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Yogic Breath Awareness Meditation

Monday, January 2nd, 2012

yoga teacher distance learningBy Faye Martins

It is well established that yogic breath awareness is extremely effective but until one experiences this meditation and practices it for themselves they have no idea just how enjoyable and fulfilling this breath awareness meditation can be. There are many different varieties and types of meditation but yogic breathing has no equal despite its relative simplicity.

To begin this practice, sit in whatever position appeals to you at the moment; a chair, mat or carpeted floor are all acceptable choices. If this is your first time practicing yogic breath awareness, try to get excited about what you’re about to do; this will not be necessary once yogic breathing has been performed since the practice speaks for itself. Try to channel a childlike curiosity as you sit, hands folded in front and placed directly over the core muscles of the stomach.

Take a few deep, cleansing breaths and then begin. First, with eyes closed draw the attention to the nose. Feel the air tickle the tip of the nose as it rushes past and feel it flare the nostrils. Focus on just this area for the first few inhalations or as long as desired.

From this nose itself, move the conscious attention to the windpipe. Can you feel the breath rushing through the windpipe? Notice what it feels like as it moves from the tip of the nose, through the nostrils and down through the windpipe.

Now from the windpipe, feel the breath as it enters the lungs themselves. First focus on the bottom of the lungs; can you feel the air expanding that area? If you have poor body awareness feeling the lungs in vibrant detail may take some time and this is okay; never let yourself be discouraged. Once the bottom of the lungs are clearly felt expanding, the expansion continues with the breath moving to the top and then all of the sides of the lungs.

Now take a moment to enjoy the feeling of the breath; few things bring such joy and happiness as a breath felt with the utmost attention. At this point your energy levels may begin to rise as fresh oxygen hits the bloodstream as well, further heightening the sense of well being.

Now, this is a place where one may stop or they may choose to go deeper into the practice; either choice is acceptable.

For going deeper into the yogic breath awareness meditation continue to draw deep breaths through the nose but this time instead of turning your attention to the direct physical path the air follows pay attention to the indirect areas of the body that are impacted by a pure, deep breath. The spine is a prime example of an area of the physical body that is impacted by the movement of the breath.

Feel the spine stretch and open up as it’s caressed by the inhalation and released by the exhalation. Feel the rib cage expand and contract. Pay attention to the feeling of the stomach rising and falling with the deep, peaceful breaths.

As a more advanced practice, let this observing extend to the arms, legs, head and pelvis, feeling the breath within them too.

This meditation is at once one of the most pleasurable and transformative meditation practices an individual may engage in. The sensual pleasure of feeling the breath and ultimately becoming the breath itself is so powerful that the ego can’t help but be silenced, even in the most egocentric of individuals.

Yogic breath awareness is a meditation that grows with the practitioner, leading them deeper and deeper into places of inner stillness and peace. If you haven’t tried this meditation before I encourage you to do so today; it will likely become a favorite part of your day.

© Copyright 2012 – Aura Wellness Center – Publications Division

To see our selection of Online Yoga teacher training courses, please visit the following link.

http://www.aurawellnesscenter.com/store/

FREE Yoga Report. FREE Yoga Newsletter. FREE Yoga Videos. Free Podcasts. Bonus: Free Yoga e-Book, “Yoga in Practice.”

FREE CONTENT: If you are a Yoga Teacher, Yoga studio, blogger, e-zine, or website publisher, and are in need of quality content, please feel free to use my blog entries (articles). Please be sure to reprint each article, as is, including the resource box above. Namaste!

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Tips for a Successful Yoga Meditation Session

Saturday, December 24th, 2011

yoga teacher trainingBy Amruta Kulkarni, CYT 250

In Yoga practice, everyone wants to have the most successful meditation session possible, but sometimes it seems that the harder we try, the less relaxing and meaningful the meditation becomes. We want too much from our meditation, and we tend to want it now. In order to reap the benefits of meditation, it must be enjoyed for what it is and not what it can do for you. This shift in focus might sound difficult at first, but it’s actually more natural than achieving peace and tranquility through an iron fist. The following tips may serve to bring the joy back into meditation for those struggling with their practice.

