Getting Ready For Your First Guided Meditation

Your meditation time is a rare opportunity to connect within on a very deep level, let go of stress and accumulated tension, and find peace. If you're going to take the time to do a guided meditation, it pays to make the most of it by getting set up beforehand.

Here's a checklist of things to do to optimize your experience:

Eliminate distraction. Make sure you will not be disturbed by anyone knocking on your door, ringing your phone, jumping up on your lap (that means you, Kitty Cat), or playing the drums in the next room.

Get comfortable. Ideally, you'd want to have your feet flat on the floor, so you can have the experience of being "grounded" while you're connecting inside. But if it works better for you to have your feet up, then set it up that way, and give yourself whatever support helps you to forget about your body for a while. It's probably best not to be totally horizontal, though, because you're likely to end up asleep. (Unless of course that's your goal.)

Set the volume. Whether you're using headphones (recommended if you're comfortable with them), or speakers, set up the recording and give it a test before you get started. It should be loud enough to hear the words spoken, and not much louder.

Breathing. If your meditation calls for some deep breathing, great! If not do yourself a favor and do some deep, belly-centered breathing before you begin. Slow, deep abdominal breathing helps your body relax, gets the blood flowing to your brain and nervous system, and helps open up those creative centers so your imagination can take flight.

Be rested. It's hard to get a lot out of Free Guided Meditation when you're too tired to appreciate it, or when you just fall asleep instead of hearing the narration. Do your guided meditation when you have the energy to devote to it, rather than using it as a way to nod off -- unless that's your intention.

Don't be too hungry. Haven't eaten in a few hours? Maybe it'd be a good idea to have a little pre-meditation snack, so your stomach doesn't pull your attention away from your inner journey.

Ready? Not quite. Before you begin, be conscious of what your goal is for the meditation, and set your intention to achieve it. If you're simply looking for a relaxing inner vacation, let yourself know that ahead of time. If you're working with a program to connect with an inner guide or spiritual figure, take a moment to focus all of your attention on that goal before you start. By focusing on your goal before you begin, you'll put your whole system on notice that this is what you're after. That way your body, brain, imagination, and higher consciousness can all start working together for you.

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Simple Basic Ayurveda Tips for Good Health

Most of us wish for long life, good health and happiness, right? Well, who doesn't want to live long and be with his loved ones always? Who doesn't like to have a good health, stay younger looking, and avoid illnesses? Who doesn't long for supreme happiness in life? Everyone wants and longs for these things. However, do you think you are doing the necessary steps for long life, good health and happiness? People want these things but they seldom take actions to achieve them. Say for example, you are aiming for a good health; do you follow the experts' advice? Do you avoid things that are damaging to your health and do the ones that are beneficial? Following health promoting proven Ayurveda tips are from ancient wisdom that can get you started on a path to long healthy life and happiness.

When you wake up in the morning, drink a glass of warm water. This is to clear the body system, flush out toxins that accumulated during the night and bring up the metabolism rate.

One of the most important Ayurveda tips is to know your body constitution and eat the right foods suitable for your body constitution. People have different and unique body constitution or body type and there are right foods to take for each unique body type. Foods should be your number one healer and eating the right foods according to your body type will make your health balanced.

Ayurveda tips suggest eating is ritual for producing health in the body. This does not mean eating food all the time but this means that you should be mindful of your eating. When you eat, savor every bite and every spoonful. Connect your body and Mind Body Exercise when you are enjoying your food and disconnect from the outer distractions like television or the Internet. Studies show that when you are distracted while eating, you gain more weight. Relax and enjoy the food to fully absorb its nutrients.

Eat meals at least four to five hours apart. If you can make it possible, eat one meal of the day with your friends or family. Also, after eating, the stomach should only be half full with solid food, one-fourth should contain liquid, and the other one-fourth should be empty with air.

Ayurveda tips also suggest drinking little water with your meals. It is advisable to wait for about 45 minutes before drinking water after a meal. Cold water can slow the digestion and can even cause indigestion. So do not drink iced or cold drinks before, during and after a meal.

At least once a week, do oleation or massaging your body with essential oils. Apply the oil, usually sesame oil, on the body and massage it. Leave it on for 25 minutes before taking shower. This procedure can slow down the aging of the body and supply the body with nourishment. Sesame oil which can be bought in grocery stores should be organic and cold pressed.

