A View On Yoga and Meditation for a better living
Yoga and Meditation are among a few proven practices that can help many people to have a more peaceful and content life. I am grateful to live in a tranquil place, but I can sense the energy difference when I get near a city and imagine how stressful life is there.
We are drifting more and more away from our true nature in our stressful times.
Many people spend more time in front of the TV or computer than in nature or with themselves.
There are more health issues, and we often hear about depression.
Unfortunately, most people are not aware of how to access their inner peace or do not take the time to do so. It results in mental stresses such as anxiety, dissatisfaction, restlessness, nervousness, and various physical problems and diseases.
Most physical diseases have their roots in the spiritual and mental arena.
I have been writing about being more mindful, and many agreed that it is a good practice. But who is really doing it or takes time for serenity regularly?
What are Yoga and Meditation Really?
Meditation and Yoga are tools to achieve inner peace, balance, and happiness, which help increase our awareness. Yoga is not only about headstands and strange postures, as many think. It can be started by everyone easily, and Meditation alone can make a big difference and bring more calmness to life.
The basic idea of Yoga is to unite the body, mind, and soul together through Meditation, concentration, breathing, and movement. Both technics are a way to connect and find the inner dimension of oneself.
Yoga is a science unaffiliated with religion. Yoga is not just exercise, but a ladder to the divine.-Sadhguru
We focus today more on the body as the center, while the original Yoga teachings are concerned with understanding how our mind works and what we can do to be calm, collected, and peaceful.
The ideal is both aspects, the movements in Yoga Karana or vinyasa (or flow) called – and posture – asana – which is firm but relaxed, makes the body more flexible and more powerful and at the same time calms the mind.
Yoga and Meditation are to rest coming from continuously changing mental patterns.
We can rest in ourselves, have no fears and worries, do not have to judge or think about right and wrong.
If the lake of my mind is quiet and I can see down to the bottom, then I can enter into a silence that is my real, immortal, and blissful nature.
But how can we achieve this goal now?
In my opinion, through mindfulness and awareness.
And not just during yoga practice but also throughout daily life.
For example, you are checking once you brush your teeth or eat! Where are your thoughts, your focus?
Give each activity, and no matter how banal, your undivided attention, and you will find yourself already on the path of Yoga.
You wonder now, perhaps, if that’s so simple, why are there yoga postures, breathing exercises, and meditations?
Since our mind is easily distracted by various thoughts or dwindling attention, we need to use the tool of Yoga: physical exercises. Exercises like: – asanas, Breathing exercises – pranayama, Gestures – mudras, and Meditation, to name just a few. It allows us to influence the body over the mental plane; we can realize the fusion of body-mind-spirit on the path of Yoga.
Yoga promotes physical, mental, and spiritual well-being!
Through specific postures and breathing techniques, Yoga provides serenity, new energy, and vitality – factors that open the heart ( in Yoga, the seat of the soul ) to feel truly alive.
Although there are many styles of Yoga, Hatha Yoga is the most widespread in the Western world.
The focus is more on the physical aspect: While we breathe and relax, specific postures help to stretch us to bend, to bring into balance and focus. These positions strengthen the entire body, increase mobility, promote balance, and support circulation.
Read here about Hatha Yoga.
Learn an easy 3 minute Yoga practice.
In addition to the physical benefits, Yoga also promotes a conscious, concentrated mind. With enough practice, you will recognize your strengths and weaknesses and feel relaxed or tense. Also, we will be aware of your feelings, needs, and wishes. This awareness will help you accept things better and develop a clear, strong mind, ready for all the world’s challenges!
The Sanskrit word ‘Yoga.’
The Sanskrit word ‘Yoga’ derives from the verbal root -yuj, which means ‘connect’ and ‘yoking.’ Yoga translated directly means “to unite.” And this refers to the Unity between body, mind, and the indwelling itself or Sanskrit: ‘Atman.’