For starters, a Yoga meditation session will become free, light and joyful when it’s taken one moment at a time. Yes, meditating tends to reduce stress levels and blood pressure along with cultivating deeper and higher levels of consciousness, but in the end those are all future destinations. Meditation is a journey happening right now, so take the time to enjoy the step you’re currently on. Focus on the act of meditating itself and give it your utmost consideration, appreciating it for what it is right now, not what benefits it could lead to later on down the road. If you attempt this and it seems impossible, something needs changing. Perhaps a different form of meditation is needed. Individuals don’t score bonus points for meditating using methods that are especially against their nature. The ego loves this type of thing because it takes something as simple as meditation and makes it into some act of super human discipline and restraint. This is compelling in fiction, but ultimately useless in real life. This is not to say that meditation should always be easy, and there will be days when individuals just don’t feel like doing it. If this happens more often than not, something has got to give. There are a variety of different meditation methods to choose from, and the ultimate goal of each one is to simply wake people up and bring them more deeply into life itself. If individuals feel bored and uninspired with their current meditation practice than by all means shake things up and try a different technique. It all leads to the same Source.

If individuals are pretty content with their meditation style but find the joy and passion for the practice ebbing, it may be time to examine what exactly they are expecting from their meditation time. Paulji often mentions that many people become frustrated and irritated with themselves for thinking during their meditation sessions, but that’s actually a pretty natural thing for the mind to do. The mind tends to think, and that’s okay. Ultimately, the goal of most meditation practitioners is to silence the mind and bring it to stillness but another gift meditation brings to the table is intense self reflection; those who meditate know their minds well because they are quiet enough to listen to themselves. So let the mind think if that’s what it really wants to do; there is no shame in this. Meditation is not a super human achievement and getting to know one’s self better is the gift that keeps on giving. It’s hard for the ego to be taken too seriously when it’s being watched; its antics often look silly when examined by the higher consciousness, which enters into the mind during meditation. This opportunity for deep reflection is often lost when striving for perfection in technical aspects of a Yoga meditation practice.

When one is happy with their meditation style but still somehow reluctant to meditate when the time comes perhaps discomfort is to blame. It’s good to develop the ability to meditate no matter what else is going on in the outside world, but it’s also wise to eliminate any outside distractions beforehand whenever possible. For example, if an individual has an important phone call to make, they should consider getting it done before meditating. Removing things to worry about can lead to better and more enjoyable meditation. Also, pay attention to how the physical body feels during meditating and be honest about the feedback the body is giving. If the physical body experiences discomfort, the mind will do whatever possible to avoid the situation that caused it, leading to unconscious resistance to the practice. If there is pain present, correct it. Better to sit in a chair than to put the body through prolonged periods of pain in order to sit in a more ‘enlightened’ position such as Lotus or even Half Lotus.

Finally, there are many people who simply carry a lot of unconscious guilt about taking the time to meditate and this translates to distraction, boredom and a depressed mood during the practice. For those individuals, the only solution is to work through the problem itself. Do they feel like they shouldn’t be spending so much time away from their family and obligations? If so, perhaps the meditation session could be made shorter (5 minutes), but if it’s only 20-30 minutes a day there is no logic or common sense in such a feeling. Observe the guilt and allow it to be and it will eventually pass.

In short, Yogic meditation is a gift that should be imbued with a sense of peace, joy and bliss. If those sensations aren’t present in your current meditation routine, it’s time to bring your bliss back by implementing some of the tips above.

© Copyright 2011 – Aura Wellness Center – Publications Division

To see our selection of Online Yoga teacher training courses, please visit the following link.

http://www.aurawellnesscenter.com/store/

FREE Yoga Report. FREE Yoga Newsletter. FREE Yoga Videos. Free Podcasts. Bonus: Free Yoga e-Book, “Yoga in Practice.”

FREE CONTENT: If you are a Yoga Teacher, Yoga studio, blogger, e-zine, or website publisher, and are in need of quality content, please feel free to use my blog entries (articles). Please be sure to reprint each article, as is, including the resource box above. Namaste!

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Mindfulness Meditation and Hatha Yoga for Trauma Survivors

Friday, November 25th, 2011

online yoga teacher coursesBy Faye Martins

A relatively new niche in the practice and teaching of Yoga is the treatment of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder in trauma survivors through the emotionally sensitive practice of Yoga asanas, pranayama exercises and mindfulness meditation techniques. Physical and psychological trauma often occurs when a survivor experiences a life situation in which he or she is terrified, in a potentially life-threatening situation and completely unable to stop the experience from happening. This sense of helplessness is one of the key areas that trauma-sensitive Yoga classes can address and heal. The psychological defense mechanism of emotional numbing or freezing is also an area that the practice of mindfulness meditation techniques during a Yoga class can successfully begin to heal.