One of the best Ayurveda tips is exercise. Do aerobics or yoga and pursue a sport. Form a daily routine and make sure you follow it. These are the fundamental Ayurveda tips beneficial for a health body. With implementing these tips, you can surely put yourself on a path to have happy, healthy, and long life.

Thank you for your time & attention to this subject. Please read more and share with your friends the Ten Simple Ayurveda Tips for Life Long Health benefits awareness

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Basic Meditation

Free Guided Meditation

5 Meditation Tips Proven to Deepen Your Meditation

The first meditation tip is to not eat or drink anything besides water for at least an hour and a half prior to meditation. The reason for this is for one, the body will be busy digesting your food making it much harder for it to relax. Second, because meditation is awakening the subtle energy (also known as Kundalini Shakti or Chi), and for this to happen, you want to keep your physical body as light and clear as possible.

The second meditation tip is to practice a breathing technique for a few minutes just before you meditate. It can be as simply as breathing in and out as fast as you can through your nose for 100 breaths, breathing shallow breaths in and out of your chest. Or you can breathe deeply counting to four on the inhale, hold the breath while counting to 4 and exhaling counting to eight.

Purifying the breath through prana exercises like this is very important if you want to go deep in meditation and attain self realization. So using a prana-breathing technique like this can awaken you into a deep meditation very quickly. Do either of these breathing techniques above for just a few minutes and you will see that meditation pretty much naturally happens after that.

The third meditation tip is to drop all expectations about what you will get out of your meditation. Don't expect anything from your meditation.

It is important to understand that your natural state is already unconditional peace, love and freedom. It is not something you acquire; it is something you realize you are, something you awaken to. And you awaken to your natural state through relaxing into this moment to the point where you are one with it. You ease into this moment.

But if you are expecting something out of your meditation, you are separating yourself from this moment; you are actually separating yourself from the bliss and peace you are seeking in the first place. You are already putting conditions on how this moment should be and this only leads to frustration.

So take note of this meditation tip because nothing ruins meditation more than expecting that you are going to get a certain something out of it. Meditation knows what to do; it is something you have to allow to happen naturally.

The fourth Meditation Tips is to fully allow this moment to be as it is, but at the same time give your complete attention to this moment. You want to be completely at ease, but you also want to be completely attentive. Often one may associate relaxation with just letting yourself wander about in your thinking, but in meditation, there must be the focus on this moment. To allow thinking to be as it is, but to be aware of it. To remain present.

But at the same time, you do not want this focus on being present to be about controlling this moment. We don't want to control our thoughts, we don't want to control our feelings, we just want to be aware of them. We want to allow them to be completely in full hands off relaxation, but we want to be watchful of them, fully aware of this moment.

The fifth meditation tip will improve your meditation a thousand fold. And the meditation tip is to take full advantage of Kundalini Shakti.

What is Kundalini Shakti? In the terms we are using it here it means the energy vibration one naturally radiates when they have attained full enlightenment. When you sit with a fully enlightened being whose Kundalini is fully awakened, this enlightened energy called Kundalini Shakti is awakened in you, and this effortlessly awakens you into deep meditation.

Just by sitting in the presence of a fully enlightened Guru, you can experience profound states of meditation within minutes that you may not have been able to experience after sixty years of practice on your own.

Often you can instantly feel incredible states of peace, bliss and love, without having to practice any meditation technique at all. Meditation naturally happens when you sit with such an enlightened being.

Because of new breakthroughs in sound recording, you can also receive this same Kundalini Shakti by listening to a very unique CD. Just by listening to meditation music which emits Kundalini Shakti, you will experience incredible states of meditation and bliss. Without the help of Kundalini Shakti, meditation can be a very frustrating experience.

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Free Guided Meditations - And Stillness Is the Way!

Free Guided Meditations can be easy meditation techniques and a healing process!

Several days of guided meditations is what I did a few years ago when undergoing a particularly stressful time. Taking the time to actually do the meditation exercises, not just reading them and going on (as one does) to the next paragraph. Mind you, I was very motivated and really wanted to experience the feeling of relief from the pressure I was under.

One starting point of a process was to get to remain in the present by feeling one's body from the inside and staying in touch with the body's sensations and staying with this to dive deep into its stillness - which can only be done in the present!

It did work wonders as when I started I was pretty depressed but at the end of several days I felt relieved and had learned a method by actually doing it!

Of course I had to carry on practicing it, but being guided inside and getting more and more details to clarify and deepen the process, the consciousness of being that, can be conveyed just by reading or listening to a Master, was very powerful.

