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We all know how meditation is beneficial for our physical, mental, and emotional well-being. However, most people confuse themselves regarding what types of meditation they should follow to get the maximum benefit. There are several practices to choose as you like. It could be in the form of sitting quietly, walking, listening to music, concentrating at one point, chanting mantras, and so on. Today, we will talk about the two most common techniques. These are mindfulness meditation and transcendental meditation. We will also dive into the advantages and results you can expect from both and how they differ from each other.
Comparison Of Both Meditation Techniques: Mindfulness Vs. Transcendental
Definition
Mindfulness: It is a form of meditation where you require to press the pause button to your racing thoughts. You have to let go of all the worries, curiosity, and judgments and make your nervous system relax. Its focus is to deviate you from the cycle of thoughts and let you enjoy the moments of peace and calm. Your concentration is on your breath, senses, and every emotion you are feeling at that moment.
Transcendental: It is another types of meditation where you isolate yourself in a peaceful environment and silently chant any mantras you know or like. Either you do it for a limited time, like ten or fifteen minutes. Or you repeat it till you have reached the count that you set for yourself. This is one of the most participated forms because it blends well with everyone's religious and spiritual beliefs. It helps you get more clarity in every subject of your life, and you end up feeling more powerful and evolving.
Purpose
Mindfulness: The purpose of mindfulness meditation is to bring you to a state where you are alert and have the ability to think straight. You can attain the quality of relaxing your mind whenever you are in chaos or under too much pressure. It makes you sharp at decision-making skills and memory. Moreover, you can apply this technique to get a sound sleep. So anyone who wants to soothe their nervous system and work on improving their cognitive skills should follow this method.
Transcendental: Its purpose is to bring a state of calm by simpling bonding with your spiritual self. There is a drop in stress, anxiety, and blood pressure when chanting mantras. In fact, people recommend it as one of the best stress management tips. It reconnects you with your beliefs and goals to bring more transparency. So whenever you are overthinking the pros and cons of something and cannot reach an answer, do transcendental meditation. It will bring mental stability and help you get to a reliable solution.
Mindfulness Practice And Transcendental Practice
Mindfulness: To do mindfulness meditation, you need to sit in a comfortable place. Straighten your back, do not stiff. Then, notice the movements of your hands, legs, breath, and other nerves. Every time you breathe out, try to release your tension with it. Let go of all the mind-boggling thoughts and negative energies. Focus only on optimism and peace for ten minutes, and you will master this meditation exercise.
Transcendental: First, find a peaceful space where you can sit and relax. Place your hands over your laps and form whatever hand mudras you like. It could be gyan mudra, dhyana mudra, surya mudra, rudra mudra, and the list goes on. Close your eyes and take a deep relaxing breath. Now, start chanting the mantra in your head silently for however long you wish to. Once you complete the target, move your palms over your face to rub them, and slowly open your eyes.
Advantages And Power Of Meditation
Mindfulness: When you follow this method of meditation, you can see the results within a few weeks. Remember to be consistent and follow the steps exactly as told. Doing so will allow you to enhance your creativity and emotional intelligence. You will get better and better at self-control, patience, and mental clarity. Moreover, you can enjoy the physical health benefits of meditation through it, such as low blood pressure, reduced chronic diseases, better heart health, and so on.
Transcendental: Anyone who practices transcendental meditation will experience a soothing nervous system. It benefits us by relaxing our nerves and improving our concentration. In fact, most people state they had better work efficiency after this form of meditation. Also, if you want to reduce stress and anxiety, you must adapt this to your routine. It works the best for regulating mental health.
Time Period
Mindfulness: The most common question we receive is how long I have to wait for meditation to show its effects. There is no confirmed answer to this. It varies from person to person and whether you are doing it in the correct form. If yes, you can expect to see the results faster from this types of meditation. Generally, it takes people around ten to fifteen days to notice the initial results. But if it is taking more time, do not worry; remember to be consistent and allow yourself to submit to the process.
Transcendental: Again, you could not set a timer for this form of meditation as well. It acts more like a brain booster. So, it takes relatively long for people to notice the benefits they reap from it. In this case, you get to see the significant yet vast difference in your nature and behavior. You can expect an improvement in your mental capabilities as well within a few months of following this practice.
Conclusion - Choose Best Type Of Meditation
Imagine you are on a trek, and you have covered half the way. Then you get a glimpse of a bench, and you immediately light up and give your legs a much-needed rest. Meditation acts as the same bench for our brain. After going through the thoughts, stress, worries, decisions, and everything the whole day, it needs a break to relax and absorb good vibes. Every types of meditation, be it mindfulness, transcendental, or any other, will help you relax and lower your stress levels. Thus, if you are new to meditation, your first aim should be to discover the technique that suits you best. Now that you know deeply about both of them, you can give it a try by doing it just for ten minutes daily. The outstanding results will motivate you to add more minutes to your meditation routine.