Meditation,
a fundamental component of
yoga,
is simply quietening the mind to the
point that all
thoughts are stilled and to focus solely on simply 'being'
concentrating on your breathing to connect the mind and spirit with the
body.
Multiple benefits are had by simply inducing yourself into
this deep relaxing state including; Stress reduction, increased energy,
improvement in general health,
enhanced immune system, reduced heart rate and blood pressure, clarity
of mind, accelerated learning, profound sense of well being, increased
creativity, self knowledge, greater levels of self expression, self
esteem, self love and self confidence, stronger relationships, released
blocked energy, balanced out disharmonies, slowing of age, detoxified
body and
flushed out toxins, relieved aches and pains, and has the potential to
cure phobias, addictions and chronic diseases.
It is important to remember that
meditation
does not have any religious
connotations attached to it more so, it should be treated
as a
universal pratice to develop and enhance abiltities in every human
being.
Meditation
promotes peace and equality between all beings and
eventually the becoming of one with the Earth to which we
are all connected.
There are many forms of meditation each subject to what the individual
whishes to achieve.
Transendental
Meditation
TM
is nothing more than entering a deep and relaxing state to calm the
mind, body and spirit. It is only in these states that you can
experience a profound sense of well being and inner peace.
This
is the primary benefit of TM and one that is over looked by many and
sometimes seen as a pointless exercise.
Whilst achieving these
states in meditation it is important to remember that we never
experience such relaxation and calm in all three components which makes
a human being complete - The Mind, The Body and The Spririt, unless
deliberately achieved through other means of trance induction.
Even while you sleep you are not always in the most deepest
state
of relaxation. This is why often a person may wake up feeling tired and
lethargic even after a full night's sleep.
Infact
half an hour
of meditation can be more relaxing to the mind than a whole night's
worth of sleep when done correctly. When coming out of the
meditative
trance you awake more alert with more clarity yet still remaining in
that calm relaxed state that will eventually, with sufficient practice,
allow you to experience that blissful state throughout your whole day.
It
is advised to practice TM twice daily, once in the morning and once in
the evening. You can start off with just 5 minutes meditation for the
first week gradually increasing to 10 then 20 mintues ideally. Most
people
enjoy this state to the extent that they can carry on for an hour or
longer.
When profound peace is found within the mind you enter a
blissfull place where no worries or outer thoughts can penetrate and
you can literally lose concept of time.
It helps if you hum a soft sound during each exhalation to further
relax the mind to enter into more transcendental places.
The practice
TM
is so simple and easy that it requires no training, experience or
effort. Adopt any comfortable position while sat up with a straight
spine and neck. The back should not be resting against anything and
hands should face palms down on the knees. This can also be done in the
chair.
Close your eyes and take a deep inhalation filling
the lungs with the breath. Then exhale all the breath out through the
nose emptying the belly. Mouth should remain closed.
Make
sure you take a complete breath which is first focusing on the breath
filling up the belly, then moving up to the chest and then filling your
lungs right up to the upper chest. Feel the lungs expanding and then
exhale with equal pressure ensuring all the breath is expelled
flattening the belly.
Your mind should be concentrating on the
breath only. All thoughts are to be allowed to exit the mind and you
are to return
your attention to your breathing. The first few times you attempt this,
your
head
may feel light and you may even feel dizzy with all the excessive
amounts of oxygen entering into your system that you have
never
before experienced.
Just remember to take a more shallow breath if this occurs and stop if
you feel over exerted.
Your
face should display ease and your aura should convey a sense of peace
and calm. It is better to face a window where you are in the presence
of as much nature as possible, and if at all convenient, it would be
especially beneficial if you were to practice your meditation outdoors
where you can be surrounded by nature.
For instructions on how
to adopt the classic meditation position, Padmasana/The Lotus,
please view the video with a guided meditation to learn Pranayama yoga
meditation below.
Chakra Purification - Awakening
the Kundalini
Chakras
A
chakra, meaning spinning wheel, acts like a vortex which receives and
gives off energy
within
the body. It is based around the acupressure and acupuncture points
throughout the body. There are infact hundreds of chakras in the body
but focus is expressed upon the seven main chakras.
These seven chakras are located across the spine with the first
situated at the base of the spine, the tailbone, and the seventh at the
crown of the head.
Each chakra has a specific function which determines whether the energy
from it is blocked, balanced or open. The goal is to
maintain a
balanced energy flow from each of the chakras to experience optimum
health - mentally, emotionally, physically and
spiritually.
Each chakra has it's own location, colour and function which determines
whether it is blocked, too open or balanced.