The main point of Free Guided Meditation is to transform the stress we're under, the turmoil of our incessant mind, into (well) being and these meditations do relieve stress and more, for certain. The process is usually of taking one into the stillness of our inner space, into our own being. These passive and relaxing methods are very adapted as exercises for seniors.

Now, what better transformation than this than when one arrives at over fifty years of age and have the relative slowed-down pace to go further in this process.

One has to invest time for the process to happen - but the motivation to relieve stress in order to enjoy peace and healing oneself is usually enough and well worth it!

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3 Levels Of Meditation

Guided Meditation

Useful Meditation Techniques to Meditate Properly

Meditation for those who are just learning about it can be quite complex particularly with the fact that it needs great focus and focus. In spite of the challenge that it may pose to newbies of meditation, still, lots of people decide to learn about it and give it a shot because the advantages that it provides may not be declined. The good thing is, techniques about how you can learn how to do it and do it properly which is by using meditation techniques.

Making use of Breathing Exercises

Breathing exercises are actually among the most effective ways to know how to meditate. This technique is actually basic that anyone can use it. Nevertheless as easy as it may seem to be, it should take an individual to place total mental concentration on his / her breathing. To get this done, you have to put your attention to your breathing while you inhale and exhale. Place your thoughts on your breathing. Try to feel and think about the air getting into the body since the good energy as well as the air that you breathe out as the negative energy leaving your body. If while carrying this out your thinking abruptly flutters around, gradually restore your concentration to your breathing.

Doing this on a regular basis can significantly aid you in mastering this kind of approach. It would help in case you could do this for five up to 10 minutes every day or whenever you feel drained and stressed out that will help you release that stress and stress accumulating inside your body. Over the years, it will be possible to notice how it feels much easier when you're able to master this technique and from there you are able to advance in meditation.

Getting help from Guided Meditation

If you feel that the breathing exercise is not nearly relaxing from you, you can always get help from a specialist you and this method can be known as guided meditation. This is usually together with music that is usually sounds of instruments or sounds of nature as well as the beat are slow and calming. It can be done with a person guiding you through your thoughts as the procedure for meditation starts. But in many instances, it understands how to handle it if you meditate.

Doing Zen Meditation

Zen Guided Meditation has been said to be the "study of the self". To do this kind of meditation techniques, it could be a smart idea to start off in a sitting position which can be termed as the Burmese position. When being seated, be sure you keep your back straight as a way to facilitate deep breathing very easily. Deep breathing isn't just a great help to having the ability to meditate effectively but it also has many benefits to present such as permitting more oxygen to enter the body and help the body re-energize and cleanse your system.

These are merely a number of the many other mindful meditation techniques out there. Don't just restrict your knowledge on meditation to these techniques because there are more that you could find out about. By doing this, it is possible to pick which one you are most comfortable with and also reap the benefits out of meditating properly.

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How to Use Guided Meditations to Battle Stress and Depression

Guided meditations are an incredible tool for anyone who meditates.

Whether you are new to meditation or have been meditating for years, you should most certainly know the power and benefits you can gain from following a guided meditation.

As you learn more techniques to bring yourself into a meditative state you will probably want to start using guided meditations. A guided meditation is an exercise that is perfect in relieving the daily stress you are facing by simply learning how to concentrate and focus long enough to get a few minutes of peaceful relaxation.

The Effects of Guided Meditations

You will feel a sense of calmness overcome you and it will make the rest of your day go smoother. Following a Guided meditation only take a few minutes and they can easily be done after you have enjoyed your lunch and before heading back into the daily grind. It is a proven method of bringing the world back into order and making you feel less stressed by the things going on around you.

Psychologists Recommend Using Guided Meditations

Guided Meditation have been so successful in helping people through stressful situations that many physicians have actually prescribed these exercises to patients who suffer from anxiety attacks and depression from being under such overwhelming stress and a sense of hopelessness. They are also extremely helpful for increasing self-awareness, self-love, and self-confidence.

Meditating makes it much easier for you to cope with the stresses that daily life may throw at you. They have proven to be so powerful that many mental health patients have been able to go off of their medications and move on to being more productive members of society in every aspect of their lives by following a guided meditation on a daily and regular basis.

There is no doubt that any style of meditation is a helpful form of treatment for the body and the mind. This is why I created The Big List of Guided Meditations, the largest list of Free Guided Meditations in audio and video format online.

