Unique Ways to Meditate and Find Inner Peace

In our fast-paced, always-on world, it’s more important than ever to take a break and reset. Meditation is an awesome way to quiet your mind, reduce stress and anxiety, and tap into your innermost feelings of peace. While traditional seated meditation is great, there are also tons of unique, outside-the-box ways to meditate and achieve blissful calm.

Have a Sound Bath

You’ve probably taken a bath before, but have you ever soaked in soothing sound waves? A sound bath uses singing bowls, gongs, chimes, and other instruments to create vibrating tones that wash over you. Proponents say it’s amazingly relaxing and can help you enter a deep meditative state. Many studios, like the one at Maloca Sound, offer sound bath experiences; just bring a mat and blanket and bliss out.

Walk This Way

For active meditation, try going for a mindful walk. Instead of zoning out, pay close attention to your steps, your breathing, and the outdoor sights, sounds and smells around you. This helps quiet your racing thoughts while also getting your body moving.

Get Into a Groove 

Dancing is a wonderfully joyful way to get grounded in the present moment. Put on some upbeat tunes and let loose – not thinking, just moving. Or take a dance meditation class that blends sacred, flowing movements with rhythmic music.

Embrace Nature’s Rhythms

Getting outside and syncing with the natural world is a calming way to meditate. One practice is forest bathing, which simply means spending quiet time amongst the trees while tuning into the sights, smells and sounds of the woods. You can also try meditating near flowing water like a stream or crashing ocean waves.

Send a Laugh Vibe

Laughter really is the best medicine. Laughter meditation uses a mix of breathing, stretches, joking around and fake laughing to hopefully induce real belly laughs. Once you get going, laughing can be extremely cathartic and soothing.

Get Some Color Therapy

For this meditative art practice, you’ll need crayons, markers or paints and paper. Get settled in a comfy spot and start doodling, scribbling or creating free-form drawings. Don’t worry about the end result as the act of playing with color can be incredibly calming and centering. 

Experience Tasty Meditation

For those who love food, you can combine mindfulness with your appetite. The practice of mindful eating involves slowly savoring each bite, paying close attention to the flavors, textures, and sensations of the meal. Choose a small portion of a delicious treat like a square of dark chocolate. Engage all your senses as you inhale the aroma, feel the weight of it in your hand, and slowly let it melt on your tongue. This can be a surprisingly profound meditation that helps you feel deeply grateful and present.

Meditate With Furry Friends

Animals make great meditation buddies. Their nonjudgmental presence and moment-to-moment awareness of their surroundings can be inspiring. Sit with your beloved pet or visit an animal café to hang out with cats, bunnies, or other cute critters. Their natural Zen is sure to rub off.

Focus on a Single Task

Pick a simple household chore like washing dishes, sweeping the floor, or folding laundry. Instead of multitasking, be fully present as you mindfully complete the one task from start to finish. This form of meditation anchors you in the here and now.

Conclusion

The beauty of meditation is there are unlimited paths to explore. If sitting still doesn’t work for you, maybe walking, dancing, crafting or playing with puppies is your ideal way to unwind and quiet the mind. The key is to experiment and discover what unique methods help you best achieve inner peace and serenity.