Why Unguided Meditations May Be More Beneficial (And When To Use A Guided One Instead)
To use a guided meditation or not to use one? I get asked this question ALL the time so I wanted to address it for you here!
The important thing to note is that there is no such thing as a “bad” meditation. Each time you sit (or lie down) you gain something valuable. Strengthening the slowing down muscle in your mind, and hopefully feeling a little more calm. It’s alllll medicine. And it’s definitely all VERY useful.
There is a distinct difference between a guided meditation and an unguided one. The benefits you’ll get from each vary. Let me walk you through it…
Guided Meditations:
are a beautiful place to start for beginners and regular practitioners alike. This is where you’ll get your foot in the door, becoming a more confident meditator and developing a regular routine.
Guided meditations were where I first started and I accredit them to helping me figure out what styles I like. With every meditation that I did, there would be things that stuck out. Certain mantras resonated more than others, specific breathing techniques felt better for my lungs, etc.
Guided practices deepen your understanding of meditation AND make it feel easy, effortless and attainable.
The thing with a guided meditation is that you can totally switch off. You don’t need to question whether or not you’re doing it right because you’ve got someone there with you. It provides a high level of support. The teacher walks you through it, all you have to do is listen. Taking what resonates, and leaving the rest.
Bottom line: they are more accessible and make meditating that much easier. Which is what we want! A practice that fits into our life.
Benefits
more support
broadens meditation knowledge
feels easier & more do-able
Unguided Meditations:
essentially just mean that you are meditating by yourself. It’s you, your breath & your chosen point of focus. There is no one pulling you back when you drift off. No one telling you what to do. You become your own guide.
Unguided meditations can be extremely powerful for two reasons;
1) Silence
It’s why I rarely use music in my guided meditations. That silence is where the majority of your calm lives. It gives you a chance to rest more fully. I don’t mean that everything around you will be hush hush. There will be birds chirping, cars beeping, kids laughing, etc. but your meditation is not the source of stimulation. It is the container of quiet.
2) Familiarity with self
When you’re doing an unguided meditation, you create more space to listen to yourself. This, in turn, can help you get clear on what you need. If you’re feeling anxious, you could make the executive decision to calm your mind by focusing on your exhales. If having a super productive day is important to you, you could repeat the mantra “May I be focused”.
With unguided, you have room to play around. Letting your practice reflect your real life.
Knowing ‘what to do’ when you meditate alone takes time & practice. If you’re experimenting with it, be gentle with yourself. It’s not everyone’s cup of tea.
Benefits
less stimulation
develops your intuition
personalized to you
A Pro Tip:
Try doing a mix of unguided and guided. This has been my go-to for years and what I do pretty much daily in my personal practice. Here’s an example of how to do this…
If your preferred length of time to meditate in the morning is 20 minutes. use a 10-15 minute guided meditation, but set your timer for 20 minutes. When the guided portion is finished, sit longer in an unguided practice for the remainder of the time. Either going back to the mantra that was introduced in the class, breathing quietly, or using your intuition to lead you to another point of focus that feels good.
Sometimes we crave that quiet. That peace & intimacy between just ourselves. Other times we want the support. Someone we trust telling us what to do. Because it feels really nice.
Both are great. Go with what you feel.
with love,
jewels xx
Now you have your say! What do you prefer? Unguided or guided meditations? I would love to hear. Let me know in the comment section below