Guided Meditation

Guided meditation describes a type of meditation led by a teacher, in person or via audio or video.

When starting out, having an expert lead you through the basic steps of your meditation practice is recommended. Whatever skill we are learning in life, having an experienced teacher we can trust and relate to is important. But when it comes to exploring the intricacies and subtleties of the mind, it is not just important but essential.

It’s always a good idea to first understand what we’re trying to achieve through meditation before we embark on what is a journey of a lifetime. In a traditional meditation, meditation students are first taught how to view the contents of the mind and how best to approach the different exercises, to know how to get the best from their practice. Next, they are taught how to practice meditation, to become more proficient. Then comes the integration — learning how to fold the calm and clarity developed during meditation into everyday life.

In a guided meditation, a narrator or teacher explains the dynamics of the mind and how it’s likely to behave during meditation. (This is the approach.) The teacher may also explain meditation techniques. (This is the practice.) Finally, the teacher may explain how to take these techniques into everyday life. (This is the integration.)

For many people, meditation has become a tool for managing stress. For some, it helps to promote improved health), including a better quality of sleep. For others, it helps them get some ‘headspace’ — that underlying sense of peace, and that feeling of contentment, no matter what they’re dealing with in life. When we’re in a healthier place mentally, then we’re bound to interact with others in a more positive way, meaning meditation can benefit our relationships, too.

Meditation carries with it several inaccurate myths, including the belief that the practice involves “emptying your mind,” or finding an escape from thoughts or problems. The reality is that there is no escape from thinking—that is the mind’s nature. The skill is to step back and see our thoughts more clearly, without getting caught up in all the mental commentary. We may never change our thoughts, but we can change our experience of those thoughts.

When we meditate, we’re cultivating an awareness of the present moment. We’re training the mind to better understand how and why we think and feel the way we do, with the aim of fundamentally transforming our experience, and perspective, of everyday life.