Meditation. Yoga. The 2 go collectively like Batman & Robin (although with much less capes… normally).
As religious well being practices which have each discovered recognition within the West over the previous 50 years, we are likely to lump yoga and meditation collectively. Every time we learn of 1, the opposite normally isn’t far behind. And after we’re looking for yoga pants it’s no shock to see a meditation mala within the neighborhood.
But regardless of the apparent correlation between yoga and meditation, there are nonetheless numerous individuals who do one or the opposite and never each.
Huge mistake.
Yoga makes you higher at meditation as a result of it creates a relaxed physique that’s conducive to a relaxed thoughts. To not point out, it additionally makes it far simpler to get into lotus place with out feeling like your legs are going to snap in two. And meditation makes us higher at yoga in 5 key methods. Let’s have a look.
How meditation makes us higher at yoga
1. Meditation helps us deal with asanas
After we’re practising yoga, we’re, after all, exercising the physique. However we should be exercising the thoughts on the similar time.
Each time we place the physique in an asana (pose), we must be specializing in that pose. By focusing the thoughts on the physique whereas in a pose, we expertise the asana in full. Yoga asanas provide many psychological well being advantages, however in an effort to glean these advantages, we have now to really deal with what we’re doing.
Sadly, many individuals don’t go away their ideas and distractions on the yoga studio door. And so they aren’t capable of deal with the yoga.
Meditation is well-known to enhance focus and focus. And due to this, it makes it simpler to focus the thoughts on the physique after we enter a yoga pose. The result’s full mind-body immersion within the asana.
2. Meditation lowers oxygen consumption
One of many lesser-known advantages of meditation is that it adjustments the best way the physique makes use of oxygen.
Scientific analysis reveals that meditation lowers oxygen consumption charge by 10%. Because of this we’re extra capable of management the breath throughout and after meditation. This can be a game-changer for anybody who will get in need of breath when practising yoga. If that’s you, attempt meditating earlier than doing yoga, and through your yoga session, take just a few moments right here and there to follow conscious respiratory. This can assist regulate the breath.
Not solely does this assist us follow yoga for longer, it additionally provides us extra management of pranayama.
3. Meditation lets you uncover the philosophical features of yoga
Whereas most yoga studios as of late are extra involved with bodily train than philosophy, traditionally yoga has been about each.
If you wish to actually embrace the yogic way of life, it’s important to get in contact with the philosophical aspect. Meditation may also help.
The yogic system itself consists of many meditations, reminiscent of Trataka (Nonetheless Gazing), chakra meditations, mantras, and sound meditations (Nada Yoga). Not solely do these meditation strategies assist prepare the thoughts, in addition they put together the mind-body for extra superior phases of yoga. In any case, it’s arduous to really expertise Pungu Mayurasana (Wounded Peacock Posture) whilst you’re worrying about that enterprise assembly.
4. Get too sweaty doing sizzling yoga? Meditation will assist
Anybody who practices Bikram (sizzling yoga) is aware of what it’s wish to sweat slightly an excessive amount of. However meditation can change that.
We get sweaty when our physique temperature rises. However meditation reduces coronary heart charge and blood strain, and this cools down the physique and thereby reduces sweating.
So in case you’re apprehensive you may be slightly sizzling, sweaty and, sure, smelly if you’re doing sizzling yoga, attempt meditating.
5. Meditation improves steadiness
Really feel slightly wobbly in Warrior III? Meditation will change that, no less than in response to one scientific examine.
Ying Kee, PhD, and his colleagues on the Nanyang Technological College’s Nationwide Institute of Schooling took 32 males and break up them into two teams. Kee made each teams stand on one leg whereas holding a basin of water. Whereas they had been doing this, Kee requested one group to be conscious of their arms, whereas the opposite group had been allowed to consider something they favored. Kee then examined the steadiness of members of each teams.
The outcomes confirmed that being conscious of the physique will increase steadiness, the place fascinated with one thing aside from what we’re doing will truly decrease our steadiness.
So, if you wish to keep in an asana for longer, be conscious of your physique whilst you’re within the pose.
Anybody who’s severe about getting higher at yoga ought to embrace each the bodily and the psychological workouts. And of the latter, meditation is crucial.
By practising meditation not solely can we embrace extra of the yogic way of life, we additionally put together the thoughts for achievement within the yoga studio.
The advantages of meditation are vital, and they’re invaluable in the case of bettering our yoga follow.
For those who’ve been doing the bodily aspect of yoga with out practising meditation, maybe it’s time for that to vary.
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