Hello Kelly, you are right! They are pretty similar. Although we try to put meditation into different types, there are lots of similarity between different types. For Zazen, it originates from buddhism. We usually “sit” on a pillow in Zazan. We can sit in lotus pose, half lotus, or sit on a chair. We close our eyes. Then we bring our focus to our breathing. When our mind starts to wander, we notice, and we again bring our focus to our breath.

For mindfulness meditation, it means staying present and doing only one thing. You can do it either standing or sitting. You can focus on your food. Feel the food coming into your mouth, the taste, the smell, your saliva and how the food goes down to your stomach. Or you can do it even with your eyes open, gazing at a candle, looking at a sacred symbol etc. And of course you can also do it with your eyes closed and focus on your breathing (which is similar to Zazen).

Although we try to put meditation into different types, the main idea for all meditation is to be focused. So focus that you and the object that you are focusing on become one.

Hi Kelly, Sankalpa means intention. It is to turn your awareness inward to your heart’s highest intention. In yoga nidra, when your mind is completely relaxed, sankalpa may be written in your subconscious.