In this article you will get a comprehensive picture of the process of yoga-meditation. Talking about yoga-meditation, the first question that comes to most people’s mind is, “why should I practice Yoga-Meditation? How will that benefit me?”

Let us first understand what Yoga-meditation is. Yoga routines incorporate a series of physical postures or Asana inducing both bodily and mental well-being. It is not just an exercise routine. Yoga is an ancient philosophy that advocates pure consciousness as the ultimate reality, superimposed by duality of mind and body (Purusha and Prakrity) .Yoga helps to balance the nonphysical mind and the physical body, taking the individual self or spirit closer to universal life force, emanating from the supreme self. The significance of yoga is not in exercise, but in meditation, leading to self realisation. Meditation requires stringent self discipline, concentration and controlled breathing techniques. All this is possible when one is in a reasonable state of health. This is what yoga postures bring about. The best sequence for this purpose is to start with a simple warm up yoga exercise. This will increase blood flow, into the working muscles, to facilitate improved performance and reduce the risk of injury.

Yoga exercises are known to increase body flexibility and yoga-meditation treats the mind and the body as an inseparable entity.

Yoga postures increase lubrication of joints, ligaments and tendons and within a short period of commencing the postures, you will have increased dexterity and decreased anxiety.

The gentle movement of varying postures massage the internal organs, increasing their efficiency and it has been proved that certain specific body positions open the energy channels and psychic centres.

Yoga exercises ensure optimum blood supply all over the body. This helps to flush out toxins from remote areas and provide nourishment to vital organs, leading to delayed aging and a remarkable zest for life.

Yoga is an excellent way of toning muscles. Muscles that have been weak and flabby, when stimulated repeatedly, shed excess fat and flaccidity. During Gym type exercise, breathing accelerates the overall metabolic speed, oxygen consumption rises and the body gets hot. Whereas when yoga asana or posture is performed, respiration and metabolic rates slow down, body temperature drops. In addition, the slow movement in posture formation has beneficial effect on glands and internal organs and the scientists are more and more noticing pronounced alteration in electrochemical activity in the nervous system.

In modern stressful society our body and mind both constantly harbour tension, stress and depression. Chronic stress situation creates energy blockage or knots. A well chosen set of yoga postures, combined with some key breathing techniques and mindful meditation, awakens the evolutionary energy or Kundalini Shakti, dormant in each individual.

Yoga-meditation gives out a clear message of keeping the body fit in its prime condition. Since primitive time, yoga practitioners felt a deep yearning to come out of the bondage, whereby the material body conjures up an elusive ego feeling. Pride, hatred, jealousy and anger create confusion and stress. People embark on yoga-meditation for various reasons, like: It makes them feel good, some expect it to diminish stress or pain, others may believe it will help them to get through a crisis or some acute medical issue.

The aim of meditation is to fine tune the thought process and to activate pure knowledge, leading to wisdom and logical intuition. Hence take charge of your health and optimize your physical, mental and spiritual power of healing, before unforeseen circumstances take away that option.

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