Yoga classes come in all shapes and sizes today. There are gentle, restorative classes and very vigorous challenging power Yoga classes that are held in rooms heated up to 104 degrees. Often a Yogi or Yogini is admonished during a Yoga class to go deeper into postures and to hold the poses for longer than he or she normally would. This self-competitiveness is great for most people who enjoy going to their physical and emotional edge and pushing through that edge as they surpass their previous accomplishments.

With trauma survivors, it is very important to allow the survivor to not dissociated when the “going gets tough” by supporting the Yogi or Yogini to be intimately aware of his or her emotions, memories and physical sensations while practicing Yoga. As the ability to remain in the body and tolerate uncomfortable physical sensations, thoughts and emotions develops over time, the critical skill of affect-regulation will also develop, in addition to a sense of empowerment when the trauma survivor is supported by his or her Yoga teacher to choose whether or not to even practice the asana or pranayama exercise.

If the trauma survivor does practice the Yoga pose or prescribed breathing exercise, it is also critical to allow the student to immediately stop practicing the asana or pranayama as soon as he or she sees fit. A terrifying sense of helplessness is one of the most damaging aspects of a trauma experience. This mindfulness meditation technique of being in the body and tolerating the physical and emotional sensations that the Yoga pose or pranayama is bringing up will support the trauma survivor in being grounded, aware and empowered to stop practicing the posture or pranayama if it is not nourishing to his or her well-being. This is one of the key healing aspects of incorporating mindfulness meditation techniques into a trauma-sensitive Yoga class, the empowerment of a trauma survivor to say “no” to what does not feel good regardless of the reason or the expectations of the teacher or other students.

© Copyright 2011 – Aura Wellness Center – Publications Division

To see our selection of Online Yoga teacher training courses, please visit the following link.

http://www.aurawellnesscenter.com/store/

FREE Yoga Report. FREE Yoga Newsletter. FREE Yoga Videos. Free Podcasts. Bonus: Free Yoga e-Book, “Yoga in Practice.”

FREE CONTENT: If you are a Yoga Teacher, Yoga studio, blogger, e-zine, or website publisher, and are in need of quality content, please feel free to use my blog entries (articles). Please be sure to reprint each article, as is, including the resource box above. Namaste!

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Yoga and Meditation for Restful Sleep Naturally

Friday, November 18th, 2011

yoga certificationBy Faye Martins

Restful sleep is something many people take for granted, but not everyone falls asleep and stays asleep easily. Sleep is the foundation of every activity in our day to day lives and serves as the major source of restoration and vitality for the human body. Promoting proper sleep is essential for long term health and doing so naturally eliminates the risk of harmful and unpleasant side effects that often accompany the use of conventional, drug based sleep aids.

Initially, it might seem counter intuitive to exercise when you’re feeling dead on your feet and in need of rest, but this actually exactly what the body needs in order to get a full night’s sleep. In the great scheme of things, our mostly sedentary lifestyle is relatively new, with human beings having worked hard on a daily basis throughout history. As such, is it really so surprising that the body needs to exert energy everyday in order to maintain not only health and fitness but also states of relaxation and sleep?

Incorporating yoga into your schedule on a daily basis can work wonders on the amount and quality of sleep, but care must be taken not to exercise too vigorously before bedtime. The body naturally begins to cool itself down in preparation for bedtime and rest in the evening, so elevating the body’s temperature by even a small amount can signal the body that it’s time to stay awake. If possible, morning yoga is ideal. If it’s not, be sure to give the body a few hours for the warming effect of exercise to fade away. This is essential.

In addition to yoga, meditation is also an excellent tool for reaching mental states that promote peaceful rest. Unlike yoga, meditation may be done right before sleep and even in bed if so desired. Making a habit of meditating in a cool, dark room can make sleep come easier because it helps lower the body temperature and it also gives the mind a chance to be still and become unburdened from the concerns of the day. One of the worst things for those who suffer from sleeplessness and insomnia is the fact that their minds often use their extra waking time as an opportunity to worry about every little thing without the possibility of distraction. As if the effects of sleep deprivation itself weren’t bad enough!

