Meditation
Approximately 3000 years ago, the practice of yoga was born out of the need to prepare the body for meditation. So, as ancient as yoga is, the practice of meditation stems back even further. Handed down through the millennia, meditation has been an effective tool for helping human beings to quiet the mind and become connected with an inner source, bringing peace and clarity to the practitioner. We, at Being Yoga, are incorporating more and more of this powerful practice into our curriculum to help enhance the benefits of our yoga practices. Please read on for additional information about our “theme of the month,” meditation,
Meditation (as defined by The American Heritage Dictionary) is “a devotional exercise of contemplation.” Given this definition, anyone who has devoted any length of time to yoga knows that yoga itself is a form of meditation. As we practice yoga, our normally over-active minds begin to calm with the contemplation of our bodies moving and stretching and holding the asanas (postures). We become more aware of our breath and the importance of deep, conscious breathing. Our focus shifts from “outside” to “inside” and from the past or future to the present When doing yoga, one begins to realize that it is possible to let go of otherwise annoying outward distractions (such as the studio’s temperature, wriggly neighbors, less-than-favorite teachers, etc, etc, etc) and stay grounded and peaceful within. In other words, we open ourselves up to a higher state and understanding of consciousness.
In order to accelerate this understanding and apply it outside of the yoga studio, the daily act of meditation is the perfect addition to yoga. The physical, mental, emotional and spiritual benefits of practicing yoga AND meditating are profound, bringing a person’s state of being to a higher level of health, happiness and inner peace.
That is why Being Yoga is continuing to offer after-class group meditation sessions (see schedule) and why we are now offering Wednesday night (8:30 pm to 9:30 pm), sessions (until April 25th) with Arley. Arley is providing insight into meditation techniques that will help us adopt this positive, very powerful practice into our lives. As the father of yoga, Pantanjali, said, “It is when fluctuations of mind are stilled that our essence is self-shining.” Come practice both yoga and meditation at Being Yoga and start shining!