10 Ways to Meditate When You Struggle to Clear Your Mind

When most people hear the word "meditation," they think of a Buddha sitting quietly with a peaceful look on their face. They make it look so easy! 

But anyone who has sat down on a meditation cushion and tried to "clear their mind," knows it's a lot harder than it looks. Sometimes even getting yourself to that seated position is difficult.

I took part in a meditation retreat and another weekend workshop on Mindfulness, Meditation, and Mantras as part of my master yoga teacher training last year. Though I'd dabbled with it before, it was mostly only guided. Yes, we were guided in many of the meditations during my training, but we were also left to our own devices with minimal direction too. 

These two experiences were the real deal, and I learned a few new ways to meditate.

Those days when you make it to your cushion, but the whole "clear your mind" thing isn't working for you, try one of these types of meditation instead.

10 Types of Meditation You Should Try

1. Guided Meditation 
2. Yoga (or meditation in movement as many call it)
3. Mantra Repetition
4. Candle Gazing 
5. Walking Meditation 
6. Breath Counting
7. Loving Kindness (Metta) Meditation
8. Visualization
9. Open Awareness 
10. Create Something - Cook, Art, or Write

Have you tried meditation before? Have you found one type to work better for you than another? Let me know in the comments below.