Outside of the bed any type of meditation may be used, though high energy visualizations are discouraged since they are stimulating and interesting, prompting the mind to stay alert. In bed, one of the best meditations involves the Corpse Pose. Laying in the Corpse position, draw your fullest attention into each part of the body starting with the soles of the feet and working on up, observing as the tension is drawn out of each area and complete relaxation takes its place. Mindfully bringing the body into this restful state releases much of the hidden tension individuals carry around with them all day without realizing it and also serves to quiet the mind because complete attention is being turned towards the body itself. If sleep does not come after the first try then start the process all over again and see. Falling asleep in the middle of this meditation is exactly the result we want and that’s the benefit of performing it in the bed rather than somewhere else.

If sleep doesn’t appear to be coming anytime soon, it’s important to leave the bed in favor of meditating or doing something else until the welcome heaviness of sleep comes again. Becoming accustomed to laying in bed awake rather than asleep is a bad connection for the mind to make. Beds are for sleeping, not tossing, turning, fretting or worrying.

It may take a week or two for yoga and meditation to have a strong impact on the level and quality of your sleep but the payoff more than justifies the effort in making these two things a habit. Both the yoga sessions and the meditation time need not be extremely long; only 20 minutes for each is more than sufficient as long as it’s done on a daily basis. By using your body and quieting your mind with yoga and meditation, you have the ability to promote restful sleep naturally.

© Copyright 2011 – Aura Wellness Center – Publications Division

To see our selection of Online Yoga teacher training courses, please visit the following link.

http://www.aurawellnesscenter.com/store/

FREE Yoga Report. FREE Yoga Newsletter. FREE Yoga Videos. Free Podcasts. Bonus: Free Yoga e-Book, “Yoga in Practice.”

FREE CONTENT: If you are a Yoga Teacher, Yoga studio, blogger, e-zine, or website publisher, and are in need of quality content, please feel free to use my blog entries (articles). Please be sure to reprint each article, as is, including the resource box above. Namaste!

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Cultivating Thankfulness With Yoga Meditation

Friday, October 28th, 2011

become a yoga teacherBy Bhavan Kumar

When we start Yoga practice, we are taught that meditation is the ultimate Yogic experience.  When we are young, it is hard to see beyond the benefits of asana, but as the years go by we find an appreciation for the finer things in life.  With self-realization we transform gradually toward wisdom and inner happiness.  One way to appreciate life is gratitude for the chance we have to live it.

Many of us go through periods of time where we feel like there is nothing to be thankful for. This is a normal part of the human experience and feelings of guilt over it are not helpful in the long run. Instead of feeling bad over a lack of thankfulness, why not practice the art of cultivating a thankful spirit on a daily basis? Thankfulness is intrinsically linked with happiness and joy, making it a very worthwhile thing to pursue.

First, let’s talk about what thankfulness is not. Thankfulness is not something outside of ourselves and it is not dependent on an external factors. Thankfulness is not a destination in the distant future; thankfulness is here and now. Often we get into the mindset that if we accomplish this or that we will be truly happy and thankful. The problem with postponing thankfulness and gratitude is that there will always be another goal, destination or event. If we decide that we will be thankful when we reach the destination, we miss out on the joy of the journey itself, along with all the beautiful experiences it is willing to give.

Individuals forget how to be thankful upon reaching adulthood. This state of inherent gratitude is why kids Yoga classes are catching on everywhere. When we are children, everything is something to be thankful for. A sweet candy treat, the joy of blowing bubbles in the afternoon sun, the softness of a kitten’s fur, all of these things are worth being thankful for. Young children dwell in a perpetual state of thankfulness because they are so intensely aware of the present moment. Children are so new to the world that they can’t help but give their full attention to every little thing; this is how they learn and develop the skills necessary to function as adults. When children develop their own ego, the wonder of life begins to fade and a loss of innocence is the result. They turn their attention from the here and now and start putting their focus on other things like social status, future goals or memories of the past. That’s when the inherent thankfulness for all that is disappears.

In essence, thankfulness comes from noticing things to be thankful for. If we are in a constantly distracted state, is it any wonder that we start having a hard time remembering what we’re thankful for? Thankfulness is the direct result of maintaining a constant dialog between yourself and the present moment.

Simply meditating on a daily basis cultivates thankfulness automatically because it awakens an individual to the present moment which is the source of all good things. Any meditation style is effective, though mindfulness meditation is particularly suited to drawing one’s attention to the little things worthy of gratitude.

