Lately, loads of yoga beginners have asked me about the link between yoga and meditation.
Experienced yogis know that yoga and meditation cannot be separated from each other. After all, ashtanga vinyasa yoga is often described as a moving meditation. Although I have experienced it myself, I don't like emphasizing this to beginners, especially if they seem to be ambivalent to the subject of meditation.
When I started practicing yoga, I did it purely for the physical benefits and viewed it as a form of exercise. I only later discovered that there's so much more to it! I don't know whether I would have gone as far as teaching yoga if someone would have chucked down my throat the meditative and philosophical aspects of yoga from the very beginning, as it was surely not what I was looking for. On top of that, I strongly believe that one should discover all of the benefits that yoga offers themselves. It's such a personal journey and you get so much more appreciation for your achievements if you get there yourself!
I also believe that often teachers tend to throw meditation at their students for the wrong reasons, at the wrong time and place. One must be ready to learn meditation! Have we forgotten that before meditation (dhyana) comes concentration (dharana)? Do we all know how to properly concentrate? Shouldn't we, as teachers, first teach the students to learn to focus their attention and mind? How many of our students can truly stay focused on their breath throughout the whole yoga class? Are they ready for meditation?
For those who have forgotten, Ashtanga yoga has 8 limbs/steps:
1. yama - abstinence
2. niyama - observance
3. asana - posture
4. pranayama - breath control
5. pratyahara - sense withdrawal
6. dharana - concentration
7. dhyana - meditation
8. samadhi - enlightenment
Let's work on our yogic journey in turn starting from step one before we jump to any of the final steps.
Om, shanti shanti shanti...
Om, peace peace peace...
Experienced yogis know that yoga and meditation cannot be separated from each other. After all, ashtanga vinyasa yoga is often described as a moving meditation. Although I have experienced it myself, I don't like emphasizing this to beginners, especially if they seem to be ambivalent to the subject of meditation.
When I started practicing yoga, I did it purely for the physical benefits and viewed it as a form of exercise. I only later discovered that there's so much more to it! I don't know whether I would have gone as far as teaching yoga if someone would have chucked down my throat the meditative and philosophical aspects of yoga from the very beginning, as it was surely not what I was looking for. On top of that, I strongly believe that one should discover all of the benefits that yoga offers themselves. It's such a personal journey and you get so much more appreciation for your achievements if you get there yourself!
I also believe that often teachers tend to throw meditation at their students for the wrong reasons, at the wrong time and place. One must be ready to learn meditation! Have we forgotten that before meditation (dhyana) comes concentration (dharana)? Do we all know how to properly concentrate? Shouldn't we, as teachers, first teach the students to learn to focus their attention and mind? How many of our students can truly stay focused on their breath throughout the whole yoga class? Are they ready for meditation?
For those who have forgotten, Ashtanga yoga has 8 limbs/steps:
1. yama - abstinence
2. niyama - observance
3. asana - posture
4. pranayama - breath control
5. pratyahara - sense withdrawal
6. dharana - concentration
7. dhyana - meditation
8. samadhi - enlightenment
Let's work on our yogic journey in turn starting from step one before we jump to any of the final steps.
Om, shanti shanti shanti...
Om, peace peace peace...