By Sanjeev Patel, CYT

Relaxation is a fundamental building block to meditation. This point should be made during Yoga teacher training intensives.  The mind needs to experience relaxation before being trained. Otherwise, the student will struggle with the untrained mind for weeks, months, or years. The tense and untrained mind is much like a monkey going from one object to another with no purpose.

There are three stages of relaxation. The first stage of relaxation is Physical relaxation. Tense muscles are slow to react and waste prana. Since the mind controls the body, tense muscles are the result of conscience or unconscious thought. The mind must be used to consciously relaxing every muscle in the body. Once the body is completely relaxed, the body can begin storing prana for future use.

The second stage of relaxation is Mental relaxation. Mental tension can be just as draining as physical tension – if not more so. Unnecessary worrying, or anxieties, can drain the body and mind of prana. This can be overcome by breathing deeply and rhythmically, for a few minutes, causing the mind to reach a state of calm and a feeling of floating.

The third stage of relaxation is Spiritual relaxation. This stage of relaxation is about removing oneself from the confinements of mind a body, and identifying with ones self. Separation of the pure consciousness, from the mind and body, allows the self to let go of ego doubt, worries, sorrows, fear, and anger.

Meditation is calming the mind to stop the constant chatter that exists, and teach the mind to maintain one thought, without interruption. It is not to stop all thoughts to nothingness, but instead to stop the constant chaos and control the mind. The benefits include a calmer, more-focused mind, and a body in better health because the mind is better able to heal the body if the mind is clear.

Some of the benefits of meditation are a better ability to relax, lower heart rate/ blood pressure, and stilling the mind. The most important aspect of meditation, that must be keep in mind, is that meditation is a step in the process of reaching enlightenment. This step is necessary to help purify the mind – in preparation for enlightenment.

© Copyright 2010 – Sanjeev Patel / Aura Publications

Sanjeev Patel is a certified Yoga teacher and an exclusive author for Aura Wellness Center.

http://www.yoga-teacher-training.org

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