Finding thankfulness is made simple through meditation but the key to success is consistency. In Yoga, we are taught that meditation must be done every day if an individual wishes to maintain a thankful state on a daily basis. The sessions need not be long; the goal is to simply get in touch with the present moment each and every day. This will profoundly transform your life, making thankfulness the default state of being. No longer think about thankfulness; be the thankfulness and feel the thankfulness. It’s a beautiful thing.

Conclusion

A steady routine of yoga practice will instill feelings of self-confidence and enhance one’s self image. Learning to appreciate ourselves as we are is a yogic life skill, which brings about states of happiness and contentment.

© Copyright 2011 – Aura Wellness Center – Publications Division

To see our selection of Online Yoga teacher training courses, please visit the following link.

http://www.aurawellnesscenter.com/store/

FREE Yoga Report. FREE Yoga Newsletter. FREE Yoga Videos. Free Podcasts. Bonus: Free Yoga e-Book, “Yoga in Practice.”

FREE CONTENT: If you are a Yoga Teacher, Yoga studio, blogger, e-zine, or website publisher, and are in need of quality content, please feel free to use my blog entries (articles). Please be sure to reprint each article, as is, including the resource box above. Namaste!

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Yoga Meditation for Cancer Recovery

Saturday, September 17th, 2011

become a yoga teacherBy Kimaya Singh

Yoga meditation techniques are a wonderful way to complement and support your cancer recovery process. There are a variety of Yoga meditations that will help you to keep your spirits high as you work to re-establish your physical health. Yogic breathing exercises will also support you in combating stress and anxiety during your treatment and recovery process.

Many doctors are now aware that treating the anxiety and stress that often comes with the diagnosis of a serious illness, like cancer, is of critical importance to the healing process. Frequently, cancer patients will fight admirably on the physical level, but they may become emotionally depressed during the treatment and recovery process.

It has been clinically proven that depression weakens the body’s ability to fight cancer. When your anxiety and stress levels are high, you also have higher levels of cortisol, which suppresses the functioning of your immune system. Additionally, high levels of cortisol are related to an increased incidence, severity and duration of depression.

Before meditating, it is very helpful to practice some simple breathing exercises to calm you nervous system. The most basic breathing exercise is to breathe in slowly for a count of five, hold for a count of five and exhale completely for a count of five. Repeat this breath cycle for five to ten rounds. The Sudarshan Kriya is a more active breathing technique that will help to dispel negativity and calm your mind. More information is available online or in a good Yoga manual.

After you have completed five to ten minutes of breathing exercises, you are ready to meditate. You may want to sit in silence and repeat a mantra or sacred word silently to yourself. Sit and practice your mantra for as long as you are comfortable. If you are very fatigued, you can also meditate lying down on your bed with a blanket covering you. You may want to have an eye bag to help you relax and a bolster under your knees. This is your time for rest, relaxation and a bit of pampering.

Positive affirmations and/or visualizations are another wonderful way to focus on your healing process. You may want to spend a few minutes visualizing yourself surrounded and permeated by a protective white light. You may also like to spend some time visualizing yourself as healthy and whole. Not that you will be healthy, but that you ARE healthy. Hold this image in your mind for ten minutes or so.

Another healing visualization is to focus on the area in your body where the cancer is located and surround it with cool, blue light. This will help to ease the agitation and inflammation in that area. After your visualizations, spend at least five minutes resting in silent meditation. These practices will have a beneficial emotional and physical effect on your sense of well-being and will, in turn, boost your spirit and your immune system.

© Copyright 2011 – Aura Wellness Center – Publications Division

To see our selection of Online Yoga teacher training courses, please visit the following link.

http://www.aurawellnesscenter.com/store/

FREE Yoga Report. FREE Yoga Newsletter. FREE Yoga Videos. Free Podcasts. Bonus: Free Yoga e-Book, “Yoga in Practice.”

FREE CONTENT: If you are a Yoga Teacher, Yoga studio, blogger, e-zine, or website publisher, and are in need of quality content, please feel free to use my blog entries (articles). Please be sure to reprint each article, as is, including the resource box above. Namaste!