When a person is dealing with their everyday mind, they are distracted by things as mundane as their pets to the more stressful aspects of their professional working career. A person cannot relax or maintain an even keel so to speak when the mind is in this much turmoil. The stress continues to build until the mind finally shuts down due to overwhelming exhaustion. A mind that is concentrated is more centered and focused but it is still dealing with the distractions of everyday life. It makes it hard for a person to be able to meditate without going back to the distractions that were plaguing them in the first place.

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How Regular Yoga Practice Benefits Children And Teens

Yoga Exercise

Top 10 Best Yoga Poses For Meditation

One of the main factors that have made yoga so incredibly popular is the flexibility of its routine. Sure, endorsements from Hollywood celebs like Madonna, Jennifer Aniston, and Miranda Kerr helped a great deal, but it's the flexibility of routine which have sustained the popularity of this ancient Indian practice. You can now do yoga positions, but when you're serious about the craft, you'd know that it's the perfect combination of different yoga poses which will really get you the optimal physical and spiritual results. Listed here are the 10 best yoga poses for ladies that will get results when utilized in right combinations.

Child's Pose

The Child's Pose is among the basic yoga poses that's easily incorporated into any routine, and it is known to open the hips as well as reducing tightness on the lower back. To complete the Child's Pose, kneel on the floor together with your knees hip-width apart and your feet together so the big toes are touching. Take a seat on your heels and bend forward, together with your torso right in between your thighs as well as your forehead touching the mat. Extend your arms too deep with your palms lying flat on the ground. Stay in this position while inhaling and out.

Moving Cat Cow

To complete the Moving Cat Cow Pose, begin all fours with your back straight, your arms vertical for your shoulders, and your knees and thighs perpendicular towards the floor. Inhale and gently lift up your head forward and toward the ceiling, developing a curve along your back and keep your shoulders down and from the ears. As you exhale, perform the reverse and pull your face inward so you are gazing at the navel and creating an upward curve lying on your back.

Spinal Flex Pose

The Spinal Flex Pose is a great way to start a yoga session due to its simplicity and to help you find a stable pace for breathing. To get this done, sit on the floor with your legs apart and folded so the soles are touching. Enable your arms relax onto your lap, or cradle feet with your hands put together. Inhale deeply, letting your chest lift forward or more. Then exhale and round shoulders, and let your chin slowly drop forward while you breathe out. Do this a couple times, gradually upping your pace and breathing.

Downward Facing Dog

The Downward Facing Dog increases blood flow and strengthens the upper body. Additionally, it works to stretch the hamstrings, calves, glutes, and also the spine. To do this pose, begin all fours with your feet and knees apart, after which lift your knees above the floor together with your legs stretched straight. Bend the knees a little if you experience an excessive amount of tension on your hamstrings. You can also walk both hands and feet further apart before you get enough length for that pose. Inhale deeply and exhale while keeping this pose.

Fierce Pose

The Fierce Pose is really a standing position that stretches the spine, and strengthens the ankles, knees, and back. To get this done pose, first stand together with your feet at a hip-width distance from one another. Then as you lift your arms together with your palms facing each other, bend the knees and squat as if lowering yourself onto a chair. Make certain your knees do not bend past your toes, and your back as straight as you possibly can, with all your weight resting on the soles of the feet. Hold this pose while you inhale and exhale.

Plank Pose

The Plank Pose is often done right after the Downward Facing Dog. It's among the simple yet effective yoga positions that can help improve upper body strength. It really works the major muscles in the arms, back, and shoulders. To complete the Plank Pose in the Downward Facing Dog, bring your chest forward so you are in a push-up position, unwanted weight supported by your arms as well as your feet. Make sure the soles of the feet are lifted up and running, and your body forms an upright line from the top of your face down to your back and legs.

Tree Pose

The Tree Pose is a great one of how yoga is as meditational because it is physical. It's one of the yoga positions which help calm the mind and create an inner center or focus, while strengthening your legs and spine and stretches the hips. To get this done pose, start with your feet apart and on the job your hips. Then bend your right knee and put the sole of your left foot from the inside of the left leg. Keep the back straight and then bring both hands together with palms touching, as with a prayer pose.

Boat Pose

The Boat Pose is a great alternative for crunches and sit-ups since it works the abs and core without risking neck strain. To get this done pose, start by sitting together with your knees bent and feet flat on the ground. Slowly lean back and discover a good balance for your weight in your sit bones, then lift up your legs with knees bent and shins parallel towards the floor. Raise your arms parallel towards the floor with palms facing and stretch your legs so that they form a straight line. Make sure to keep your back straight, making use of your core muscles to carry the load of your legs then hold that position while you breathe in and out.

