Yoga Meditation - First Step to Mental and Physical Health

Did you know that practicing yoga meditation can bring you some health benefits? Yoga meditation can be particularly helpful to you if you've been experiencing a lot of stress lately. This practice could be one of the best things you can do. In fact, it can even be life saving.

There are many types of yoga meditation you can try. One of these is Sahaja meditation. However, before you jump into it, you'll need to first learn about this technique and the things involved.

Essentially, it is the fusion of yoga and meditation. Of all the exercises you can do, these two are the most relaxing. The main objective is to get your mind, body and spirit in sync. You don't just focus on one aspect; you focus on all three simultaneously. Exercising regularly can help you tone your body and get you in shape. However, a healthy body isn't complete without a healthy mind and soul. And this is where yoga and meditation comes in.

Nearly everyone can benefit in some way or another from doing it. In fact, yoga meditation systematically deals with every level of your being, and that includes your interactions with yourself and the world. Right after your first session, you'll notice how your stress levels have gone down. This is because it addresses the senses, body, breath and mind. It helps ensure that your mind, body and soul are in sync. It is like no other exercise.

Sold on yoga meditation? To get started, register for a class at your local gym or fitness center. This way, you'll work with pros who know all about the proper way to do it and guide you as you do it. With this set up, you'll have someone who will let you know if you're doing something wrong and possibly prevent injuries The great thing about it is that you'll get to make the most out of it this way. After your first few yoga and meditation sessions, you'll notice that you're less stressed and your muscles feel looser. Best of all, you'll feel better overall.

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Pilates and Yoga Mat Bags - They Are Funky and Practical - Why You Need One!

Everyone wants to stay in shape, and Pilates is able to provide the perfect way to do just that. When we head out for a workout session, there are a number of things that we need to carry when we go. Water bottles, extra changes of clothes, and the essential Pilates or Yoga mat are just a few of those very necessary items. For the mat, a Pilates or Yoga mat tote bag is needed. Other items can easily be carried in an additional gym or tote bag, but nothing fits the mat like a bag that has been made for carrying it. The Pilates mat is what makes doing the Pilates exercises safely and effectively a possibility, as they provide a non slip, padded surface.

If you are new to Pilates exercises, then you might want to buy a Yoga mat bag first, because you will definitely need a mat for maximum safety during workouts. You can choose to buy one or several different Pilates mat bags. There is a Pilates Mat bag to suit every mood! There are several different styles to choose from that include various colors and patterns. You can buy a silk yoga mat bag with Asian printed patterns if you would like. They are not at all expensive, and they are extremely fashionable and come in many designer prints. If you prefer pink cotton or a mesh yoga mat bag, then your wish shall be granted. There are so many styles to choose from. Hugger Mugger make a great collection of Yoga and Pilates mat bags.

The Pilates mat bag comes with a shoulder strap that is meant to decrease the amount of pressure that is placed on the spine. Everything about Pilates focuses on the human body. The spine is a very fragile region of the body that needs to be taken care of and maintained over the years. Too much pressure in the incorrect areas can potentially result in extreme injury that requires physical therapy and other medical treatments. Injury prevention in exercise is one of its most important facets. Without the prevention of injury, harm becomes more probable. The Pilates or Yoga mat is the back brace to all of its movements and exercises.

Other features that you will be able to find in the Pilates Yoga mat bag include extra compartments to place your money, keys, or other small and valuable items in. The Pilates mat bag is great for those who love organization. They are also wonderful for those who want to keep up with the latest and most fashionable styles. You can even find these types of bags available in leather and suede. Unique colors like gold and silver are also available. Polka dots and flowers are also no stranger to the Pilates mat bag.

Make sure that the bag that you choose to buy contains all of the features that you are looking for. This type of bag goes a long way when it comes to saving money and making room. It gives you a place to put your mat, and it can be stored away in the bag as well. They are convenient, and nifty. Staying organized has never been so easy.

Yoga and Weight Loss

As a yoga instructor, one of the most frequently asked questions I get is, "Can yoga help you lose weight?" The short answer is yes, for many reasons. Yoga goes along way in promoting a healthy weight loss. Yoga asana is excellent for burning calories while stretching, toning, and strengthening muscles but that is only one piece of the puzzle. We have to look at diet as well. What, how much, and even why we are eating is an important part of the "weight loss" picture. First, let's look at what we are eating. A diet high in fats and sugars will, not only pack on the pounds, but wreck havoc on the systems of the body. Mom was right, eat your fruits and veggies! If you want to feel your best, look your best, and be at your best... eat your best. Mother nature has a delicious bounty of whole foods to choose from, eat up! For optimal health, there's no better choice.

