The Importance of Meditation in Yoga and Our Lives

Yoga Meditation: The Key to Reducing Stress, Relaxation and Self-realization

Odds, are you already know about the calming and relaxing effects of meditation, but there’s so much more to yoga meditation than just sitting in silence. Meditation or Dhyana is one of The 8 Steps/Limbs of Yoga. In fact most of the other steps including Asanas (Yoga postures and exercises), Pranayama (breath control), Pratyahara (withdrawal of senses) and Dharana (concentration) assist in strengthening and preparing the body & mind for meditation which in turn brings harmony to the mind, the body and the spirit leading to Samadhi or Enlightenment. The true practice of Yoga as a path to enlightenment puts a lot of importance to Meditation.

What Is Meditation?
The mention of meditation even in this modern day and age conjures up images of white bearded men, sitting upon a rock high up in the mountains, humming “om”/ “aum”. This misconception of meditation is only for spiritual folk is what has kept us from reaping it’s umpteen benefits.

Meditation is anything that brings us to the present and keeps us there. It is a deep connection with time and a heightened awareness of yourself in conjunction with everything around you. In the rush of things it’s easy to get overloaded and miss out on the most important part of life – the joy it can bring. We need to slow down and dig deep to find those sweet moments of inner calm and clarity. Meditation is just that. Through slowing down and controlling the mind, Meditation increases consciousness of not just our surroundings and what’s happening around us but more importantly it creates an awareness of our inner selves.

‘You do not need to leave your room.
Remain sitting at your table and listen.
Do not even listen, simply wait.
Do not even wait, be quiet, still and solitary.
The world will freely offer itself to you to be unmasked.
It has no choice, it will roll in ecstasy at your feet.’
~ Franz Kafka

The Principles of Meditation

• Focus – In order to focus on the present, it’s important to learn how to concentrate. This can be achieved by focusing on an object or a word or even your breathing.
• Quieting the mind- Remaining focused on a single object or thought can be hard.  The mind will wonder and you’ll be distracted from your object of concentration with other thoughts. Meditation however, teaches you  not to suppress these but let them pass returning your attention to the object of focus. With time and practice the mind learns to tune out these distractions and the sole focus remains on the object.
• Control- In meditation you can tap into the flow of Prana (life force) through breathing to increase, decrease or focus your energy.
• Senses- Meditation involves control of all your senses of sight, sound, smell and feel to bring you to  the NOW.

While simple practice of meditation may not be the answer to all life’s questions, it is efficient and effective technique that helps us control our mind and relax our bodies. It provides the simplicity like stopping to smell and appreciate the flowers in an otherwise crowded and busy place called life. If practiced regularly and adopted as a lifestyle meditation can lead to deeper self-knowledge, heightened consciousness of people and creatures around us and Spiritual fulfillment.

*Photo credits: Photos by h.koppdelaney, Gurumustuk Singh, myyogaonline, richardmasoner on flickr

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7 Steps to Healthier Living

An Apple a day, keeps the doctor away? That’s so yesterday! Here are 7 science backed, bonafide steps that promise to boost brain power, nick your chances of heart disease and make your skin glow. Introduce these 7 steps in your lifestyle today and say hello to a new lease on a better, healthier life.

1. CHOOSE FISH

It was once noticed that Latino seniors used hospitals less, yet live longer and die less of heart diseases, cancer or stroke. How come? It’s believed that their diet, which includes a lot of fish may be the answer. You see, fish oil contains Omega-3 fatty acids, which help produce blood platelets and reduce inflammation. Three grams a day can reduce risk of a heart attack by 50%, lower your triglycerides, tackle less-than-perfect cholesterol score, ease pain from arthritis, help prevent cancer, super-charge the brain and make your skin glowing and wrinkle-free. Studies have shown that women who took fish oil when pregnant or lactating boosted their children’s IQ. Include fish such as salmon, mackerel or halibut into your daily diet or else take non-contaminating fish oil supplements.

2. BEND YOUR BRAIN

Playing some mind games could make you smarter, healthier and add a few candles to your birthday cake, say experts. Keeping your mind stimulated boosts memory and brainpower while slashing your risk f developing dementia nearly by half according to a study conducted at the University of New South Wales, Australia. Pick up a book of brain teasers, try to memorize phone numbers, mentally tally tge cost of your groceries as you put it into your shopping cart, or play trivial pursuit with family or friends…anything that challenges your brain will help keep it in prime condition.

3. MEDITATE

Odds, are you already know about the calming effects of meditation, but did you know- A daily dose of ‘Om’ and calming yoga can significantly improve your health. A study of 2,000 seniors found that those who did relaxation exercised daily had 87% fewer heart attacks than is normal for their age group, 55% fewer cancerous tumors and 87% fewer nervous disorders. According to experts, meditation reduces stress by many levels and lowers blood pressure. Consequently, you live a calmer life which allows you to feel healthier and look younger. So don that comfortable yoga apparel and fit atleast a 10-15 minutes of silent meditation time into your daily routine where by you sit in a comfy position and focus on nothing but your breathing.

4. CATCH SOME ZZZs

Been burning the midnight oil many days in a row? Bad idea! Skimping on the zzzs and not getting enough sleep messes with your body’s repair mechanisms, not allowing them to repair any damage and release growth hormones that aid in cell turnover that keeps you looking young and feeling fresh. Sleep deprivation pr lack of sleep puts you at a greater risk for obesity, depression, sallow skin, dark circles and heart problems. Catch a good 7-8 hours of sleep every night to function the best.

5. GO GREEN

Green Tea that is! It’s soothing, tastes great and is packed with good-for-you antioxidants. It was found that green tea gulpers, who drank more than five cups of the stuff a day, had a 26% lower risk of death due to cardiovascular disease, compared to those who drank less than one cup a day. A daily cup of Green tea has been found to erase some of the negative effects of ageing (thanks to the antioxidants in the brew) which means you’ll look younger for longer. All of these benefits have been found to be stronger in women, which is one more reason to go put that kettle on and get brewing.

6. KEEP MOVING

Taking a walk, dancing, working in the garden…in short being active are must dos  for everyone. The benefits are endless! Physical activity in the form of exercise, yoga, jogging, aerobics and so on benefits your mood, promotes self-efficacy and lowers chances of developing heart and blood pressure problems. Six months of regular aerobic exercises reverses the loss of brain tissue that occurs with age.  An those who don’t walk take twice as many sick days as compared to those who walk briskly everyday.  Exercise sweeps white blood cells (key immune system components that are stuck on blood vessel walls) back into circulation. So move that behind! Take the opportunity to scope some great workout clothes and work up to the standard recommendation of 5 times a week for at least 30 minutes.

7.  BE OPTIMISTIC

It turns out, “Don’t Worry, Be Happy” is more than just a classic sing-along. Positivity is a BIG plus health-wise. Studies have found that ‘negative’ brain activity results in a weakened immune system and pessimists were reported to have poorer physical as well as medical functioning. Try looking at the glass half full for a change. Consciously battle your inner critic and replace negative thoughts with a feel-good thought. It may take time to re-train your inner critic, but soon your optimistic self will shine and life will start looking and feeling a lot better.

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* Images Credit: Photos by (from top -bottom) adactio, Betsssssy, longtrekhome, neilbetter, knittinging, adria.richards, Only Sequelon flickr