Which is Better, Guided or Unguided Meditation?

Thoughts and ideas can distract you during meditation, drawing your attention and focus away from the present moment.

This is why guided meditation is a good starting point if you’re new to meditation.

You can also build mindfulness muscles!

Prior to engaging in a guided meditation, I do a mind search and analyse the contents of my mind.

I decide whether to do a guided or an unguided meditation.

I usually go for guided meditation because for me, it seems to be more effective and I think this is because I am new to the practice of meditation.

I listen to the meditation expert who explains the approach – they explain the composition of the mind and how it is likely to behave during the process.

There is also an explanation of the techniques involved in the guided meditation – the practice.

The expert then explains how the techniques can be used in my day-to-day life – integration.

There are a lot of guided meditation resources online that offer meditation for empowerment, anxiety and stress, and guided meditation designed to give you a positive and energising morning and practices for a peaceful night’s sleep.

You can join a guided meditation group, watch an expert online, or listen to a soothing guided meditation while in the comfort of your own home. One of my absolute favourite is https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vQxTUQhVbg4

How to Start a Guided Meditation Session

When you have found a good guided meditation video or audio track, find a quiet space in your home or place of work. If you can, sit down and close your eyes.

If you feel comfortable, place your hands together in a prayer pose or lay them palm up on your knees or lap.

Now take in three deep and calming breaths.

Press play either on the video or the audio track and begin. People often like to light candles or incense to create a relaxing atmosphere to meditate in.

When Can You Practice Guided Meditation? 

You can enjoy guided mindfulness meditation if you’re struggling to focus or allocate time to meditate during the day.

By watching a video or listening to audio, to guide you through your mindfulness meditation practice, the session will probably be more effective than going it alone.

Like anything in life, you can’t be an expert at once or with a few attempts, so benefit from meditation experts who have years of experience and truly understand the techniques needed to get the most out of daily meditation.

Advantages of Guided Meditation 

Welcoming guided meditation into your life will bring an abundance of benefits.

From improving cognitive abilities to retraining your mind to be more focused on personal and career goals, guided meditation is scientifically proven to ease symptoms of stress and anxiety.

In this fast-paced technologically advanced world, we often forget to take time to be still and breathe.

This is why guided meditation is so important.

When practiced on a daily basis, meditation can improve mental health and quality of life.

So, if you’re suffering from depression, anxiety, stress or panic attacks, we urge you to try guided meditation.

By giving yourself time to self-reflect, put things back into perspective, especially if you’re worried about a personal issue or problems at work, your body’s fight-or-flight response will ease.

When your body is able to relax, it can begin to repair itself and fight off infection or disease.

For an improved immune system, mental clarity, and to reduce symptoms of stress and anxiety, try guided meditation today.

What is Unguided Meditation?

Unguided meditation is also sometimes referred to as silent meditation.

With this type of meditation, the individual meditates alone and without a teacher or meditation expert explaining the process.

Personally, when I practice unguided meditation, I would sit in silence for about 10 minutes and focus my attention to my body and thoughts.

Practices or techniques such as those highlighted below may also be used.

Types of Unguided Meditation

There are 10 popular types of meditation practice.

• Mindfulness meditation.
• Spiritual meditation.
• Focused meditation.
• Movement meditation.
• Mantra meditation.
• Reflection
• Visualisation
• Yoga Meditation
• Chakra Meditation
• Body scan

Advantages of Unguided Meditation

When it comes to unguided meditation the style, goals and techniques vary greatly, but we use unguided meditation at anytime for any purpose the individual chooses.

Preferred by professionals and entrepreneurs, this particular technique can help you to move forward in your life and manifest things you want or desire.

The experience is directed and led by the individual who decides what to focus on.

For a more positive and optimistic approach to life, unguided meditation can help individuals visualise goals they wish to achieve.

This style of meditation can be practiced almost anywhere and at any time.

Whether you’re taking a five-minute break while at work, or you’re practicing mindfulness meditation before bedtime, it is an effective way to retrain your mind and reach personal goals.

Conclusion

Both guided and unguided meditation have their own advantages.

The option an individual would choose will vary based on the outcome they hope to achieve.

Guided meditation may also be integrated with unguided meditation.

In guided meditation, there is the need to learn the crucial art of balance between guidance and silence.

This is because meditation is most effective during moments of silence where we are able to reflect.

On the other hand, unguided meditation gives us the freedom to experience the benefits of meditation whenever and wherever we please.

The choice to engage in either guided or unguided meditation will depend on individual circumstances.

I am super excited to hear your views on how you have used either guided or unguided meditation in your day to day living.

Kindly share your views below!

You can also connect with social work haven by

1. Signing up to receive our posts via email below
2. Following us on Pinterest

PIN THIS FOR LATER