Garland Pose

The Garland Yoga And Meditation Pose works well in stretching the lower back and hips, and strengthening the ankles. Carrying this out position also helps relieve constipation and menstrual cramps. To complete the Garland Pose, stand together with your feet wide apart, toes slightly turned outward, and produce your hands together in a prayer pose. Enable your elbows press on the insides of the knees to open up the hips. Keep the back straight and hold this squatting position not less than minute as you inhale and exhale.

Half Lord From the Fishes

Doing the Half Lord from the Fishes pose is effective in strengthening your spine, increasing blood circulation, improving digestion, and stretching the rear, neck, hips, and shoulders. It's additionally a good way of relieving tension around the lower back. To do this pose, take a seat on the floor with your left leg outstretched as well as your right knee pointing for the ceiling and your right foot planted firmly on the ground on the outside of your left thigh. Then put your right hand on the floor behind your right hip and keep your back straight, and raise your left arm towards the ceiling. Inhale while holding it. As you exhale, bend your left arm, palm facing the wall, and put the elbow on the outside of your right knee.

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Benefits Of Meditation

Guided Meditation

Lots of Benefits Associated With Practicing Meditation

Meditation is considered to be the most powerful tool not only be the elders but also by the youngsters. The elders as well as the young ones must practice meditation for its various multi benefits. The benefits of meditation can be subdivided into spiritual as well as psychological. As far as the psychological benefits are concerned, it helps in the controlling of high blood pressure. It provides deep relaxation of the body thus leading to physical fitness. It helps in the boosting up of the immune system of the body. The energy strength and vigor of the individuals is increased due to deep meditation. If a person is suffering from headaches and migraines, then he can very well practice meditation for better results because he will get rid of his problems in no time. Meditation is highly beneficial in reducing fats and also helps a person in getting rid of various ailments such as asthma, arthritis, and various kinds of allergies.

It also helps in the proper working of our endocrine system and our nervous system. After operation, If a person wants to get well soon, then he should practice meditation as it will help him to regain his lost health and fitness. Oxygen consumption of the body gets lowered if a person practices proper forms of meditation. A person gets more inclined to games and athletics if he practices meditation for at least half an hour every day. Meditation increases the stamina of a person and allows him to work for longer hours without any stress or tension. He can spend hours working together at ease. The self-confidence of the person is build up effectively.

If a person is emotionally weak, he should practice meditation everyday for better results. Meditation Tips makes a person strong not only from the physical point of view but also from the emotional point of view. During adolescent period, it helps the girls in getting relief from the pre- menstrual symptoms. Meditation lowers the aging process. It helps in the proper functioning of our brain and various nerves.

Meditation is very much effective in curing infertility in females. Our mind gets more energy and hence works more and tires less. Meditation improves the learning ability of students. It improves concentration, develops will power of individuals and helps in the increase of one's productivity

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Top 3 Benefits of Using Guided Meditations

Using Guided Meditations is the easiest way for you to begin a meditation practice or to continue a regular meditation practice. Guided Meditations come in different formats, audio and video, and are meant to help you in a huge range of issues. You can find a guided meditation in any subject ranging from decreasing anxiety all the way through to cosmic energy meditation.

The Top 3 Benefits of Using Guided Meditations

Better Focus:

People who have actually learned how to meditate and use guided meditation are able to maintain their concentration on the task at hand. They can completely relax and face the rest of their day with a focused being. Guided meditation walks you through concentrating on the object of the meditation and it forces the mind to focus on the objective and not the distractions that are normally there. By using guided meditation even for five or ten minutes a day, the mind gets a break from all of the stresses it has been under. It leaves you with a feeling of peace.

Increase in Energy:

Once you have finished your guided meditation you should be relaxed and even refreshed. You will feel as if you can face the rest of the day with assurance and look beyond the source of the stress to find a good, reliable solution. When you have achieved the level of consciousness guided meditation provides, you will be able to accomplish more and do what is needed for other people as well as yourself. You will need to train your mind from the normal, distracted one to the concentrated mind and then to the meditating mind in order to accomplish this. It takes time to work your way through these three steps but once you have mastered it, getting to the meditating mind becomes easier and easier.

