| Are you new to yoga? Your entire yoga practice | | | | Just be aware of any thoughts and emotions, and |
| is a meditation. As you perform your yoga poses, | | | | then let them go. Return to your body scan. |
| you focus strictly on what's happening with your | | | | 4. How to Manage Strong Feelings: Welcome |
| body and what you're trying to do. You move out | | | | Them |
| of everyday consciousness into real concentration | | | | Strong feelings will arise in you. You could treat |
| which is the basis of meditation. | | | | these emotions in one of two ways. You can |
| There are specific yoga meditations you can do. | | | | either let them go, or you can welcome them, |
| Here is an excellent one: a whole body scan to | | | | and feel them deeply. Feelings and emotions are |
| balance your energy. | | | | stored in your body. Every trauma you have |
| 1. Sit Down or Lie Down, and Become Aware of | | | | ever experienced has laid down its traces in your |
| Your Body | | | | body. |
| You can do this meditation either lying down on a | | | | This is why occasionally you'll find yourself |
| flat surface, like the floor, or when you're sitting | | | | weeping, or laughing as you do yoga. You're not |
| upright in a chair. If you're lying down, relax | | | | going crazy, you've just encountered one of |
| completely, and become aware of your body. | | | | these traces. |
| Take several long slow deep breaths. Close your | | | | One way to remove these emotional traces is to |
| eyes if you wish. | | | | welcome your emotions and to focus on them |
| 2. Follow Your Energy Throughout Your Body | | | | completely for a few moments. Some emotions |
| Starting with your left foot, become aware of it. | | | | are very strong, and if you feel an emotion is |
| Be aware of your toes, be aware of your ankle, | | | | becoming too much for you, go back to your |
| then be aware of the sole of your foot. | | | | body scan. |
| Next, be aware of your left leg's calf muscles. Be | | | | However if you can welcome an emotion, and |
| aware of your left knee. Gradually move your | | | | allow it, you'll find that the emotion rises to a |
| awareness to the top of your left leg, and then | | | | crest and then slowly dissipates. You need to feel |
| focus your awareness on your right foot. | | | | emotions to remove the emotional traces in your |
| Gradually focus on every part of your right leg, | | | | body, so never be scared of any emotions which |
| then focus on the rest of your body. | | | | are aroused by your yoga. They're perfectly |
| Move your awareness slowly right throughout | | | | natural. |
| your body, going as quickly or as slowly as you | | | | When you've completed your whole body scan, lie |
| like. | | | | still for a moment, and assess what's changed |
| 3. Let Thoughts and Feelings Go | | | | since you began the meditation. This is a powerful, |
| Thoughts and emotions will interrupt your focus | | | | balancing yoga meditation. If you're stressed, it will |
| as you move your awareness through your body. | | | | relax you, and if you're tired, it will energize you. |