Friday 17 May 2013

Yoga Poses for Meditation


The ideal posture for meditation is a that lets your breath move fluidly. You ought to be comfortable enough that your thoughts are free to focus on the meditation, although not so comfortable that you go to sleep (unless, of course, you’re doing a pre-bedtime meditation for relaxation).

Allow the yogis to come up with poses specifically designed to meet all of these requirements. The traditional Hindu practice of mindful positioning is about posture and breath work, and most yoga sessions end having a brief meditation - it’s natural that yoga facilitates meditation by bringing your body’s natural preferences in to the picture.

Egyptian Pose

Egyptian pose is probably the easiest meditation posture for that beginner. Simply sit inside a chair and place your hands on your thighs. The chair must have a high enough back that the head is supported, also it may be necessary to place a rolled-up towel behind your neck for added support. Your back ought to be upright - no slouching - the knees should be at a 90-degree angle, as well as your feet should be comfortably flat on the ground.

This posture puts the body in a position that allows your skeleton to aid your muscles, avoiding muscle strain. It keeps your chest lifted so that your diaphragm can work unimpeded, and your lungs can inflate without undue pressure. Because you’re sitting upright, you are unlikely to fall asleep.

Corpse Pose

Corpse pose is familiar to those who have taken a yoga class. It’s generally used after the session to relax your body and allow you to "come back to Earth" after being so intensely in to the mental and physical zone that yoga requires - rushing no more a yoga session on and on immediately back into "real life" can be stress-inducing. By spending a couple of minutes in corpse pose, you allow parts of your muscles to relax, your body to cool down, as well as your mind to slowly "wake up".

For any meditation session, corpse pose permits you all but forget about proper positioning and focus on the mental aspect. Simply lay lying on your back on a yoga mat, allowing shoulders and feet to drop out to the sides. Relax completely - none of the muscles should be activated. This pose is incredibly comfortable though, so there’s always the chance of falling asleep if you’re not experienced enough to maintain your mind awake and focused. If you're doing a pre-bedtime relaxation session, corpse pose is ideal.

Burmese Pose

Burmese pose is a good method for beginners to work up to Lotus. Take a seat on the ground with your legs bent before you. Allow your knees to drop out to the side, then bring one foot in toward your groin. Bring another leg in, placing the forward foot while watching inward foot. It’s basically a Lotus position with no stacking, and places a smaller amount pressure on the knees.

As sitting poses go, the Burmese pose is extremely stable and allows you to conserve a straight spine and neutral posture, that allows the breath to flow freely. To prevent uneven pressure on the legs, alternate which leg gets into front from session to session, or perhaps switch halfway through a single session in case your meditation allows.

Lotus/Half Lotus Pose

The Lotus pose may be the world’s most commonly-used yoga for meditation position - it’s like the Burmese pose, except the feet are introduced closer to rest on the opposite thighs. This is actually the most stable sitting position, and when you can comfortably sit in Lotus, you are able to meditate for hours without ever once needing to reposition yourself.

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