Tips

Browse With Moderation

Sophie Legrand / Reflections, Tips / , , , / 2 Comments

In our teacher training last week, we discussed Brahmacharya. This fifth yama invites us to moderation and to not squander our energy, and hence to exercise our will-power. A lot of us in the class realised how in our modern age, a great deal of our energy leaked through the infinite, colourful, ephemeral and ever so stimulating internet.

I don’t watch TV any more, so nowadays when I’m feeling bored or my energy is low, instead of reaching for the remote, I just open a browser on the laptop, and wander around twitter, facebook or youtube.

A lot of the time, I do learn things, I find inspiring blogs and articles. There is an undeniable educative value to the internet but it can be also a wonderful tool of procrastination. So when do our cyber-musings become a real waste of energy?

[source: http://praiseworks.wordpress.com]

To me, it is when I run out of real purposes to connect to the web and I’m anxiously looking for stimulation, something that will distract me from boredom, loneliness, unpleasant tasks, low mood, etc.

How can we exercise our will-power and direct our energies to worthier pursuits?

First, we can monitor our time and use of the internet, and develop awareness to our browsing. Do we need to check my email, Facebook, Twitter, etc. every 10 minutes? Also, we could play with our abilities for delayed gratification and motivate ourselves with an internet break. For example, ‘I’ll watch that video on youtube once I’ve finished this task I really don’t want to do’.

What can we propose ourselves to do instead?

  • Lonely: why not call a friend, meet someone for coffee, talk to a co-worker, or just go to a yoga class.
  • Bored: maybe think of more creative ways to use our time, like grab a yoga book and read about a posture, a yama, a pranayama, or simply meditate and find out more about the void within.
  • Low: why not get the mat out and practice a few twists and backbends, or cook a tasty nutritious meal for your partner, family, friends or just yourself!
  • Procrastinating: we all know that the earlier we get over unpleasant but unavoidable stuff to do, the better we feel. So just do it and reward yourself after, not before.

Being mindful of how we spend our time and energy is a way of taking care of ourselves. When we waste our time surfing, there is this latent feeling of letting ourselves down. By entertaining the inner child within in a more productive way, we also connect with our more nurturing self.

Who Are You? Do You Really Wanna Know?

Tanya Lee Markul / Reflections, Tips / , , , , , / 3 Comments

Click here for some inspirational music: Who Are You?

Yoga can help build self-confidence, self-awareness and help us to take a more proactive approach to life. Yoga can be one of the biggest gifts you can give yourself, but it takes patience and the courage and willingness to make life-altering changes. Yoga can transform your life.

There is a yoga style for everyone and there are no rules that say you have to stick to just one style. Take your time to find what best suits you and your personality. Styles range with technique and focus, but whatever path you choose, keep going and keep an open mind. Even if at first you find yourself practicing simply to become more physically fit or more relaxed (both will happen), over time you may just find yourself going back more and more for the clarity that yoga brings.

It is important to know that there may be elements of confusion, resistance and even intimidation that arise (I have experienced all of them personally), especially during the early stages of your practice, and of course later on too. Don’t let these things stop you. Take these sensations as signs that you are doing the necessary ‘work’ to uncover deeper truths within you.

Despite yoga’s popularity, some people see yoga as only for the trendy, flexible or religious. Well, none are true. Yoga is thousands of years old, it’s for anyone who’s interested and it’s non-competitive. It is, however, what you make it.

Yoga encourages us to take on kindness toward others and ourselves. Creating awareness and appreciating oneself and others goes a very long way in improving the quality of life for everyone and every living thing on our planet. And, yoga because helps us to feel better both physically and mentally, chances are when we feel good in both of these areas, we feel good in our lives and we want others to feel this way as well.

Yoga helps to reduce stress and tension and helps us open to clarity. When we are thinking clearly, we can start to get in contact with our deepest passions and to what we want to achieve in this life. This clarity, even if not understood at first, often instigates us to ask ourselves more profound questions (What am I doing here? What do I want to do?). And, perhaps it even encourages us to formulate a plan, develop a routine (i.e. practice every day) and to stay on track.

The changes that take place could be massive or subtle. Some find themselves changing careers completely while others find themselves improving the situation they are currently in. Everyone has the possibility to work with the potential they have no matter what it is or has been.

How we practice yoga can also tell us a lot about how we feel in other areas of our lives. Our practice is often a true reflection of our own individual struggles. For example, pushing to hard, not enough, having difficulty relaxing, troubles with the breath, doubting, not enough motivation or belief, no discipline, etc.

Yoga can be a tool to help whatever we do in life, to do it better. It is a journey and the more time we spend on it (on the mat), the more will be revealed. Take a chance. Discover yoga, stick to it and discover who you are.

YOUR PATH TO PRANAYAMA

Sarah Jamieson / Meditation, Reflections, Styles, Teachers, Tips, Yogis / , , , , , / 2 Comments

breathe deep and relax

We know that the word “prana” means life force and “pranayama”  in Yoga means “breath control” or deep diaphragmatic breathing; which is crucial to both sustaining life, as well as relaxation.