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Yoga Meditation to Rid Self-Criticism

Wednesday, September 14th, 2011

become a yoga teacherBy Dr. Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500

Yoga is a science of balanced, mental and physical living. Self-love and self-criticism are polar opposites, but most people are quick to punish themselves when they make mistakes. It seems that many of us are looking too deeply into our own flaws.

While it is true that none of us is perfect, it will not be helpful to one’s self-esteem to constantly be reminded of this fact. Looking at one’s self can invite merciless self-criticism. We may be able to tell a friend to stop criticizing us, but the mind can chatter while you sleep or at any time of the day. How can Yoga meditation help us train our minds to stop finding faults within us?

The Yogic Solution to Self- Criticism

Swami Kripalu, a 20th century spiritual teacher and well known Yoga Guru, once said, “The highest form of spiritual practice is self-observation without self-criticism.” Few disciplines encourage practitioners to examine themselves, inwardly and outwardly, like the ancient art of meditation. The eternal question of “Who am I?” leads to self-observation, but the process of truly accepting oneself is far more difficult.

Wise decisions require critical thinking skills, and awareness calls for objectivity and clarity. Unrealistic expectations and perfectionism, however, block creativity, destroy self-esteem, and result in anger and frustration. Trying to live up to other people’s standards, judging success by external rewards, and demanding flawless performance set the scene for destructive self-talk.

Yogic Prevention

While the goal of Yogic meditation is the creation of harmony between the internal and external mind, sometimes, a few practical solutions are able to stop the critical inner voice before it gets out of control. First, though, it is vital to recognize the process in its early stages. Warning signs may be a lump in the throat, tense muscles, clenched teeth, or other physical and emotional signals. Meditation is the tool that makes it possible to witness and alter these unhealthy patterns of thinking.

Six Ways to Stop Self-Criticism in Its Early Stages 

1. Listen to the automatic tapes playing in your head. If your mind is full of negative thoughts, stop and ask yourself if they are true. Awareness is the first step in making changes.

2. When you catch yourself listening to critical thoughts, replace the false statements with positive ones.

3. Do Yoga poses (asana) to release pent-up energy and clear your mind.

5. Practice controlled breathing techniques (pranayama).

6. Write about your feelings. Studies have shown that students, who have performance anxiety, do better on tests when they write about their anxiety beforehand.

A regular Yoga meditation practice increases sensitivity to emotional and physical sensations, making it easier to stop the cycle of self-criticism, before the body responds with symptoms like the release of adrenaline or an increase in blood pressure. The key to success is becoming familiar with the negative thoughts and realizing that they are just that – thoughts.

© Copyright 2011 – Aura Wellness Center – Publications Division

To see our selection of Online Yoga teacher training courses, please visit the following link.

http://www.aurawellnesscenter.com/store/

FREE Yoga Report. FREE Yoga Newsletter. FREE Yoga Videos. Free Podcasts. Bonus: Free Yoga e-Book, “Yoga in Practice.”

FREE CONTENT: If you are a Yoga Teacher, Yoga studio, blogger, e-zine, or website publisher, and are in need of quality content, please feel free to use my blog entries (articles). Please be sure to reprint each article, as is, including the resource box above. Namaste!

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Yoga and Meditation for Relationships

Sunday, September 11th, 2011

yoga certificationBy Dr. Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500

Yoga and meditation classes create lofty expectations. Yet, upon leaving a Yoga class, we are faced with the reality of life. When students are present for Yoga practice, it is a wonderful experience. However, the challenge of real life can be found outside the Yoga studio or ashram. One of the many challenges people face is managing relationships.

For some of us, there are times when relationships appear to bring more sorrow than joy; and often, that is what drives people to decide that they are simply not worth the trouble. This leads to anti-social habits for self-protection. Seclusion is not a reasonable long term answer. The answer is to take difficult relationships and make them a learning experience. Why not turn problems, with other individuals, into a constant meditative practice?

Avoiding the Urge to Control Others

It is a fact that the only person one can truly control is himself or herself. Attempts to mold, shape, and modify the thinking of others, usually results in frustration. While some people do successfully control others, it is rare to see it last for long. Additionally, the desire to control others is usually rooted in selfishness. Ironically, our deepest states of happiness, inner peace, and freedom can only be experienced if we are free from attachment, controlling, and clinging.