The conscious experience of this unit is called Yoga or self-realization.
The famous commentator of classical Yoga – Patanjali Rishi, who has lived more than 2,000 years ago in India, Rishi Patanjali describes that Yoga is an inner state. A state of absolute harmony and peace, the source of any more profound joy and fundamental trust.
Yoga and Meditation show through the different practices how you come to this inner peace, which is the prerequisite for any lasting success in life.
Yoga has nothing to do with religion.
Although Yoga as a philosophical system has its roots in yogic science called Sanatana Dharma,
Yoga has nothing to do with religion.
The status of Unity is consciously or unconsciously present in every human being, regardless of whether he belongs to a religious community or not.
Yoga teaches universality, which stands above all religions and does not interfere. Yoga is open and tolerant and rejects fanaticism. Fanaticism is the true enemy of the people.
Just as we can see to the bottom of a lake when its water is still, when we quiet the mind, we see the situations that arise in our lives with greater clarity and can make wiser choices.
As soon as the waves have stopped and the lake has become quiet, we see its bottom. So with the mind, we know what our nature is when it is calm.
Read also Discovering The Inner Self – The Indian Way To Know Your True Self Fully.
Zen12 is a meditation program that uses unique “brainwave entrainment” sounds to make it easier to start meditation.
Download your FREE Zen12 – try a simple 12-minute program
Do you take time for serenity?
Please leave a comment.
Thank you
Download the free e-book with thoughts, views, and a beginner’s guide to The Journey Within.
Hi Erika:
It is my first time here on your blog after meeting you at Enstine Muki. It’s so amazing that the very first post I read is this one with such a detailed explanation about yoga and the many benefits it has once we engage in it. My impression of yaga prior to this was that it is just another form of exercise but I see the connection once combined with meditation how it can bring such awesome results in areas of peace, joy, happiness, relaxation etc.
Thanks for providing the free guide as well so that newbies to yoga can have a start at it. Overall the post is very informative and helpful. Thank you for sharing it. Have a great weekend.
Cheers!
Yvonne
Yvonne I. Wilson recently posted…67 Timeless Positive Affirmations to Ignite Your Power
Hi Yvonne,
nice to have you here. I am glad you found
another view of yoga and meditation. It is
not just an exercise and it can be started
easily.Most we see only the pictures with
complicated posture, but it does not have
to be like this.The main reason is to gain
self-awareness and inner peace, which is very
much needed in our time.It can be started with
very slow and easy movement, with the focus on
the breath and slowly the body will be more flexible
and able to stretch more. The free guide is guided
meditations ,which can be a start and I am sure will
benefit whoever try’s it.
Thank you, glad you liked the post
Happy Weekend
Erika
Hi Erika Mohssen-Beyk Iam from PAC..Meditation not only gives peace but also good health and by practicing yoga we can get rid of so many diseases and body pain. Nice lines from post Meditation and yoga are tools to achieve inner peace, balance, and happiness, tools which
help to increase our self-awareness…Thanks for sharing
sazia kazia recently posted…Hypoglycaemia (low blood sugar)-Diabetes Short term Complications and their Natural Treatment
Hi Sazia ,
I know you are from PAC 🙂
thank you for visiting,
you are right meditation and yoga is a gift to the world
from your tradition and it would be a help for many stressed
people to practice and get more calm .
Thank you
Erika
Hello Erika
Very interesting post. I don’t know very much about Yoga. Other than the stretching exercises and some poses.
I did like what you wrote ” If the lake of my mind is quiet and I can see down to the bottom, then I can enter
into a silence that is my real, immortal and blissful nature.” That is very deep. I may just have a look at more
on Yoga because of your post today.
Thank you my friend.
Kathryn Maclean recently posted…Social Media
Hi Kathryn,
I am happy you liked the post and I encourage you to look
for meditation or yoga,it is a good way to really stay healthy
and have serenity.
