Getting started with meditation can be difficult for people who struggle to clear their thoughts or focus on a single thought at a time. For this reason and many more, using guided meditation is an amazing way to dip your toes in the world of meditation so that you can improve your sleep.
What is guided meditation?
A guided meditation is a type of relaxation meditation in which a guide or teacher leads you through the process using their voice — sometimes with the addition of music and other calming sounds. Instead of being left to fend for yourself, you hand off the weight of guiding the meditation to someone else.
Guided meditations can happen in a live setting or via recorded audio or video. The goal of a guided meditation is to listen to the guide’s voice and follow their instructions without judgement towards yourself or the process.
How does guided meditation help you sleep?
Using guided meditation is a great way to help your mind remain focused instead of drifting off while you’re trying to meditate. Meditation has been proven to have a positive effect on your sleep.
A 2015 study even showed that people with moderate sleep issues can experience less daytime fatigue by practicing meditation. On top of that, guided meditation can help with:
- Slowing down your heart rate
- Increasing the amount of melatonin you produce, which promotes better sleep
- Lowering your blood pressure
If you go to bed stressed and worried, using guided meditation can help you calm your mind and relax. This, in turn, can help your mind and body fall asleep more quickly so you can get more sleep.
4 types of guided meditation to help you sleep
Not all guided meditations work the same way. Here are four popular choices of guided meditation for sleep and healing.
- Yoga nidra: Yoga nidra takes you into a deep state of relaxation and rest. You remain conscious while experiencing some signs of sleep. This type of guided meditation can help heal from trauma and get relief from insomnia.
- Sleep hypnosis: This method uses hypnotherapy to influence thought patterns while in a deeply relaxed state. Just like yoga nidra, the goal of sleep hypnosis is to achieve deep relaxation without falling asleep.
- Positive affirmations: During a positive affirmations guided meditation, the guide speaks positive affirmations that you then repeat in your own mind. This type of guided meditation can help reframe negative thoughts and settle a worried mind before sleep.
- Guided meditation music: Unlike more structured guided meditations, this type of meditation typically uses music to guide the listener. Some spoken prompts can be used, but music is the main guide for the feel and mood of the meditation.
Guided meditation sessions are perfect for beginners who don’t know how to start. On the BetterSleep app, you’ll find a huge library of accessible guided meditations and music designed specifically to improve the quality of your sleep. Try it for free today to experience guided meditation for yourself.