Finding the Observer Within

As issues, disagreements, and irritations arise – take care to observe your mind patterns. Do not judge what you see; just watch and allow these thoughts or feelings to be. By observing the mind, while in the midst of an argument or disagreement, one may gain valuable insight into underlying mind patterns, which are usually hidden from view. It is a major challenge to observe, while you are “under fire.”

The simple act of observing the mind, during an argument, will promote a shift within the tone of the situation, because it prevents you from becoming identified with the thoughts and emotions of the ego. By keeping your sense of distance from internal feelings, such as indignation, irritation, and frustration, you may observe them, without becoming lost in them. This present moment awareness leads to a calmness and clarity that was not there before; and this shifts the situation dramatically.

Yogic Meditation Solutions for Conflicts and Healing Relationships

A conflict means nothing, if we cannot learn from it. You must remove anger and frustration first. As soon as it is possible, try sitting in a quiet place, and practice your favorite meditation method. Once inner stillness and calm is reached, bring back to mind the observations you made during the conflict with the other individual. Chances are good that this remembrance will bring back to memory all of the same mind patterns.

Now is the time to explore them in depth. Go deeply into the conflict, without emotion, and observe it fully; yet, continue to remind yourself that you are observing the emotions and thoughts. Do not identify with them.

This is one of the best ways to become aware of that which is hidden within you. Perhaps, deep down inside, you really do harbor resentment towards the individual; or perhaps, you really do hold them in disdain for thoughtlessness in their conduct. There is nothing wrong with these thoughts and feelings, but it is essential to become aware of them. Awareness of hidden negative emotions, and thought patterns, gradually leads to the removal of negativity and stress. In this way, all relationships become an opportunity for self-discovery and a deep consciousness of everyday life.

Unfortunately, all relationships will not be repaired by meditating on them. Sometimes, people really are selfish, deceitful, or ego driven – enough to justify putting an end to that relationship. Ending a relationship, based on a rational decision, which rises up from a higher state of consciousness (with no judgment or resentment) is much better than a relationship ended in anger, and without thought.

Conclusion

If you continually practice being conscious and aware of how your ego reacts to others, the quality of all your relationships will eventually increase. You will be surrounded by a higher quality of character. This may be due to a change in yourself or a change in the type of people that are drawn to you. Either way, better relationships are attainable through making them a part of your Yoga meditation practice.

© Copyright 2011 – Aura Wellness Center – Publications Division

To see our selection of Online Yoga teacher training courses, please visit the following link.

http://www.aurawellnesscenter.com/store/

FREE Yoga Report. FREE Yoga Newsletter. FREE Yoga Videos. Free Podcasts. Bonus: Free Yoga e-Book, “Yoga in Practice.”

FREE CONTENT: If you are a Yoga Teacher, Yoga studio, blogger, e-zine, or website publisher, and are in need of quality content, please feel free to use my blog entries (articles). Please be sure to reprint each article, as is, including the resource box above. Namaste!

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Posted in yoga and meditation | 3 Comments »

Yoga Meditation for Creating States of Happiness

Wednesday, September 7th, 2011

yoga teacher trainingBy Amruta Kulkarni 

Actually, I never thought about how much time I wasted being unhappy, until I received guidance from my Guru (Paulji). For most people, there is limited awareness of negative feelings. People carry baggage around for years and never notice it. Friends tire of hearing our pessimism and they stop calling or visiting. Happiness can fill your life completely. Below is one of my favorite happiness quotes.

“As human beings, we all want to be happy and free from misery… The greatest obstacles to inner peace are disturbing emotions, such as anger, attachment, fear and suspicion, while love and compassion and a sense of universal responsibility are the sources of peace and happiness.” – The Dalai Lama 

The question of how to be happy in a perilous world is an ancient one. In a 2010 speech at the Hindustan Times Leadership Summit, the Dalai Lama said that a “calm mind is the key to happiness.” Based on his teachings, there are two kinds of suffering in the world: physical pain and mental pain.

While the occurrence of mental pain has decreased with technology, modern life has actually produced more mental pain. Mental pain is caused by fear, anxiety, and anger; this is what creates unhappiness.

Dr. Richard Davidson, a neuroscientist at the University of Minnesota, has worked with the Dalai Lama for the past 10 years – seeking the answer to what creates feelings of happiness and compassion. In 2010, their efforts resulted in the Center for Investigating Healthy Minds. There, more than a dozen scientists continue their studies in the world’s only facility that houses a brain imaging laboratory on one side and a meditation center on the other.