Thank you
Erika
Hi Erika,
What a wonderful write up about Yoga. Many people think it is just an exercise, but it is so much more. You really did a great job explaining it. I even had my mom reading it because she is a newbie with Yoga…doing it for a year now. She is 84 and more calm now that I ever seen her.
She lives with us and now has changed her behavior, her life and her spirit.
Thanks so much,
-Donna
Donna Merrill recently posted…Does Story Telling Work On Your Blog?
Hi Donna,
great to hear about your mother, is it not amazing that she is good to do this?
I teach exercise two times a week, one of it is meditative exercise, with deep
breathing and components from yoga and pilates and with a special music, my oldest
is getting 82 in January.She is from begin with me and is doing great.Sometimes even
her grandkids come and are not as flexible than she is.They all love it and never miss
a day. It is amazing how they changed as well over time.
A prove it works and keeps healthy.
Thank you for visiting
Erika
Hi Erika,
That was an interesting post and like everyone has shared, I thought yoga was mostly about exercising although I was aware that it helped people become more centered.
All I really do is walk, I keep saying I need to do more and I know that I do but I just don’t enjoy it. Not in the least. I do meditate but not in the sense most people would think of meditation. I know it to be anytime you quiet the mind which I do several times a day actually.
The funny thing about this post is that you mentioned a lot of issues that people have today such as always the computer or watching TV or having health issues that can make them maybe a little crazy at times. I’m online all day long, it’s what I do and I do watch some TV at night to help me unwind. I never watch the news and I don’t listen to anything negative really because there isn’t anything I can do about it so why fret over it. I also live in the heart of the city yet I’m not stressed at all. I’m very happy with my life, where I am, how I’m living it, I’m healthy and life is just great.
Interesting post though and I did learn some things so thanks for that.
Have a really wonderful week.
~Adrienne
Adrienne recently posted…Not Sure This Whole Blogging Thing Will Work Out For You?
Hi Adrienne,
Nice to see you here.
It seems you are not of those people who are stressed out.
Being online is not as stressful. What about people who have to go to work,
get stuck in traffic on the way and….? there are many like this.
It is great that you can meditate, it is right it does not have to be
in a sitting position for hours. Meditation has many forms and even can be
like dancing, I will write about next. The main thing is,to learn how to stop
mind chatter and being able to go inside and being balanced. Yoga too has many forms and is not
only an exercise, but it is for health and flexibility as well. It is a way of
living and an ancient concept to connect body mind ans soul.
Walking too is a good way to meditate, I used to do one hour walk every day,
in the rhythm of the heart and the breath, it is a way to learn to be in harmony and serenity.
If you are happy and healthy, you found a way to keep yourself in balance.
This is very good. Many are not able to do this and this causes all kind of health issues.
The most cause of illness today is stress and unsolved emotional problems.
But this would be another subject to write about.
I am happy,you feel healthy and love your life.
I am glad the post was interesting for you.
Thank you for visiting 🙂
Erika
Hi Erika,
You provided very helpful info about yoga and meditation and it will surely help many people looking for inner peace. I will be sharing it with my friends:)
Thanks,
Subha Sadiq
Subha recently posted…5 Ultimate Strategies To Sell Products On Facebook
Hi Subha,
I am glad to see you here and that you liked
my post. Thank you for sharing 🙂
and your visit
Erika
I know it would be beneficial, however how do you quiet your mind in order to get the full benefits? That is what I have issues with.
Miriam Slozberg recently posted…Stereotyping People with Depression and Mental Illness
Hi Miriam,
nice to see you here.
I know most people have this problem,maybe because we think it
is something which has to works fast. at the begin it is not
that easy. The best is to focus on your breath and let thoughts if they come
go,do not hold them,let them go.it takes a bit practise. To Imagine is good as well
to get out of the usual thought, think of something nice,like being on a beach, for example,
enjoying to be there.All is good which brings you out of your usual mind chatter.
Over time it will be easier to stop this.
I hope this helps.
