Introduction to Meditation and Yoga

Yoga is a Hindu spiritual and ascetic discipline, a part of which, including breath control, simple meditation, and the adoption of specific bodily postures, is widely practiced for health and relaxation. Meditation is a discipline within Yoga. The ultimate goal for the practice of each is to achieve peace of mind.

If stress has you anxious, tense and worried meditation can help. Spending even a few minutes in meditation can restore your calm and inner peace. The good thing about meditation is that anyone can practice it. It is simple and inexpensive. There is no need for special equipment. It can be practiced anywhere – while on a walk, riding a bus, waiting in a doctor’s office, during a business meeting.

There is no “right” way to meditate. But there are different things that can be done and you can choose what works for you. Here are some ways you can practice meditation:

• Breathe deeply. Focus all your attention on your breathing. Concentrate on feeling and listening as you inhale and exhale through your nostrils. Breathe deeply and slowly. When your attention wanders, gently return your focus to your breathing.
• Walk and meditate. Slow your walking pace so that you can focus on each movement of your legs or feet. Don’t think about a destination. Concentrate on your legs and feet, repeating action words in your mind such as “lifting,” “moving” and “placing” as you lift each foot, move your leg forward and place your foot on the ground.
• Read and reflect. Read a poem or sacred text and quietly reflect on the meaning.

 

 

Yoga to Keep the Stress Away

Yoga is the process of reversing the outward flow of energy so that the mind becomes the center of perception. It is a spiritual practice that extends to the physical and, with practice, helps you keep your body and spirit energized with the ‘right’ kind of energy. The kind of energy that comes from a sense of well-being.

There are meditation techniques designed for breath control, physical poses and positions designed for body healing and balance, and deeper meditation and breathing study designed for spiritual growth.