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.)

Unguided meditation (or silent meditation) allows the practitioner to customize the ways in which they’d like to meditate on their own, including duration, space, and degree of silence. During unguided meditation, you typically meditate without any external tools. Our Meditation 101 page offers basic tips for setting up an unguided meditation practice: Find a quiet space with minimal interruptions; look for a comfortable place to sit, usually in a chair or on the floor; choose a posture that feels okay in your body; and begin to breathe deeply, in through the nose and out through the mouth.

In an unguided meditation practice, the practitioner meditates alone without someone else explaining the process. A solo practitioner might choose to use some of the techniques they’ve learned in guided meditations, like visualizations, mantras or body scans. For this reason, it can be useful to start with guided meditation if you have no background in the practice. Alternatively, some people might choose to simply sitting in quiet, paying attention to their body and thoughts for a set period of time.