Chakra 1:
Muladhara/Root
Location:
Tailbone/Coccyx
Colour:
Brilliant
Red
Balanced:
Sense
of security, grounded, feels connected to surroundings
Blocked:
Lack of security,
disconnected
Open:
Excessive
risk taking
Chakra 2:
Svadhisthana/Spleen
Location:
Centre of Abdomen/Navel
Colour:
Orange
Balanced:
Developed sexual
orientation, healthy reproductive system, adequate sex drive, physical
and healing energy, emotional peace, joy of life
Blocked:
Negative
sexual energy,
fear
of power, lack of joy, holding excessive internal emotions which maybe
released unconsciously
Open:
Uncontrollable
sexual energy, expressing excessive emotions
Chakra
3:
Manipura/Solar
Plexus
Location:
Solar
Plexus
Colour:
Yellow
Balanced:
Handles emotions, has connection with other
people's feelings
Blocked:
Inability to act
appropriately with emotions, preoccupied with own feelings
Open:
Gullible, emphasis on feelings, too emotional
Chakra 4:
Anahata/Heart
Location:
Centre of chest
Colour:
Green
Balanced:
Strong ability to give and receive love
equally, possesses self love, understanding of others, compassionate
Blocked:
Feeling unworthy
of being loved or loving others, hard hearted, closed, being afraid to
love
Open:
The need to feel excessively loved, expresses
to much love towards others, concerned about loving and caring enough
for others
Chakra
5:
Visuddha/Throat
Location:
Centre/base of throat
Colour:
Blue
Balanced:
Activates will for self-expression, speaks up,
accepting, organised, power to make changes
Blocked:
Lack of
self-expression, choking on words, sore throat, inability to mentally
accept/swallow, excessive pride or prejudices, lack of confidence in
mental ability
Open:
Excessive expression of thought, talks too
much, too controlling
Chakra
6:
Ajna/Third
Eye/Brow
Location:
Between The Brows
Colour:
Indigo
Balanced:
Strong, self confident, developed peripheral
vision
Blocked:
Lack of self
confidence, closed minded
Open:
Egotistical
Chakra 7:
Sahasrara/Crown
Location:
Top of Head
Colour:
Violet
Balanced:
Connection with higher spiritual levels,
balance in everyday life
Blocked:
Lack of
connection to the universe, down on ones self, confused, unbalanced
Open:
Feeling of weakness, drained, unable to
function in daily life
The seven chakras when unbalanced can cause illness, disorder and
disease.
The Kundalini
Kundalini translates to 'circular power' or
'coiled energy' which lies dormant at the base of the spine, the
tailbone. It is known to hold a potentially powerful force which, when
awakened, will bring the individual into enlightenment, connection with
the divine and reach spiritual bliss and harmony with the universal
force.
It can be awakened or released during the purification or cleansing of
the chakras which will in turn balance all seven chakras
leaving you with the blissfull sense of well-being and
profound inner peace.
The Kundalini is perceived to rest coiled at the tailbone. During
awakening, it uncoils
itself and sends waves of energy up the spinal cord clearing any
blockages in it's path and seeks it's opening through which it can be
released which is situated at the Muladhara, the Crown chakra.
The individual who experiences this Kundalini awakening will receive
vast amounts of knowledge, physical strength, optimum health,
transcendental awareness, out of body experiences, may see the image of
the Creator and have the enlightened feeling of having achieved
something magnificant. It is said that the awakening of the
Kundalini
will bring to you whatever you desire and need.
It is important to know that these practices do not belong to any
religion or belief system and can be adopted by any individual.
Remember in order to achieve anything worthwhile through these
practices, it
is imperative that you believe such a power does exist and this will
impress your
unconscious
mind into achieving the desired result. Sceptics
will
simply be wasting their time.
If you would truly like to learn how to awaken the Kundalini here is an
audio that outlines an introduction to Kundalini,
instructions on the guided meditation then the guided meditation to
lead you though the process.
Audio coming soon...
To learn how to adopt the classic meditation position please view the
video below.
Pranayama
-
Yogic Breathing Practice
Pranayama is comprised of many different breathing techniques which
maximises the benefits of meditation.
Bhastrika
Deep
inhalation followed by a complete exhalation with full force. The
pressure during inhalation and exhalation should be the same. Inhale
using the lungs and not the stomach. There should be no stress and your
face should convey an ease of concentration, a blissful sense of
achievement and contentment. Do not exceed this practice for more than
5 minutes.
Benefits include; a sense of connection with your
divine self, happiness, accomplishment, energy, purity, healthy heart,
lungs and mental state.
Kapalbhati
Continuous
exhalations of full strength and force with minimal inhalation. The
stomach muscles contract automatically and impure breath is
expelled out of the body. Practice with the intent and thought that all
toxins within the body and mind are being exitted through the breath.
Do not exceed this practice for more than 10 minutes and rest every 2
minutes.
Benefits include; improving skin complexion and glow of
the face, improves concentration, weight reduction, rids constipation,
relieves prostate problems and allergies. Has the potential to
eliminate
chronic diseases, potential to reach enlightened states and
promotes the awakening of the Kundalini. Generally
improves the overall state of good health.
Bahya
To
be done after Kapalbhati above. Inhale deeply to the maximum and then
exhale.
After exhaling completely hold the breath and suck the stomach inside
and up towards the chest for as long as possible then release. Repeat
minimum of three times. Gradually increase. Do not exceed 21
times.
Benefits include; rectifying of all stomach related problems. Promotes
the awakening of the Kundalini.
Anulom Vilom
Close
the left nostril with the left thumb and inhale through the right
nostril. Then close the right nostril with the middle and little finger
while releasing the left nostril and exhale through the left nostril.
Then inhale through the left nostril, close the left nostril with the
thumb again releasing the right and exhale through the right nostril.
Repeat with regular intervals.
Benefits include; purification of
all nerves, relief from arthirits, varicose veins and cleans blockages
in the heart, reduces cholestoral and trigliceride levels.
Bhramari
Close
the ears with the thumbs, rest the index finger on forehead and the
other 3 fingers together covering the eyes. Take a deep breath and
exhale with a soft gentle humming sound until complete exhalation.
Repeat.
Benefits
include; release tensions and stress, increases self confidence,
eliviates heart conditions, inner peace, becoming one with
your
supreme self, blissful states in the mind, potential for reaching
enlightened states.
Udgeeth
Take
a deep inhalation and exhale with a soft om sound. Focusing on the
concentration of the sound to connect with your spiritual being.
Benefits
include; relief from mental conditions, profound sense of well being,
blissful sense of contentment in life and potential for reaching
enlightenment.
These practices should be undertaken with great care and precaution for
individuals with certain health conditions.
For
a comprehensive step by step guide to learn pranayama, here is a
meditation yoga instructional video demonstrated by Swami Ramdev Ji.
Can be practiced by all.
Translated in English
Coming soon.......
