Different meditation techniques are divided into three categories: concentration (focus on a particular object), mindfulness (observing thoughts without staying focused) and transcendental (no efforts, no focus, no observation). There are many different types within these categories; we will briefly describe five of them. Choose one to begin your meditation practice today.

GUIDED MEDITATIONS provide audio instructions, so you simply follow the meditation flow. They are aimed at fulfilling different needs, such as weight loss, healing trauma, decreasing anxiety or improving relationships. This is the perfect technique for those who have a busy schedule.

LOVING KINDNESS meditation assumes cultivating kindness towards yourself and others. It helps to increase self-esteem, improve relationships with others and develop empathy for them. In general, this meditation can help you feel happier and more joyful.

BREATHING meditation is one of the most popular concentration techniques since breathing is the most natural and easy thing to concentrate on. What you're doing is watching your inhales-exhales and observing the sensations of breathing. Since doing that for a long time is challenging, your thoughts will wander. This is normal, and you can get back into meditation by bringing your awareness back to an object.

MANTRA meditation is also a concentration meditation, where the focus point is a mantra - a syllable, word or a phrase (such as "Om"), repeated over and over during the practice. Due to its sound and subtle vibrations, a mantra helps you enter a deep state of meditation.

In MINDFULNESS meditation, instead of bringing your attention to one object, you are observing the wandering thoughts without judging them. Over time you'll get better at understanding your emotions, when and how they appear, what causes them and what to do with them. It helps you keep the inner balance and be emotionally intelligent. This meditation is about being aware of yourself in the presence.