It takes Patience, Practice to Achieve Successful Meditation in Yoga
In today’s online world, where everyone seems to be tweeting or updating their status every second of the day, the idea of simply sitting and clearing your mind of all the useless clutter in a quest for peace and clarity may seem strange. And for some people, it might even be impossible.
But that is the goal of meditation in yoga, to achieve a state of peace and serenity through quiet introspection. To accomplish this goal, the yoga student must learn to be in total control of their thoughts and mind. And while many people may think they currently possess this ability, attempting meditation for the first time may prove them wrong.
What anyone attempting meditation for the first (or even third or tenth time) should realize is that meditation doesn’t come easy. Despite the serenity it will eventually bring, teaching your mind to relax and clear itself is a process with important steps and milestones along the way. And one of the most important steps is breathing. By learning to breath in a controlled manner, a yoga practitioner can control their life force, or "prana", increasing it or decreasing it to bring themselves into a sense of balance, which will ease the transition into a meditative state.
By learning to breath in a controlled manner, a yoga practitioner can control their life force, or “prana”, increasing it or decreasing it to bring themselves into a sense of balance, which will ease the transition into a meditative state.
The life force, or prana, moves throughout the body along channels known as “nadis”. The sushumma nadis runs along the spine, while the pinngala and ida nadis run on either side of the sushumma. The prana runs along these paths and is propelled by the student's breathing, thoughts and emotions. The way you breathe controls the direction of the flow of prana and facilitates the process of meditation.
With that in mind, the first step in meditating in yoga is to become aware of yourself, of your body and your mind. Begin by lying on your back on the floor or a bed with your arms at your sides and your legs stretched out. Become aware of your surroundings, the way your body is reacting to them. With your eyes closed, feel your body's weight, the weight of your arms and legs. Let your body sink into the floor and feel the different parts of your body come in contact with the floor.
Now try to gain an awareness of your body from top to bottom. Became aware of your body starting with your toes. Then move upwards along your legs, your knees, past your pelvis and on up to your back and shoulders. Feel your arms and hands, and move upward from their to your head. Become aware of any areas of tension, stress and discomfort. If you sense your muscles are tight in a particular area, make an effort to get them to relax.
Now focus on your spine, the area where the sushumma flows. Try to image the prana (life force) flowing through it. Become aware of it moving up your spine from the base of your spin to the top of your head. Imagine that it is flowing unencumbered and carrying with it all of the tension in your body.
If you sense that there is a blockage in an area, or the prana does not flow free, try to visualize the blockage being taken away. Finally, return to becoming aware of your entire body, making a note of areas that held tension or were noteworthy for some reason. At this stage, your breathing should be slow, measured and calm. Take notice of the way your breath is flowing in and out of you, whether it is smooth and peaceful or labored. Make a note if your breathing is irregular.
Also consider the thoughts you are having at this point. Hopefully, you mind should be at rest and clear, but if it is not, don’t worry. This does not mean you have failed at meditation, simply that you will have to practice more at meditation. Most people who attempt this for the first time find their thoughts are still turning to work or family issues. This is normal. Over time, you will learn to clear these thoughts from your mind and reach a deeper state.
Each time you attempt to meditate, listen to your heartbeat and the way in which you are breathing. Note your current emotions, your state of mind. And at the conclusion, become aware of your entire being, body, mind and spirit.
It may take some time before you can learn to completely relax, but as we have stated, meditation takes practice. Schedule regular times to practice meditation and learn to listen to your body and mind to reach a level of peach and harmony.
Check out Kamloops Yoga Classes for more yoga info.
Another highly recommended article is How Yoga Can Help You Get Into Deep Peaceful Slumber
But that is the goal of meditation in yoga, to achieve a state of peace and serenity through quiet introspection. To accomplish this goal, the yoga student must learn to be in total control of their thoughts and mind. And while many people may think they currently possess this ability, attempting meditation for the first time may prove them wrong.
What anyone attempting meditation for the first (or even third or tenth time) should realize is that meditation doesn’t come easy. Despite the serenity it will eventually bring, teaching your mind to relax and clear itself is a process with important steps and milestones along the way. And one of the most important steps is breathing. By learning to breath in a controlled manner, a yoga practitioner can control their life force, or "prana", increasing it or decreasing it to bring themselves into a sense of balance, which will ease the transition into a meditative state.
By learning to breath in a controlled manner, a yoga practitioner can control their life force, or “prana”, increasing it or decreasing it to bring themselves into a sense of balance, which will ease the transition into a meditative state.
The life force, or prana, moves throughout the body along channels known as “nadis”. The sushumma nadis runs along the spine, while the pinngala and ida nadis run on either side of the sushumma. The prana runs along these paths and is propelled by the student's breathing, thoughts and emotions. The way you breathe controls the direction of the flow of prana and facilitates the process of meditation.
With that in mind, the first step in meditating in yoga is to become aware of yourself, of your body and your mind. Begin by lying on your back on the floor or a bed with your arms at your sides and your legs stretched out. Become aware of your surroundings, the way your body is reacting to them. With your eyes closed, feel your body's weight, the weight of your arms and legs. Let your body sink into the floor and feel the different parts of your body come in contact with the floor.
Now try to gain an awareness of your body from top to bottom. Became aware of your body starting with your toes. Then move upwards along your legs, your knees, past your pelvis and on up to your back and shoulders. Feel your arms and hands, and move upward from their to your head. Become aware of any areas of tension, stress and discomfort. If you sense your muscles are tight in a particular area, make an effort to get them to relax.
Now focus on your spine, the area where the sushumma flows. Try to image the prana (life force) flowing through it. Become aware of it moving up your spine from the base of your spin to the top of your head. Imagine that it is flowing unencumbered and carrying with it all of the tension in your body.
If you sense that there is a blockage in an area, or the prana does not flow free, try to visualize the blockage being taken away. Finally, return to becoming aware of your entire body, making a note of areas that held tension or were noteworthy for some reason. At this stage, your breathing should be slow, measured and calm. Take notice of the way your breath is flowing in and out of you, whether it is smooth and peaceful or labored. Make a note if your breathing is irregular.
Also consider the thoughts you are having at this point. Hopefully, you mind should be at rest and clear, but if it is not, don’t worry. This does not mean you have failed at meditation, simply that you will have to practice more at meditation. Most people who attempt this for the first time find their thoughts are still turning to work or family issues. This is normal. Over time, you will learn to clear these thoughts from your mind and reach a deeper state.
Each time you attempt to meditate, listen to your heartbeat and the way in which you are breathing. Note your current emotions, your state of mind. And at the conclusion, become aware of your entire being, body, mind and spirit.
It may take some time before you can learn to completely relax, but as we have stated, meditation takes practice. Schedule regular times to practice meditation and learn to listen to your body and mind to reach a level of peach and harmony.
Check out Kamloops Yoga Classes for more yoga info.
Another highly recommended article is How Yoga Can Help You Get Into Deep Peaceful Slumber
