Why do they call meditation a practice? So many people say, I tried meditation once and it is not for me. Meditation in its simplest form is the singular attention given to one thing that takes your mind off of the million other things racing around you and in your head. 

They call meditation a practice because the more often you do it, the better your results can be and the more benefits you receive from doing it. When you engage regularly, you are able to develop skill, awareness, and inner stability—much like practicing your skills as a stylist, yogi, or in a sport. It is called a practice because it’s not a performance or a final destination—it’s a way of returning, refining, and growing, day by day in peacefulness and calm presence. 

The term practice emphasizes a few key ideas:

1. Ongoing Process: Meditation isn't something you master once and for all. Each session is a chance to begin again, refine your focus, and deepen your understanding.

2. Nonjudgmental Approach: "Practice" implies you're not expected to be perfect. Distractions, restlessness, or emotional waves are part of the process. You observe them and choose to return to your breath, mantra, or focus point—over and over.

3. Cultivation: Just like you "practice kindness" or "practice patience," meditation is about cultivating qualities like awareness, becoming more grounded and compassion.

So what is the Goal?

The goal isn't just to meditate for 10 or 20 minutes, but to gradually carry the presence and clarity in to other parts of your life. Meditation goals include a calmer mind, better focus, improved problem solving, stress reduction, emotional resilience and improved overall health.

What are the different types of Meditation?

There are many types of meditation, each with different goals, techniques, and traditions. Here’s a breakdown of some of the main categories for you to consider. 

Mindfulness/Breath Meditation: Bringing your awareness to the present moment, centering on breath, bodily sensations and or relaxing the body and reduction of racing thoughts.   

Singular Concentration Meditation: Focused attention on a single object—like a candle flame, a crystal or an object.

Mantra Meditation: Focusing on a series of positive affirmations, a phrase or prayer repeated and with the breath. Such as, when I am trying to go back to sleep when I wake up in the middle of the night, I will breathe in comfort and breathe out peace.  I will not allow my brain to go anywhere else. 

Guided Meditation: Listening to music, following the instructions of a voice for a designated time with complete concentration. YouTube provides many options for guided meditations to meet any goal. 

Nature Meditation: Bring mindfulness into everyday movement with silent and mindful observation of nature, your surroundings and break the notion that meditation requires stillness.

How do I choose?

Each type suits different personalities or goals—some people want deep relaxation, others seek insight or spiritual awakening. You might try a few and see what resonates most. 

How do I prepare for success?

I have found that preparing to meditate well can make a big difference in how focused, calm, and grounded your practice feels. Here are some simple yet effective tips to help you get started. Choose a quite space where you know that you will not be interrupted, and let anyone else who lives with you know that you are planning to meditate and for how long. Set a time goal, perhaps even a gentle chime timer to indicate when the time is up. Be sure to make yourself completely comfortable either seated or laying down and remove any distractions such as your phone, television or animals. A great companion for meditation is a journal and having one nearby to jot down your overall experience will keep you motivated to continue your practice. 

How often should I meditate? 

In just 5 to 10 minutes a day you will notice benefits like reduced stress, improved focus, and emotional regulation. Meditating daily trains your brain to calm down and your body to respond to the relaxation feeling to keep stress and anxiety at bay. Much like brushing your teeth, it's better to do a little every day than a lot once in a while.

About the Author: Mary Wilson has been a beauty industry pro for 40 years and has contributed in many arenas including marketing, sales, education, communication and presentation skills. She has always believed the very best way to find success is to create beauty and to share your talents with your trusted clients while maintaining your own physical and emotional health. In addition to being a beauty industry leader, Mary has been a certified yoga teacher for the past 11 years and leads wellness retreats and teaches yoga, breath work and energy healing.