Thank you
Erika
this
Oh, Erika! How timely is this post!
I remember my Mother doing Yoga. Her reason though was for the physical benefits. Just last night I watched, “Awake: The Life of Yogananda” on Netflix. I learned so much about Paramahansa Yogananda, Kriya Yoga, and the way the West views these philosophies. It was amazing!
I am just now looking into the true Yoga practice, to learn how to breathe, meditate, and enjoy all of the benefits spiritually and physically. Depending on one’s early training, you may or may not be comfortable with meditation. I have always been one to contemplate, ponder, and focus on teachings to come to my own understanding. One of the things taught by Yogananda is:
“… fixing the whole attention at the point between the eyebrows. This is the Christ Consciousness center, the seat of the single eye spoken of by Jesus: ‘The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light (Matthew 6:22).’
When the purpose of meditation is fulfilled, the devotee finds his consciousness automatically concentrated at the spiritual eye, and he experiences, according to his inner spiritual capacity, a state of joyous divine union with Spirit.”
So for me personally, I am looking for all of the benefits as described by Yogananda: “The meditation period should last at least thirty minutes in the morning and thirty minutes at night. The longer you sit, enjoying the state of meditative calm, the faster you will progress spiritually. Carry into your daily activities the calmness you feel in meditation; that calmness will help you to bring harmony and happiness into every department of your life.” Who wouldn’t want that?
Thank you for bringing more information to my attention Erika. As always, it’s a pleasure to visit your blog.
Deborah
Deborah A. Ten Brink recently posted…Can We Enjoy Science As Art And Vice-Versa?
Hi Deborah,
Good for your Mother she did yoga,it is a practice for physical benefit as well.
It is a way of life.
Good, you did watch about Yogananda, I did read his books long time ago he was one of
the teachers who came to the west. You are right, not everybody is used to meditation,
even this too is written about in all traditions, in the bible is the talk about to go
in the inner chamber. The Christ consciousness Center is the 3th Eye Chakra, this too is
kind of translated to be understood in the western world.
To start with Meditation is right 30 minutes is good, but for the begin, less is also fine.
30 minutes can be very long if you just start and many let go of meditation because of this.
Doing it alone it can be enough to start with 10 minutes or less and increase.
After getting used to it, it will be possible to get in this state whenever needed.
It is anyways very beneficial and you are right who wouldn’t want to have happiness and harmony
in life.
Thank you for your nice comment
Erika
Hello Erika, I absolutely LOVED this post, I have been doing Yoga for years and will now add meditation to the mix. I cannot wait to get started.
Thanks for sharing
Chery :))
Chery Schmidt recently posted…Infinii “A New Era of Domination in E-Commerce”
Hi Chery,
you do good, happy to hear you do yoga,good for you, meditation is a good combination.
Thank you
Erika
Hi Erika,
We met on Enstine’s blog the other day and I decided to come over here and pay you a visit. Not to repeat what everyone else has already said, but I thought Yoga was exercise too. Now I know better. Thank you for that Erika.
I do try to sit my hot tub every night and the hydrotherapy does wonders in terms of relaxation and quality of sleep. I do need to do more to calm the inner turmoil if you will of all the stresses I face each and every day. I actually said to my wife last night that I am going to start meditating TODAY. Reading this post gives me more reason to do so.
Thank you for sharing Erika.
Kurt
Kurt Kummerer recently posted…Blog Color Schemes: Their Impact Discussed [With Infographic]
Hi Kurt,
thanks for the visit,I know most people think yoga is only an exercise.
But it is also a spiritual a way of life.
A hot tub is a good thing ,we have one too but we use it only in winter if the temperature
is at least below -5C. This is also a good place to meditate Sitting relaxed and let the thought
go without holding one 🙂 Our hot tub is outside and I like to look at the stars ot clouds and let
thought drive away 🙂 You can start it TODAY 🙂
Thank you for your visit 🙂
and for sharing 🙂
Erika
Hi Erika,
I’ve been getting into meditation, but not into Yoga. Perhaps I should try it even though I’ve been told it hurts a little when starting. I’m not so sure about it hurting, but if there is a positive to come from it, I’m game to give it some real attention.