Next let's look at why and how much we are eating. Stress plays a huge role in overeating. It also determines how and where fat is stored in the body. Yoga asanas, breathing exercises, and meditation reduces stress and lowers cortisol levels which will aid in weight loss. Habitual eating can also be a problem. Eating mindlessly as if the auto pilot has been switched on without thinking or even tasting what we are putting in our mouths, that's habitual eating. Then there's emotional eating. Eating when we feel hurt, anger, or depression. Ever hear the expression, "It's not what you're eating but what's eating you," that's emotional eating. Yoga practice helps you to become mindful in the moment. You become connected to and aware of your body and emotions. You will learn to discerne true hungrer from habit and how to re-direct habitual and emotional eating toward effective methods of healing. When you are hungry, you'll make healthier choices, taste and enjoy your food better, and lose weight.

A yoga practice that includes dietary modifications, breathing techniques, and meditation can help you lose weight. Think of the process as a journey of transformation and self-discovery. It will take time and patience. These positive changes are sustainable, unlike those quick-fix fades that feed the cycles of bad habits and ill health. There is a fresh start, a new beginning in everyday. Don't get hung up on where you were or what you did five minutes ago. Don't waste time thinking about what you will do five minutes from now. In this moment, make the choice to be your best right here, right now. Be Well!

Meditation - 4 Most Frequently Used Methods

Meditation methods are as varied as are people who practice them. These methods may vary in their intensity from total silence to group chanting; or vary in their flexibility from a rigidly sitting position to group swaying. There are several methods of meditation for several reasons, and it is a known fact that meditation is not a 'one size fits all'.

Four Very Basic Methods of Meditation:

1. Silent Meditation: This is a mantra-based meditation with the personal mantra repeated in silence. It may also be a breath-based meditation focusing on the breath as with a mantra. This method of meditation is primarily used by the seeker to get in touch with the 'witness' or unchangeable spirit within.

2. Guided Meditation: This is an audio guided type of meditation with the use of some type of audio guidance in a step by step guidance to meditate. The guide may be a real person or a pre-recorded audio leading the practitioner into the meditation session and also guiding him or her out of the session.

3. Sound Meditation: This method of meditation involves the use of meditative music or sounds in the background such as a waterfall, a trickling stream, birds singing, or falling rain. Sound meditation is especially beneficial to those people who just cannot stand the sound of silence; it makes them feel very uncomfortable.

4. Chanting Meditation: This method is mostly used by people who practice their meditation in a devotional manner or with chants of gratitude. In expressing their appreciation to a Power greater than themselves, their intent is to align their own will with the will of their God or the Universe.

Each and every one of the above meditations may be done on an individual basis or in group settings. The many benefits derived from any of these practices all depend on the sincerity of the practitioner and the effort put forth. As mentioned earlier, when it comes to meditation, there is no such thing as 'one size fits all'. Thankfully, there is variety.

Meditation Techniques For Beginners - Watching the Breath

One of the simplest ways to begin learning meditation is to watch your breath. This meditation technique is perfect for beginners because it is natural, easy, and can be done anywhere and anytime. Begin by paying attention to the breath as it leaves and enters your lungs.

Take notice of any bodily sensations, thoughts, or feelings. At first, start with five inhalations and five exhalations, counting slowly and taking deep regular breaths. Make sure that you are paying full attention and giving all of your focus to the breath. If you find yourself getting distracted, do not worry or get agitated, this is a natural part of the practice. When this happens, gently bring your attention back to the breath and begin again. Once you are able to maintain a steady focus and count five breaths without becoming distracted, you can increase the number of inhalations and exhalations.

Take note of the moments when you become distracted, there you will find the greatest lessons and realizations and I always try to think of those moments as reminders and helpful reminders instead of failures. To use the metaphor of driving a car, if you momentarily drift off the road, you simply take control of the steering wheel and bring the car back to the center of the road. It is exactly the same with this meditation technique. Watching and counting the breath can be done frequently and in short bursts, and you may find that even a five count will dramatically reduce stress and anxiety while calming, clearing, and centering the mind. As with any skill, the amount of time and length of practice will determine the benefit and mastery.

Vlad Moskovski was born in Russia and at a young age moved with first to Israel and then to the United States. Intrigued by yoga from a young ago, Vlad began his studies of yoga while attending Rutgers University in NJ. During that time, he began exploring additional meditative traditions and working with Zen, Taoist and Tai Chi practitioners. A recent graduate of the NLP Center of NY, he has recently begun writing and teaching about meditation in order to inform a wide audience about the benefits of this ancient tradition.

