Meditation and yoga - Part 2
Sunday, August 3rd, 2008 Subscribe To Our Feed
So what exactly is meditation? There are many types of meditation. The one definition that fits almost all types is…”Consciously directing your attention to alter your state of consciousness.”
There’s no limit to the things you can direct your attention toward… symbols, sounds, colors, breath, uplifting thoughts, spiritual realms, etc. Meditation is simply about attention… where you direct it, and how it alters your consciousness.
Traditionally meditation was (and still is) used for spiritual growth…i.e. becoming more conscious; unfolding our inner Light, Love, & Wisdom; becoming more aware of the guiding Presence in our lives; accelerating our journey home to our True Self… our Spirit.
More recently, meditation has become a valuable tool for finding a peaceful oasis of relaxation and stress relief in a demanding, fast-paced world.
It can be used for healing, emotional cleansing and balancing, deepening concentration, unlocking creativity, and finding inner guidance. Meditating is also the culmination of yoga exercises as your body reaches a state of relaxation, so should your mind.
When you begin your meditation, put your expectations aside, and don’t worry about doing it right. There are infinite possibilities and no fixed criterion for determining right meditation. There are, however, a few things to avoid. Don’t try to force something to happen. Don’t over-analyze the meditation and don’t try to make your mind blank or chase thoughts away. There is no one “right” way to meditate, so just concentrate on the process and find the best way for YOU.
Find a quiet, comfortable place to meditate. You can sit in a comfortable chair, on the bed, on the floor… anywhere that’s comfortable. It’s not necessary to sit cross-legged. Your legs can be in any position that is comfortable. Eliminate as much noise and as many potential distractions as possible. Don’t worry about those things that you can not control.
When you sit to meditate, sit comfortably, with your spine reasonably straight. This allows the spiritual energy to flow freely up the spine, which is an important aspect of meditation. Leaning against a chair back, a wall, headboard, etc. is perfectly all right. If, for physical reasons, you can’t sit up, lay flat on your back. Place your hands in any position that is comfortable.
Yoga Sandals: 
