| What do you think of when you hear about Yoga | | | | If a Yoga student is sitting on the floor, in an |
| meditation? Do you picture a Yoga teacher, Guru, | | | | uncomfortable position, he or she may not be |
| mystic, monk, or priest, guiding a group through | | | | able to concentrate on anything more than |
| meditation? Are you a bit confused about the | | | | discomfort. Therefore, consider using chairs as a |
| whole process of Yoga meditation? Let's look at | | | | Yoga meditation prop. If you use a chair with a |
| one of the many types of Yoga meditation and | | | | straight back, and lumbar support, this is ideal for |
| the benefits of daily practice. | | | | seated Yoga meditation. |
| There are many types of Yoga meditation, but all | | | | There is also another Yoga meditation posture |
| of them are similar to branches on a tree, leading | | | | where chairs become a handy Yoga prop. Place a |
| to the same trunk. When you attend a Yoga | | | | chair at the head of your Yoga mat. Lay down on |
| class, you may be guided by your Yoga teacher, | | | | your Yoga mat, with your feet facing the chair. |
| through meditation, in a variety of ways, but you | | | | Then place your lower legs on the seat of the |
| will usually develop a favorite method of Yoga | | | | chair. You will want to adjust your body, so that |
| meditation. | | | | the lower legs are parallel to the floor, the upper |
| Most likely, your favorite method will be the form | | | | legs are perpendicular to the floor, and the back is |
| of Yoga meditation, which brings you the most | | | | flat. |
| success. You cannot force yourself to meditate. | | | | Now that you have settled in, take some time to |
| Usually, a state of Yoga meditation will occur | | | | observe your breath, without trying to change, |
| through focused observance and non-effort. | | | | force, or lengthen your breathing cycle. Most |
| Breath awareness meditation is the first method, | | | | Yoga students will try to control their breath, but |
| which I teach to beginning meditation students, | | | | the secret of Yogic breath awareness meditation |
| and to students of Yoga. A beginner Yoga | | | | is non-effort and observance. |
| student can easily grasp the concepts of breath | | | | Take the time to observe your breath, without |
| awareness and realize the deeper benefits of | | | | effort or judgment; this will allow you to filter out |
| meditation. | | | | conscious thoughts about your breath, noises, or |
| Drawing the spine, into the straightest line | | | | your next task. Once you have put the |
| possible, is the first goal, because poor spinal | | | | distractions of life aside, you will notice that the |
| alignment is counter productive to meditation, and | | | | cycle of your breath expands. |
| is not helpful for proper breathing. Many beginning | | | | This is just the beginning of the many rewards |
| Yoga students may have difficulty sitting straight, | | | | you can reap from Yoga meditation. The Yoga |
| without a back rest. Some cultures have no | | | | meditation methods you learn from your local |
| difficulty sitting on the floor, while others sit in | | | | Yoga studio will reduce stress, calm your mind, |
| chairs, or on furniture, which brings them off the | | | | and possibly lower your blood pressure. A life with |
| floor; and these Yoga students are used to back | | | | less anxiety, and worry, is well worth the time it |
| support. | | | | takes to practice Yoga meditation. |