, be kind to yourself.

Your mind will wander. You will get distracted. That’s not a sign of failure; it’s a sign that you have a human brain. Every time you notice your mind has drifted and you gently bring it back, you are strengthening your focus and building resilience.

So, which path will you explore first? Pick one, set a timer for just five minutes, and begin. Your calmer mind is waiting.