Reduce Negative Thoughts:

Guided Mediation is a great way to get yourself level-headed through the day and reduce the negative aspects of stress. It only takes a few minutes and you will feel unbelievably refreshed and restored. If you have a big meeting that is making you nervous, take time for a little bit of guided meditation and you will be able to concentrate on the meeting. It can be used in other ways to regain your calm, and it can only be an asset to your life

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Ten Steps To Mindfulness Meditation

Why Yoga Exercises Are Different From Other Forms Of Exercise

If you are thinking of taking up a form of exercise with the aim of making yourself look and feel much better you should give very serious thought to yoga exercises.

Yoga works holistically on the body and mind and so it’s positive effects can be seen in many different aspects - on our bodies, their health and how they look, and also on our minds - in how we view the world.

So how do yoga exercises differ from other forms of exercise?

Yoga exercises, also known as asanas or postures, are applied to the entire anatomy of the living body. On the other hand,

many other exercise regimes are a form of engineering applied to the muscles of the body. This means that yoga exercises are concerned with more than just the superficial development of muscles. The postures used in yoga exercises tend to normalize the functions of the entire organism.

The advantage of yoga exercises is that they can regulate the involuntary processes of respiration and help the circulation, digestion, elimination, metabolism etc. The yoga exercises also work to affect the working of all the glands and organs, as well as the nervous system and the mind. This result is achieved by doing deep breathing while the body is placed in various postures. Each of these yoga exercises creates a different totality in the functional relationship within the organism.

Hence, yoga is able to influence man physically, mentally, morally and spiritually. Yoga emphasizes the philosophy of exercise. Under its training one experiences a sense of awakening. All of one's capacities are heightened, and one achieves balance and stamina through these yoga exercises, some of which are modeled after the movements of various

animals. In yoga exercises, relaxation is taught as an art, breathing as a science, and mental control of the body as a means of harmonizing the body, mind, and spirit.

The advanced stages of yoga require many years of special preparation-practices. Today's mode of living , its tempo and surroundings, mean that this is difficult to achieve. However, practicing yoga exercises and deep breathing and relaxation techniques, with some of the time devoted to concentration and meditation is something

everyone can achieve.

Yoga exercises can have a positive effect on individuals who are suffering from disease or illness. Whilst it is not able to cure these things, practicing yoga can means that obstructions and impurities are removed so that nature can perform its healing work.

So if you are looking for a form of exercise that works positively on the body and mind, and one that is relatively easy to fit into your daily routine then why not take up yoga exercises. The growing popularity of yoga exercises means that you will likely find a yoga centre or a gym offering local classes in your area. If, however, you do not have time to attend classes there are many books and DVD’s available on yoga exercises, so you can do it at home at a time when it is convenient to you.

Within only a few days of performing yoga exercise it is possible to feel revitalized and stronger. Continued practice of yoga exercises can make us healthier and happier.,

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The Mighty Powers Of Meditation

Yoga - Not Just Fitness

Over the past few decades, a very common misconception has taken root in the minds of people. There is a belief that Yoga, is all about fitness and exercise. An added misconception is that Yogasanas (or Asanas) are simply body movements and poses that are complex to perform but make the body supple.Yes, asana or postures do make the body supple. Just like stretching and other forms of body movements do. But Yoga and yogasanas are so much more than just fitness tricks.In the West, somewhere around the 19th Century and 20th Century, Yoga was introduced by Indians to the people, so that they too may benefit from it. As expected it was a great success. But there began a commercialization of yoga, in order to make it more appealing to the public. Yoga went from being an art, to a training session.This is something we need to understand, is extremely dangerous. Yoga isn't something that should be performed with the wrong ideas or intentions. It has consequences of its own.Yoga is a way of life. It is not a ritual to be performed, it is a habit that one makes a part of life. The ultimate aim of Yoga is to achieve liberation or Moksha. But yoga has a huge impact on our day-to-day lives.

Five basic principles of Yoga

• Asana (postures)

• Pranayama (Breathing control)

• Shavasana (Relaxation)

• Sattvic (Right Diet)

• Dhyana (Meditation)

It is only when these 5 basic principles are followed that one can call himself a practitioner of Yoga. When a person performs yoga, he surrenders himself to the universe and becomes one with the universal energy. It is a very potent source of life and should not be treated lightly.

Let us now look at some more important facets of yoga.

Schools of Yoga

In Hinduism, there are the following types of Yoga, which are to be practiced. Please note, here Yoga doesn't talk about postures. Yoga is in fact a practice. As I mentioned earlier, it is a way of life. These schools of yoga were thus, part of life.

