| There are methods that help your body unwind | | | | Teachers resist labeling techniques, but steady |
| before a meditation session. A bath, shower, | | | | gaze meditation is an advanced meditation |
| massage, and asana practice have one thing in | | | | technique. |
| common - the muscles relax as a result. When | | | | Smell: Candles and Incense |
| your muscles are relaxed, it is much easier to | | | | Some meditation practitioners use candles or |
| meditate. | | | | incense during their practice, while others |
| In a typical Hatha Yoga class, it is common to | | | | completely dislike the sensation. If you use scents, |
| practice meditation at the end of class. Some | | | | they should be light and should not cause a |
| teachers choose to guide students through a | | | | distraction. Just like any other sensation, smells |
| meditation, at the beginning, and at the end of | | | | can be overwhelming. |
| class. In Kundalini classes, students perform | | | | If a group is using candles for a steady gaze |
| flowing movements, between asanas, but do not | | | | meditation, it would be advisable to use unscented |
| usually hold a static posture. | | | | candles. It is guaranteed that, at least, one class |
| Regardless of the method practiced, students | | | | member will be sensitive to the odor of scented |
| who practice meditation with their muscles | | | | candles. |
| relaxed, notice a marked difference in their | | | | Sound: Music and Guided Meditation CDs |
| meditation sessions. Tense muscles create a | | | | For some people, everything must be quiet. They |
| tense mind, which makes the meditative | | | | demand complete silence. They unplug the phone, |
| experience difficult at best. | | | | put their pets away, and practice meditation in |
| The sensations of sight, smell, and sound also play | | | | complete silence. There is nothing wrong with this, |
| a role in your meditation practice. Each of us is | | | | but the world is full of sound. |
| different, so what works for one person may not | | | | Traffic, crickets, birds, children, or family |
| work for another. Therefore, respond to your | | | | members waking up, are not the end of the |
| senses naturally, without worry or conflict. | | | | world. Music and guided meditation CDs, played |
| Sight: Should Your Eyes be Closed or Open? | | | | lightly, tend to melt into the background and |
| Some people have no problem with meditating | | | | drown distracting sounds at the same time. |
| and keeping their eyes open. We call this | | | | However, each of us is different; you may want |
| technique "steady gaze" meditation in English, but | | | | to experiment to know if CDs work for you or |
| it is also called Tratak, Trataka, or Drishti. | | | | against you. There is no right or wrong, but being |
| Regardless of the term used, or the style of | | | | frustrated over the sounds of life is an internal |
| Yoga you practice, the gaze is soft, but focused | | | | conflict, which can lead to higher levels of stress, |
| on a particular point. | | | | illness, or worse. |
| Steady gaze meditation is said to improve vision, | | | | Part of the reason for a meditation practice is to |
| and it definitely is rewarding for its ability to focus | | | | develop states of tranquility and inner peace. The |
| the mind. It seems that someone, who can | | | | last thing you want to do is turn meditation into |
| successfully practice steady gaze meditation, will | | | | an internal conflict - or a conflict with anything. |
| not encounter difficulties with any other methods. | | | | |