In 2003, studies done at MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology), used MRIs to analyze during compassion meditation the brain of a monk with over 30 years of experience. The images showed extreme activity in the left prefrontal cortex of the monk’s mind. People who are anxious or depressed usually show more activity in the right prefrontal cortex.

In the “Heart and Science of Yoga,” the author says that we are citizens of two separate worlds: the spiritual and the physical. Sages of all religions have reminded us that earthly things will pass away; only pure consciousness remains. Meditation helps us to distinguish between the two, putting our love and compassion into those things that are eternal.

Yoga meditation is part of every class and it is the process that integrates the mind and the body. The meditative process results in calmness, heightened senses, and senses of understanding about who were are, and how we are connected to the universe. With that comes happiness.

© Copyright 2011 – Aura Wellness Center – Publications Division

To see our selection of Online Yoga teacher training courses, please visit the following link.

http://www.aurawellnesscenter.com/store/

FREE Yoga Report. FREE Yoga Newsletter. FREE Yoga Videos. Free Podcasts. Bonus: Free Yoga e-Book, “Yoga in Practice.”

FREE CONTENT: If you are a Yoga Teacher, Yoga studio, blogger, e-zine, or website publisher, and are in need of quality content, please feel free to use my blog entries (articles). Please be sure to reprint each article, as is, including the resource box above. Namaste!

 

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Posted in Meditation, yoga and meditation, Yogic Meditation | 1 Comment »

Are There Any Risks In Chakra Meditation?

Tuesday, September 6th, 2011

yoga certificationBy Faye Martins 

Should one take precautions when practicing chakra meditation? This form of meditation is often taught in Yoga and Reiki sessions. Chakra meditation focuses on the seven major chakras, starting at the root and working up toward the crown. Similar to Kundalini Yoga, this type of meditation can produce powerful channels of energy that run up the spine, energizing chakras along the way. While meditating on the chakras can create feelings of bliss and awareness, there is some controversy over its safety in certain situations.

Contraindications for Chakra Meditation

When done gradually with proper guidance, chakra meditation is generally considered to be safe. However, anyone who has the following conditions should avoid this type of meditation, unless they are closely supervised by an experienced meditation teacher.

• epileptic seizures

• mental or emotional conditions

• heart disease and other serious physical illnesses

• conditions requiring medication

Possible Effects of Chakra Meditation 

Chakra meditation produces physiological and psychological changes in the mind, body, and spirit. When done incorrectly or without proper guidance from a competent meditation or yoga teacher, unexpected side effects, such as the following sensations, can possibly occur.

• shivers along the spine

• feelings of electricity running through the body

• spontaneous motor movements

• nausea or headaches

• changes in breathing patterns

• laughing or crying unexpectedly

• audio or visual hallucinations

• anxiety, disorientation, or depression

• reactions to suppressed memories

• out-of-body experiences

• altered sleep patterns

• increased psychic ability

In spite of possible discomfort in cases where techniques are used to force the chakras to open too quickly, the many benefits of chakra meditation are undisputed. Opening the chakras provides an opportunity to get in touch with the deep energy hidden within the body, often creating mystical experiences and feelings of oneness with the world.

Some meditation experts believe that bad meditation experiences are more likely to occur when the person doing the meditating is under a lot of stress, has long-term problems or suppressed memories from the past, or is undertaking the process without support and assistance from a well-trained guide. Fear of chakra meditation or negative expectations may also contribute to bad experiences. Anyone going through these symptoms should consult a knowledgeable therapist or health professional familiar with these issues.

When chakra meditation is correctly used to clear blockages in the body’s energy fields, it can help to prevent illness, improve mental and emotional stability, and open the soul to a higher level of consciousness.

© Copyright 2011 – Aura Wellness Center – Publications Division

To see our selection of Online Yoga teacher training courses, please visit the following link.

http://www.aurawellnesscenter.com/store/

FREE Yoga Report. FREE Yoga Newsletter. FREE Yoga Videos. Free Podcasts. Bonus: Free Yoga e-Book, “Yoga in Practice.”

FREE CONTENT: If you are a Yoga Teacher, Yoga studio, blogger, e-zine, or website publisher, and are in need of quality content, please feel free to use my blog entries (articles). Please be sure to reprint each article, as is, including the resource box above. Namaste!

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Posted in Meditation, yoga and meditation | 2 Comments »

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