The Benefits of Meditation

This week's class was influenced by the June 2010 issue of Yoga Journal which has an interesting article titled "Your Brain on Meditation" by Kelly McGonigal. Recent scientific studies have proven just how beneficial meditation is to the brain. They are discovering that you don't have to meditate for hours on end to see the benefits that range from improving your concentration to becoming a more compassionate human being. I found this very exciting knowing that I can set aside as little as 3-5 minutes out of my day and still reap the amazing benefits of meditation.

So I invite you to take the next few moments and find a comfortable seat either where you currently are or where you won't be disturbed. Gently close your eyes and place one hand on your heart center. Feel the chest rise and fall as the breath enters and exits the body like an ocean wave lapping at the shore. Now imagine yourself sitting on that beach listening to the sound of the ocean waves in perfect unison with your breath. Begin to melt away all your tension by starting with the forehead, loosening the jaw by slightly opening the mouth and sliding it side to side, maybe even letting out a nice long yawn, taking a couple of neck rolls, and then finally shrugging the shoulders up and down along the back. Now focus your attention on your breath. With each inhale say the word Om and with each exhale the word Shanti. Om is said to be the sound of the universe and Shanti simply means peace. With each inhale and exhale you are bringing peace to not only yourself but the world as well. By chanting a mantra either in silence or out loud it helps keep the mental chatter at ease. If you feel your mind wandering and your thoughts taking over just remember to focus again on the breath and the words Om Shanti to bring you back into a quiet and peaceful state. Sit as long as your life will allow knowing that you may revisit this peaceful state as often as you wish.   

"Throughout our practice, our mind wanders, we become distracted, we feel fatigued, and then we remember and we begin again."

excerpt from the book Meditations from the Mat: Daily Reflections on the Path of Yoga by Rolf Gates and Katrina Kenison

Until next Wednesday,
Namaste~
Chica