Sometimes, we just need to let a situation, emotion, or person go. It can be difficult to let go of past experiences. Meditation can make this process easier. Holding space for that situation in your heart, thanking it and then letting it go can bring clarity and comfort surrounding this situation. You may need to meditate on it multiple times, and that’s ok.
No matter your current situation, time is the ultimate healer. Introducing yourself to new experiences can help time clear up the past as you walk into your bright future.
There are many definitions of yoga that I have been introduced to over the years. Some say it is a state of connection within the mind, a form of meditation. Others say it is the connection between the mind and body, where the two become one. Another definition of yoga from an old mentor of mine said that yoga can be anything- any activity as long as we are present. The definition of the Sanskrit word yoga means “to yoke” or “union.” This union of yoga connects us to all aspects of our lives. Mentally, Spiritually, Emotionally, Physically– in all ways you can imagine.
“Yoga is a way to attain what was previously unattainable.”
TKV desikachar
There is something in this life each of us has been unable to do. Maybe that is patience, strength, balance, or clarity. Perhaps it is something more tangible that you have not been able to do, like get a certain job, or write a book. We all know what that “thing” is that we are wanting to experience. And maybe some of us don’t know what will bring us balance or happiness yet.
Practicing yoga is one pathway for us to reach our dreams.
“When we find the means for bringing desire into action, that step is yoga”.
TKV Desikachar
Yoga unites us with what we are searching for. Whatever we seem to be searching for or missing in life, yoga can fill up that space when we choose to practice.
Yoga brings us balance between effort and ease, bitter and sweet, active and passive, inward and outward. If you are feeling depressed, yoga can help you lighten it. If you are lonely, yoga can tap you into something bigger than yourself. If you need to find acceptance or to let something go, yoga can provide the other polarity in order for you to feel balanced.
I have found the meaning of yoga in my life to mean “to feel” and “to experience.” It means to learn and grow from the experiences we have in life. It means to find the opposite of what we are and use that to expand our life.
“The mind, once stretched by a new idea, never returns to its original dimensions.”
Ralph waldo emerson
The asana practice, then, represents your life. You start in your center and create an intention. You experience the movements of your body. You experience things you have never felt before. You discover and hold on. You let go, become stronger. You stretch to new limits and experience life for what it is now. You feel the emotions that are within you now. You learn from those who came before you. You learn from yourself.
As the practice winds down, you reflect on how the movements make you feel. Ending in savasana, corpse pose, your final resting place. This is the place where you can just be and observe the changes that have come into your life. You reflect on a life and a practice that was lived to the fullest, and you can enjoy this time to just be without the need to do anything. And, finally, you curl up onto your side, a fetal position, to represent making life anew. Then you rise again, ready to feel and experience more, in a new way. A new life.
This practice mirrors our lives. It gives us what we are lacking. Each new experience changes our life, and it will never be the same again. No matter how you go about to seek for change to instill balance in your life, is yoga. This is the path of yoga, for which I am grateful.
Meaning the “Foundation of Support” in Sanskrit, the Root chakra is our connection to the physical plane, survival, and connection to all things that give us life. It’s where we store the feelings of basic necessity, the right to live. It is the lowest center in human incarnations, located at the base of the spine.
Meditation is one of the best methods to bring yourself into the present moment. There are many benefits of meditation and doing so regularly has been proven to decrease physical pain and even anxiety.
But some people wonder, what exactly is meditation?
My definition of meditation: a technique used to attain a different state of mind.
Is your mind bouncing from one thought to the next? Meditation can help! Do you lack motivation to get started working for the day? Meditation can help you get focused! Depending on your goal, there is a method of meditation that is sure to help you.
Using the Breath as an Anchor
Meditation is focused attention on one thing. Many people use the breath as their anchor for meditation. The joy that comes from meditation is lasting in our day to day lives. Meditation also leads to being less reactive and judgmental towards our own emotions and thoughts.
Presence is the Key
Meditation brings you to the present moment. Meditation is a state of mind. What matters is the focus we have on our anchor. The most effective anchor, or point of focus, in meditation is the breath. The breath is the bridge between the physical and the ethereal. The breath happens in the present, so we become present when we bring attention to the breath.
Become the Observer
Observe your thoughts, observe your breath. Observe your state of being. If the mind wanders, it’s ok to start again. Let the thoughts float away like clouds in the sky. Thoughts and feelings are an offering, they are a gift, let them be there. Accept everything as it is– there is no need to change. There’s no need to react. It’ll take patience, but the time will come when you move beyond thought.
When the mind isn’t there to distract, it’ll become silent and that’s when meditation deepens. Meditation is used to look inward for your own answers. All the knowledge and wisdom you need in this moment is inside of you. You only need to bring your attention inward to begin to connect with this part of you. Meditation is ultimately committing to know yourself.
Find Your Meditation Space
There’s meaning in the meditative posture itself. Being in the same place at the same time each day and in the same posture helps to train the mind to enter the meditative state. It’s important to be comfortable when meditating. Sitting up in your own strength with your spine long is helpful. You could even lay down if you wanted to. The idea is to be aware and focused, but the mind calm. When you find that physical place each day, your body and mind will know it’s time to meditate.
Keep Practicing!
As we continue in our meditative practice, we will find that we can feel our emotions before we react to them. Meditation frees us from worries. It brings us to our center in the present moment. You are stronger when you meditate. Soon, you will find that you’ll notice your thoughts before you react to them.
Meditation is about you, not others. It’s not about achieving something; it’s about being with whatever is there and staying with it. From that place, is where the answers will come. It will take time to see results. Be consistent, you’re not alone in exploring this world of meditation.
The Yoga Journey Project 