1. Jnana Yoga

Jnana means 'knowledge' in Sanskrit. In the ancient times, when there was a system of 'Gurukul' (students stayed with teachers and gained knowledge), this was the initiation of the student into education and the realm of knowledge. The teachings included information about everything under the sun. This Jnana yoga became the foundation for yogic understanding and knowledge.

2. Bhakti Yoga

Bhakti or devotion, is an essential aspect of yoga. Through this form of yoga, one expressed love and devotion towards God. Here God is the Supreme Being. It does not refer to any symbolic God, simply universal energy. The idea was to move the yogi, towards spiritual awakening.

3. Karma Yoga

Karma means Duty in Sanskrit. In the Hindu religion, the importance of performing ones duty or Karma, was of the highest importance. Disciplined actions and all duties had to be performed with great reverence. It is said to be the most effective way to progress in spiritual life.

4. Laya Yoga or Kundalini Yoga

It is the form of yoga performed by way of regular practice of meditation, pranayama, chanting mantra and yoga asana. It is called the yoga of awakening. One becomes aware of oneself and more conscious of the surrounding. It focuses on compassion to others and healing of the body, mind and soul.

5. Hatha Yoga

It is a system of physical techniques supplementary to a broad conception of yoga. There is a belief that Lord Shiva himself was the creator of Hatha Yoga.

This school of yoga is what deals with physical exercise and asana or postures. Hatha yoga is more known as a physical exercise in the world.

Benefits of Yoga

Yoga has physical benefits, is something which is common knowledge. But the real power of yoga is seen through its benefits on the mental and other aspects of human life.

Following are some of the major benefits of yoga.

• Perfects your posture

Yoga helps make you stand up straighter and walk taller. The whole slumped shoulder problem goes away. Also, it makes you look far more graceful and toned.

• Control of emotions

Yoga helps the body relax, which in turn helps you control your emotions. Very often, an excess of anger or any negative emotion, gets directed towards the wrong person. This happens when we can't really control our thoughts and emotions. Yoga helps to control our mind and also makes us patien

• Makes you happier

Practising yoga, even simple breathing exercises or pranayama, helps to pump more endorphins and dopamine into the system. These are some hormones that make you feel happier. The more yoga you practice, the higher your chances of feeling happy and uplifted.

• Helps you focus

Whenever you find yourself incapable of focusing, try practicing yoga and meditation. Meditation makes you concentrate and brings to you an increased observation power.

• Improves Balance

What yogasanas do mainly, is that they direct your body's energy in a particular direction. Practicing yoga and doing the correct postures, helps direct more energy into various directions. This helps improve your balance.

• Relaxes muscles

If you are someone prone to muscle tension or pulling of muscles (hamstring, shoulder, etc.) then yoga can help make your body supple. Your flexibility naturally improves and you can do more activities with ease.

There are many more medical benefits too. However, there are few tested proofs that can be stated. For example, people suffering from asthma and bronchitis, are told to practice pranayama as it helps to control their breathing, which improves lung capacity. These are tested facts.

But there is no evidence to suggest that Yoga can cure terminal diseases or act as a pain reliever. So we must get the facts before following any practice.

Another essential point to bear in mind is that Yoga should only be performed, after attaining some initial training from a yoga guru or instructor. This is because we may try to do some postures and end up causing serious injuries, if they aren't done appropriately.Lastly, it is always best to read books and other resources that can clearly define what Yoga really is, before going and enrolling for a class. If you have some knowledge to begin with, you will feel a lot more connected to the activity itself.

Source: https://yogaandmeditationtechniques.wordpress.com/2016/08/12/yoga-not-just-fitness/

Yoga Benefits

Four Meditation Techniques New Meditators Should Know to Help Their Meditation Voyage

These four meditation techniques cover different aspects of your life. For example one of the techniques I will cover include Deep-Breathing Meditation which you use to help you to relax and to prepare your mind for meditation and Affirmation Meditation allows you to reprogram your mind from being negative to positive.

Meditation Techniques

Whilst this is a simplistic view of these two meditation techniques, it highlights the issue that there are varying meditation techniques you can use to improve your life. Lets look at the four basic meditation techniques all new meditators should learn to help you in your meditation voyage.

Technique 1 - Deep-Breathing Meditation Techniques

Deep-Breath Meditation is the first technique that all new meditators will be shown. This meditation technique involves learning how to breathe and to control your breath during meditation. This technique is sometimes called the Stillness meditation technique.

