What: Sound meditation uses pleasant, nonvocal sound as the object of concentration. The sound can come from a variety of objects, including chimes, cymbals, metal or crystal bowls, shamanic drums, or a gong.

Types: Tibetan singing bowl meditation, crystal bowl meditation, or gong meditation in the Kundalini Yoga tradition. There is also the related practice of chanting meditation.

Benefits: According to meditation teacher davidji, the first dean of Chopra Center University and the author of Secrets of Meditation, the sound and its vibration(s) keep you focused on the present moment, promote stillness, and, at times, induce a trance-like state.

Keywords: Musical, prayerful, community-building

Try this: In The Meditation Bible, author Madonna Gauding suggests trying this singing bowl meditation: In a comfortable sitting position, balance a small singing bowl on your fingertips (or a large bowl in the palm of your hand). Gently press a wooden mallet against the outside rim, and slowly rub it around the circumference of the bowl. The vibration will gradually increase in volume. “Listen to the sound and feel the vibration,” she writes.

Here's a recording of a quiet singing bowl meditation to try now.