How to Meditate Deeply For Better Health

The art of meditation is pretty complex and you must be wondering how I am going to teach you how to meditate deeply one article. Let me be quite frank with you it is not possible to learn and master meditation that easily. However, once you get the hang of it there is nothing more that can offer you that much mental peace.

With this art mastered you can successfully organize your thoughts, relax and even have a very good chance to improve your health. It is not that easy to focus because most of us get easily distracted with things around us. We very easily let stress take control over us. There are many things that need to be considered when you are about to meditate deeply. Here are a few tips to help you on your journey.

There are several things to keep in mind when learning how to meditate deeply. First, consider the length of time or the duration for which you meditate. This really plays an important role because the more time you devote to learning to meditate deeply, the better your results. Next, know that the place you meditate is really important. Fewer disturbances will allow calmer meditation. The goal is to release anxiety and stress, not to surround yourself with it. Another point to remember is that you need to master your breathing. You must make sure that you take deep breaths. Finally, to achieve the best and deepest meditation, have excellent posture. Keep your back erect and try not to hunch. For people who find it a problem and tend to hunch involuntarily, try sitting in front of a plane surface to get back support.

With many stressors and demands on our daily lives, it is important to take care of our whole selves. If you spend the time to learn how to meditate deeply, it will be well worth the effort.

Stressed Out? Then Learn How to Meditate

When first choosing to learn how to meditate you need to realize that to achieve the full effect, you'll need to practice everyday. It is not so much the amount that you meditate each day; it's the quality of your meditation. In this article we are going to go over some helpful tips you can use to help the art of meditation come easier to you.

First, when you meditate you are going to need a quiet place. When choosing a place, opt for peace and comfort. If you don't feel comfortable, you are not going to be able to relax and if there are many loud distractions you can just say goodbye to concentration. Relaxation and concentration are key when learning how to meditate.

Now, let's discuss position. While you see many people meditate in the sitting position, lying down is often easier for beginners. It promotes relaxation by allowing the muscles in your body to unclench and brings a sense of serenity to the mind. Meditation is about relaxation and peace, but also about being fully aware of oneself and your surroundings while in this state.

Another good piece of advice is to try not to meditate on a full stomach. As I just said you'll need to be fully aware and conscious. Eating a large or heavy meal can make you very tired and may actually cause you to fall asleep. Relaxation and not sleeping is the reason you are learning how to meditate.

You can also try taking a relaxing shower or bath and maybe some warm tea. Anything you can do to relax the muscles in your body will help relax your mind. You can also burn a candle or some incense to help heighten the mood and get you in the needed state of mind. If you choose this route try to go with light smells, you don't want anything to feel like it will overpower you.

Meditation - Spiritual Attributes Or Spiritual Energy Channels

Some people may contend that there are many more methods of meditation other than Silent, Guided, Sound, or Chanting. And they may add that there is jogging meditation, walking meditation, gardening meditation, eating meditation, painting meditation, and even driving meditation. However, as a meditation instructor I will venture out and say that these types of activities labeled 'meditation' serve a better purpose in the 'living in the moment' or 'awareness or mindful' categories. Such as:

• Jogging Awareness or Mindful Jogging
• Walking Awareness or Mindful Walking
• Gardening Awareness or Mindful Gardening
• Eating Awareness or Mindful Eating
• Painting Awareness or Mindful Painting
• Driving Awareness or Mindful Driving

There are fantastic rewards in performing these activities when you're 'living in the moment' and with 'awareness or mindfulness'. It is also a proven fact that people who engage in activities such as these with awareness or mindfulness do find greater fulfillment in their lives. Interestingly enough, 'awareness or mindfulness' may very well be attributed to some type of 'spiritual experience' or 'spiritual expansion', as some of my colleagues may say. Believing that awareness or mindfulness is a spiritual attribute, it would make sense that people who are 'living in the moment' or are experiencing life with 'awareness or mindfulness' are actually enjoying the fruits of their spiritual connection to their Higher Self. So, what does it take for someone to live in the moment? It takes awareness or mindfulness.

Can we honestly say that the methods of meditation whether Silent, Guided, Sound, or Chanting are in the same category of spiritual attributes such as awareness? These methods of meditation are spiritual energy channels, while awareness, mindfulness, and living in the moment are spiritual attributes. The confusion may be due to the fact that both attributes and channels may lead you into the same path; and that is the path to a spiritual experience that nurtures your inner being.

In a thought-provoking manner, this may be the 'which came first' conundrum, the awareness or mindfulness that lead to a spiritual experience or the spiritual experience that led to awareness or mindfulness? Only you can answer that because there is no right or wrong answer, there are only benefits that you can live with and enjoy.