"One should practice Yoga for the purification of the self." Bhagavad gita
YOGA MEDITATION
"All the various Yoga meditation approaches - and there are many - strive to transcend the ego-personality and realize a higher reality, to lift the individual out of ordinary perceptions and relationship to the world," writes Georg Feuerstein in the Shambhala Guide to Yoga. He goes on: "Happiness is our essential nature and material life is inherently limited. The goal of Yoga meditation is to realize our essential nature by conscously uniting with it." The book describes all the various branches of Yoga that you will find in Yoga centers today, including Jnana-Yoga, Karma-Yoga, Bhakti-Yoga, Mantra-Yoga, Raja-Yoga, and Hatha-Yoga, and provides resources for finding them.
Yoga meditation is the same in all of the branches, according to Feuerstein. He gives this instruction:
• Withdraw to a quiet, harmonious place where you can focus inward without distraction or interruption.
• Focus the mind on an object of concentration such as the body itself, the breath, an image, or a sound.
• Practice regularly. Whatever prop is used to focus attention, it must be employed repeatedly to serve it's purpose. It must become a habit.
• Be consistent. It is useful to meditate regularly and at roughly the same time each day."Because it is such a rich, variegated tradition, Yoga holds appeal for a wide range of people with many different temperaments and aptitudes."
Yoga instructor Judith Lasater adds: "The word 'Yoga' means 'to unite'. It is a state of being in which the practitioner experiences a cellular connection with the Universe, the Source, or God. And Yoga is also a moral code. Practicing Yoga means paying attention to your whole life." Lasater's book offers instructions about both the internal 'Yoga within yourself' and the external concerns of relationship and community. Each of the 21 chapters in her book has a guided Yoga meditation practice.
In his book, Yoga for Dummies, Georg Feuerstein helps beginners find a suitable Yoga niche based on their physical condition and personal goals. He gives tips about finding a class, preparing to start practicing Yoga, and establishing a daily practice schedule. He writes: "Whether you are a busy mother and homemaker or a top executive, the mental tranquility you produce through regular Yoga meditation exercises can transform your entire day. If your meditation is successful, you will discover your shadow side and have insights into your character that may prompt some changes. Don't be surprised if you meditation is calm one day and turbulent the next. Graciously acdept whatever happens in your meditation and don't hesitate to exercise your sense of humor."
Books Available from Amazon
The Shambhala Guide to Yoga, by Georg Feuerstein ($10) provides an excellent overview to all the many Yoga practices and experiences you can find in modern practice.
Living Your Yoga: Find the Spiritual in Everyday Life, by Judith Lasater ($10). A Yoga teacher who understands the demands of modern life, Lasater offers dozens of ways to practice Yoga meditation in the midst of daily living.
Yoga for Dummies, by Georg Feuerstein ($14) covers all the basics in the easy-to-follow style typical of this book series. A perfect introduction to Yoga for beginners.
Yoga Journal magazine, ($19 for 7 issues/year) has healthy living and yoga practice tips for everyone.
Links
Yoga Journal magazine's website is a great resource. www.yogajournal.com You can search for Yoga classes by city or by style. There is also a great directory of Yoga teachers.
The Yoga Directory www.yogadirectory.com lists resources from around the country.
Shambhala Mountain Center in Colorado offers Buddhist, Shambhala, and Yoga meditation retreats in a beautiful Rocky Mountain setting. www.shambhalamountain.org
