Meditation Practices from Around the Globe

Mindfulness with a Twist.

Be present, notice your feelings without judgment, and find a sense of balance.

Beyond yoga class, there’s a whole world of mindfulness practices waiting. Go off the beaten path and discover lesser-known techniques from different cultures.

Forest Bathing in Japan

In Japan, they practice “shinrin-yoku” or forest bathing. It’s about immersing yourself in the atmosphere of the forest.

Walk slowly through a wooded area. Take in the sights, sounds, and smells of nature. Touch the rough bark of trees, listen to bird calls, and breathe in the earthy scent of the forest floor.

Forest bathing is being present in nature, letting it wash over your senses. It lowers stress levels and boosts mood.

Tea Meditation in Korea

In Korea, the traditional tea ceremony is called “darye.” This combines mindfulness with the ritual of preparing and serving tea.

Each step of the process is done with careful attention. From heating the water to pouring the tea, actions are performed deliberately. The focus is on the present, the warmth of the cup in your hands, the aroma of the tea, the taste on your tongue.

This practice teaches patience. It’s a reminder to savor life’s simple pleasures.

Walking Meditation in Thailand

Walking meditation exists in many traditions. In the Thai Forest tradition, walk back and forth along a 20–30 foot path.

Pay attention to the sensations in your feet and legs. Notice the lifting of the foot, the movement forward, the placing down. It’s a deliberate process. This develops body awareness.

Sufi Whirling in Turkey

Practiced by the Mevlevi Order in Turkey, this involves spinning in place with one arm pointed up and the other down.

The whirling is done as a group, with participants dressed in white robes that billow out as they spin. It’s a form of active meditation, where the spinning motion helps let go of their ego.

It might look chaotic from the outside, but practitioners report a sense of stillness at the center of the spin.

Stone Stacking in Scotland

On the Isle of Skye in Scotland, you might come across balanced towers of stones on beaches or hillsides. Known as stone stacking or rock balancing, this has become a form of meditation for many.

The process of finding the right stones and balancing them requires intense focus. Be present in the moment, feel the weight and shape of each stone, and find the perfect point of balance.

Laughter Meditation in India

In India, laughter yoga combines breathing exercises with forced laughter. Fake laughter has positive effects on the mind.

Start with stretching and clapping, followed by laughter exercises. Participants pretend to laugh at a joke, or laugh while doing everyday activities like brushing teeth.

It might feel silly at first, but people find that forced laughter soon turns into genuine laughter. This reduces stress and boosts mood.

Fire Gazing in Australia

Aboriginal Australians practice a form of meditation of gazing into a fire. “Dadirri” involves sitting quietly and focusing on the flames.

The flickering light of the fire has a hypnotic effect, quieting the mind. Done as a group, it creates community and shared experience.

Fire gazing is a tool for introspection and connecting with inner wisdom.

Sound Bath Meditation in Tibet

In Tibet, singing bowls have been used for centuries for meditation. A sound bath involves lying down while a practitioner plays the bowls, creating vibrations that wash over you.

The sounds vibrations quiet the mind. Feeling the vibrations move through the body, creating harmony.

Osho Dynamic Meditation

Developed by the controversial Indian mystic Osho, Dynamic Meditation is an intense practice to release suppressed emotions. The practice consists of five stages.

Chaotic breathing

Catharsis and emotional release

Jumping while chanting “Hoo”

Freezing in place

Celebration through dance

This high-energy meditation clears the mind by exhausting the body and releasing pent-up emotions. Many report feeling energized and clear-headed after a session.

Trataka (Candle Gazing)

Originating in ancient India, Trataka involves staring at a fixed point without blinking for as long as possible. This practice is said to improve concentration, enhance memory, and strengthen eyesight.

Sit comfortably in a dark room with a lit candle at eye level

Gaze at the flame without blinking for as long as you can

When your eyes water or you need to blink, close them and visualize the flame

Repeat for 10–15 minutes

Nada Yoga (Sound Meditation)

Nada Yoga focuses on inner sounds heard during deep meditation. Tuning into these subtle sounds, one accesses higher states of consciousness.

Sit in a quiet place and close your eyes

Focus on any internal sounds you hear (e.g., ringing, buzzing, humming)

Gradually tune into more subtle sounds

Perceive the “Unstruck Sound” or “Anahata Nada”

This practice requires persistence, as the subtler sounds may take time to perceive.

Tummo (Inner Fire Meditation)

Practiced by Tibetan Buddhist monks, Tummo is a meditation that allows practitioners to control body temperature.

Specialized breathing techniques

Visualization of inner fire

Physical exercises to direct energy

Advanced Tummo practitioners have raised their body temperature enough to dry wet sheets draped over their bodies in freezing conditions. The full practice requires extensive training. Simplified versions help with stress relief and energy boosting.

Quantum Light Breath Meditation

Developed by Jeru Kabbal, this modern meditation combines rapid breathing with guided imagery.

Lie down comfortably

Engage in rhythmic breathing

Listen to a guided visualization

Experience a “quantum shift” in consciousness

Practitioners report feelings of euphoria, emotional release, and spiritual insights.

Zen Archery (Kyudo)

In Japan, archery is a form of moving meditation. Kyudo, or “the way of the bow,” emphasizes form, focus, and breath control over hitting the target.

Precise, ritualized movements

Deep concentration on each step

Cultivating a state of mushin (no-mind)

Archers aim to achieve a state where the shot “falls by itself” without conscious effort.

Walking the Labyrinth

Labyrinths have been used for centuries for spiritual growth. Labyrinths have a single path to the center and back out. Walking a labyrinth involves:

Set an intention before entering

Slowly walk the path to the center, letting go of worries

Pause in the center for reflection

Walk back out, integrating insights gained

Many churches, parks, and retreat centers have labyrinths available for public use.

Contemplative Running in Greece

In ancient Greece, philosophers practiced a form of contemplative running. They believed the rhythm of running induced a meditative state.

Some runners practice a modern version of this. Instead of focusing on speed or distance, they pay attention to their breath, the movement of their body, and their surroundings.

This practice can turn a regular run into a moving meditation, helping to clear the mind and reduce stress.

These unconventional meditations offer different approaches to growing mindfulness. Each has its unique benefits. Approach these techniques with an open mind. Whether you prefer the intensity of Dynamic Meditation or the quiet focus of candle gazing, they can add variety to your meditation path.