yoga certificationBy Dr. Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500

Meditation is a wonderful practice, but many people wonder when is the best time for a practice session. The answer will vary, depending on the individual and the amount of time one has been meditating. Some Yoga teachers are very specific about the optimum time for meditation, but some of us have very strict work schedules. Not everyone can schedule an early morning or late evening session at their local yoga school.

Morning Meditation for Early Risers

Morning, especially early morning, is usually believed by many Yoga instructors to be the best time for meditation, for several different reasons. The first reason is because of atmosphere; the world is still sleepy and quiet in the early morning hours for the most part, depending on where one lives, and this lends itself to a more meditative state automatically. Another reason is because one has, hopefully, just awakened from a good night’s sleep and sleep states such as Yoga nidra have a special symbiotic relationship with meditation. One carries the momentum of a restful sleep and meditates – building on the foundation laid during the night, calming the mind and becoming mindful. This state of being present within the moment is then carried throughout the rest of the day.

Exceptions to Morning Sessions

There are exceptions to every rule, and it is important not to become attached to a certain time of day. There is no magic time for meditation. The time to meditate is when it is best for you. For example, someone working the third shift should not feel obligated to meditate at six a.m., just because others have good results meditating at that time. For that person, they may do better to meditate in the evening, just before they head off to work.

Night Sessions for Late Risers or Second Shift Workers

An alternative time to meditate is before going to bed in the evening or late at night. For some Yoga students, this could be their primary meditation time; for others, this would be their secondary time. Attaining a calmer state, through meditation before bed, can lead to some of the best sleep one has experienced in their entire life. One of the primary causes of sleepless nights is the mind’s inability to cease its thinking long enough for one to drift off to sleep. Bringing stillness to the mind, through meditation, eliminates this problem.

Brief Sessions

In addition to a scheduled session, it is also helpful to try mini-meditation sessions throughout the day. These meditations need not be long; even a few minutes will do. When an individual has already trained his or her mind to be still through normal meditation sessions, it takes relatively little time to achieve that state throughout the day.

Just as the muscles in the physical body have a memory, so does one’s inner space. For those who only meditate for a few minutes, it must be remembered: An individual cannot realistically hope to reach deep states of meditation and reap all of the rewards of the practice during short sessions. An individual, who regularly meditates for one session a day of 20 to 30 minutes, will additionally benefit from relatively small blocks of stillness and mindfulness – interspersed throughout their entire day.

© Copyright 2011 – Aura Wellness Center – Publications Division

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

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© Copyright 2011 – Aura Wellness Center – Publications Division

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

https://www.aurawellnesscenter.com/store/

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