Learning to use the Deep-Breath Meditation technique will teach you how to control your heart rate, your breathing and also your ability to maintain control over your mind. All of us suffer from brain-chatter where we talk to ourselves. Apart from just controlling our breathing, we start off using this technique to get control of our mind and body. Once you have mastered this technique it allows you then to use other Meditation Techniques to improve yourself. Other meditation techniques you can use are the affirmative meditation technique and walking meditation technique.

The other key advantage of mastering the deep-breathing meditation technique is that once you understand how to breath effectively using deep breaths to get control of your stress and emotions, you can use the techniques outside of meditation to quickly get control in a stressful situation. The more you practice the deep-breath meditation technique the better you will get at it.

Technique 2 - White-Light Meditation Techniques

The White-Light meditation technique is an extension of the Deep-Breath Meditation Technique in that you will use Deep-Breath Meditation to get control of your mind and body and then step into a second stage where you will use objects in your minds eye to maintain control of your brain chatter.

Buddhist Monks have been know to teach their young monks this technique by getting them to focus on counting however you can use any object to help you gain and maintain focus. Essentially what this technique does is to get the meditator to start by focusing on the number one as they breathe in. Then in your minds eye you then focus on the next number, which is the number 2 and maintain that focus as you breathe out and then breathe in again. You then change the number to number 3 as you breathe out and in again. You continue counting through the number system until you loose control and focus. For example, if for one moment you think about the dinner you are going to have, then you must start from the number one again.

You keep following this process during each meditation session. Once you have mastered this technique you will find it is easier to get focus during a meditation session as you will not allow your mind to wander.

Technique 3 - Affirmation Meditation Techniques

Affirmation Meditation is a technique that allows the meditator to slowly train there own subconscious to follow a different attitude. For example, how many times a day to you say negative things like "That will never work" or "I will never get that job."

When you are in a state of calm and focus gained by using the Deep-Breath Meditation Technique and White-Light Meditation technique your subconscious can be more easily manipulated to change those inbuilt negative attitudes. Whilst you can certainly change your attitude and response to situations using your conscious mind, quite often you will find that little things will penetrate though.

The objective of the Affirmation Meditation Technique is to slowly reprogram your subconscious so that you can overcome those negative attitudes with more appropriate responses. Like all meditation techniques this can sometimes take a long period to conquer but is certainly worthwhile.

Technique 4 - Walking Meditation Technique

Walking Meditation involves learning to walk whilst meditating. I can hear it now, how are you going to close your eyes whilst walking. Well whether you realise it or not many monastic communities have regularly used walking meditation interspersed with traditional seated meditation to help break up the long periods of meditation.

The walking meditation works by getting you to first control your breathing using the Deep-Breath Meditation Technique and then to use the White-Light Meditation Technique to help learn to control your mind. Just like I mentioned earlier with the counting technique, if you mind starts to wander whilst walking due to mind chatter, you simply stop the counting process and simply start again.

One of the other aspects you need to consider with this technique is to focus on your body and the connection your body has with its path. For each step during the walking mediation technique, you need to feel the path and each step that you are taking. For example you need to be focusing on the feeling in your feet, your ankles, your legs, your arms and so forth.

The Walking Meditation technique is one of those ones you can practice anywhere and you will probably find that it will take you some period of time to conquer this technique without your mind wandering. Make sure that you do not punish yourself if your mind does wander or start to chatter. Simply acknowledge the wandering and bring the mind gently back into the meditated awareness and continue on your way.

Most people when they first think about meditation simply see it as a way to relax however your mind is an incredibly powerful tool and you can utilise meditation to change many aspects of your behaviour, the way you speak and present yourself and the vast professional meditation practitioners will help you to develop these techniques to improve yourself. These four techniques are the first you will learn as you begin to unleash the power meditation can provide as food for your body, mind and soul.

Look the bottom line is that there are many techniques that you can use to meditate however when you are first starting out these four techniques is a great way to get started. To finish off let me reiterate the four meditation techniques you can try as a new meditator -

Technique 1 - Deep-Breathing Meditation Techniques

Technique 2 - White-Light Meditation Techniques

Technique 3 - Affirmation Meditation Techniques

Technique 4 - Walking Meditation Techniques

Source: http://ezinearticles.com/?Four-Meditation-Techniques-New-Meditators-Should-Know-to-Help-Their-Meditation-Voyage&id=271014