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Tiarra is wearing our February look, Midnight Garden.
Our Ellie contributor, Tiara Chambliss, is no stranger to mediation and its benefits. With a number of ways to meditate, she wants us to know that there are several ways to find peace in the quiet moments — and she’s highlighting them all for us.
Do you tend to struggle with meditation? You are not alone, friends. It took a bit of trial and error before I found a meditation style that was for me. I used to think meditation included sitting criss-cross applesauce and finding stillness. It turns out that is not always the case!
In January, I set a goal for myself to meditate every morning for the entire month. During this month, I discovered all sorts of different types of meditations. Some of my favorite apps for finding the right meditation (for you) are: Headspace, Insight Timer, and Liberate.
There are over eight different types of meditations:
- Mindfulness meditation
- Reflection meditation
- Movement meditation
- Progressive relaxation meditation
- Mantra meditation
- Visualization meditation
- Guided meditation
- Breath meditation
How do you apply some of these types of meditation in a practical way?
If you struggle with sitting still:
If you tend to have a hard time sitting still, then try a movement meditation. Adult coloring books are great for movement meditation. The back and forth motion of moving the crayon or color pencil can be soothing. Other ways you could try movement meditation: going on a walk, yoga, dancing, wiggling, or any movement that may feel good for the body.
If you struggle with a wandering mind:
If your mind tends to wander while meditating, or you have intrusive thoughts, then give an affirmation meditation a try. In mantra or affirmation meditation, you repeat a mantra or an affirmation over and over again. This is especially great to kick off the beginning of your day, when you want to set the tone in an easy way and incorporate meditation into your morning routine.
Steps to affirmation meditations:
- I invite you to place one hand on the belly and one on the chest.
- Take three cleansing breaths. Take an inhale through the nose and exhale to sigh it out.
- Say to yourself, quietly, three affirmations that you really need to hear right now.
- Some of my favorite affirmations to use are: I am worthy. I am abundant. I am deserving.
If you struggle with finding enough time for meditation:
If you feel like you don't have time to meditate, try dedicating the first or last five minutes of your day to the practice. When I'm strapped for time, I turn on a guided meditation while I am in the shower or while I am doing my skincare routine.
If you would like to use meditation in your night routine:
If you would like to use meditation for better sleep, give progressive relaxation meditations a try. In this type of meditation, you will tense up each muscle group and slowly release them, starting from the top of the head and slowly making your way all the way down to the toes.
So, there you have it folks! If you struggle with meditation, then give a different type of meditation a try before calling it quits.
LIGHTNING ROUND Q&A
Matcha or Coffee
Yoga or Pilates
Fall or Summer
World Traveler or Backyard Explorer
Gilmore Girls or Friends - Neither...Living Single
Early Bird or Night Owl
Tacos & Guac or Burgers & Fries
These tips on mindful meditation were contributed exclusively to Ellie by Tiarra Chambliss, yogi, proud dog mama to Ivy (named after Blue Ivy Carter), and a self-proclaimed mediocre plant mama. She is also a James Madison University and Virginia Tech alum, and member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc. Tiarra’s background in higher education influences her approach to yoga and mindfulness. Her goal is to help busy Gen Z & millennials use mindfulness to live more intentionally. Website: www.blissfullyyogi.org Instagram: @blissfullyyogi