Thanks for sharing this
Barrie
Barrie Evans recently posted…Why Itâs Important To Focus On the Present.
Hi Barrie,
Meditation is good,Yoga does depend on the teacher I think,
but it does not hurt when done right 🙂
There are very easy movements ,no need to
stand on your head 🙂 We often see only this
postures which make people scared.My oldest
member is 82 and is able to do the movements.
Thank you for your visit
Erika
Hi,
Thanks for this wonderful post.I do love to practice yoga.I am practicing yoga since I am 10.It help to get refresh both mentally and physically as well.Thanks for this wonderful article.
Debarpan recently posted…Why Blogging is Good for Your Business
Hi Debarpan ,
I am glad to hear you do yoga.
Yoga is a beautiful meditation exercise
good for body mind and soul. Keep doing it.
Thank you,I am glad you liked the post
Erika
Yoga and meditation are on my to do list! This may be the motivation I needed! Thanks Erika.
Hi Annette,
I am happy you liked the post and it inspires you to start what will improve your life.
Wishing you a successful start, hopefully?
Thank you for your comment
Erika
An good article. Maybe it will help me in nearby future.
I hope it will help you. It is up to your to start and improve your life.
Thanks
Erika
Hi Erika,
Yoga and meditation is not just a way to live a healthy life but the same time it is a million dollar business these days. It is a way to stay fit and also to help others to live a healthy life. Thanks for sharing.
Impressive article. Thankyou erika for sharing this information with us. I am an engineering student, due to studies pressure i remains tensed most of the time. Please share some tips so i can handle this. And also keep visiting please BEST IITJEE PREPARATION BOOKS to get free ebooks in reference of academic engineering field and highly competitive engineering exams.
Hi Sachin,
I know it is not easy and many are in the same situation and feel under pressure.
It is often our thinking which makes it so and fear. Here are two posts that may help.
http://erikamohssen-beyk.com/better-mind/fear-schedule-fear/\
http://erikamohssen-beyk.com/erika/struggle-feeling-of-doubt-and-insecurity/
I hope this helps 🙂
Thank you for your comment
Erika
Hi Erika,
This is my first visit to your blog and I am loving it.You shared some of the best things here. I really appreciate your effort in crafting this amazing post.
Thanks and keep up the good work.
Hi Davinder,
I am glad you liked the post.
Thanks for your comment.
Will try to keep up 🙂
Hi Erika,
i loved it , you put so unique content , this is amazing and so informative blog , thanx for sharing.
Hi Ankit.
Great you loved my blog content.
May it help to create a successful life 🙂
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Hi Erika,
Really the blog have Good Stuff..
I am glad you like it 🙂
Amazing post . i really appreciate you, because you have nicely done everything about yoga and meditation for a better living
Thank you for sharing
Brandi Gates recently posted…Never Settle for Less! Buy contest votes
Hi Brandy,
thank you for appreciation, I am glad you like the post about Yoga and meditation.
Thank you for your visit and comment
Erika
Hello,
love to read your article and get so much information through your blog and learn new things. You write very well, am amazed with your blogging,Your article is helpful and interested .it provides lots of knowledge. Great Post Information For Everyone ,Thank you.
Manisha,
I am happy you like my articles and find them helpful.
Thank you for your visit and comment
Erika
Hii
your article about yoga is so impressive.
Great, you like it 🙂
Thanks
Useful Articles..! Thank you Erika
I am happy you found my articles useful.
Thank for the visit.
This is stunning and fascinating to experience this blog, truly decent introduction and it clarifies everything in detail.
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Thanks for sharing the information about the better mind view on yoga and meditation for a better living, I think your blog very helpful for lot of people.