But did you know your diaphragm does more then just help you breathe deeper and cultivate prana? 

Deep breathing establishes the mind-body connection needed to regulate our autonomic nervous system (ANS); which can become under-active or over-active with higher levels of stress, tension and the daily hustle and bustle of our urban lifestyle.

The ANS is comprised of the parasympathetic nervous system (PSNS) and the sympathetic Nervous System (SNS); which are responsible for regulating the body’s involuntary functions; which includes the movement of the diaphragm, breathing, circulation, muscle contractions and how you got into the Yoga posture you are practicing right now!

When we meditate or sleep all of these processes slow, along with our breath and we reach a steady state of deep breathing, which is controlled and methodical.  

However, daily stress, tension, muscle fatigue and anxiety can obstruct the fluidity of breathing leaving us with shallow, rigid breathing patterns. This results in unbalanced or impaired autonomic responses that restrict the flow of energy in our body, thus weakening our prana.  

Deep diaphragmatic breathing exercises engage the diaphragm, abdominal wall and rib-cage which improves the inner space within the abdomen for the organs to move freely.

Practicing your pranayama helps to circulate freshly oxygenated blood throughout the system, improves mental clarity and activates the PSNS by stimulating the vagus nerve; which induces the relaxation response, and provides a healthy respite from chronic stress.

Your Path to Pranayama can begin in a relaxed seated or supine posture. Place one hand on your chest and the other hand on your belly:

  • Steady your mind.
  • Breathe more slowly.
  • Breathe more deeply, from the belly.
  • Exhale longer than you inhale. 
  • Cultivate Pranayama

Happy Breath makes Happy Prana!

Sources:

*  Full Path to Pranayama article can be found here:  “The Da!ly Muse” YogaFORM’s official blog site.  http://gimmedailymuse.wordpress.com/  

* Yoga Anatomy: author Leslie Kaminoff and The Breathing Project, Inc – NYC

21 Beautiful Benefits of Yoga

Tanya Lee Markul / Reflections, Tips, Yogis / , , , / 23 Comments

There are many positive and wonderful benefits that we can gain from the practice of yoga. On a physical level, yoga cleanses and strengthens the body. However, these physical benefits are simply a side effect of this powerful practice. Yoga also harmonizes the mind and body making them work in sync. When this happens this opens up the opportunity for us to attain what we thought were unattainable feats. We are so often unable to perform optimally due to stress, confusion, negative emotions, self-doubt and other conflicts of the mind. Yoga can help to correct this.

Here are just some of the tangible benefits that can be achieved through the practice of yoga.

Yoga can help to…

  1. relieve anxiety, depression and stress
  2. increase self-confidence
  3. improve your mood
  4. alleviate anger and hostility
  5. improve concentration and motivation
  6. improve memory
  7. improve reactions times
  8. improve metabolism
  9. improve posture
  10. improve your sleep
  11. improve balance
  12. prevent migraines
  13. delay aging by stimulating detoxification
  14. relieve constipation
  15. alleviate allergy symptoms
  16. reduce blood pressure and pulse rate
  17. help prevent disease by massaging internal organs
  18. help improve your immune system
  19. heal the body and prevent injuries
  20. make you more flexible and strong
  21. enhance a sense of awareness, overall consciousness and gradually lead us toward self-realization

What have you experienced?

YOGA: DO YOU MOVE WITH INTELLIGENCE?

Sarah Jamieson / News, Reflections, Styles, Teachers, Tips / , , , , / 2 Comments

A  well worn “Post-It” sits on my bedside table adorning this phrase; “Action is movement with intelligence” by B.K.S Iyengar; a mantra or better yet a metaphor for pretty much anything we do in life, on and off the mat. 

Question is…how often do we practice it?

Last night I stumbled upon an intriguing article from the NY Times called “Stretch/ When Yoga Hurts” by Lizette Alvarez and it reminded me of how necessary it is to take the time to move with careful precision and be mindful of limitations in our body.

 The foundation of her article outlines the exponential rise of injuries in Yoga over the last several years. Her top 2 findings below are agreeably valid:

1. The overzealous, eager student (we have all been there).

2. Poor alignment and bio mechanical asymmetries.

 As a YogaFORM teacher, Movement & Performance Coach I work daily with clients on corrective strategies to become more kinesthetically aware of their own unique mechanics, and it makes a world of difference on and off the mat.

Yoga is one of the best forms of therapeutic movement; as it provides an atmosphere where one can practice internal awareness, and become aware of their limitations while working towards methodical corrective mechanics.

 Therefore, to build upon my “Post-It’, intelligent action and movement implies focusing on improving the responsiveness in the body for an all encompassing awareness.

This means that each movement we make and the corresponding transitional movements require exquisite observational skill and mastery to cultivate alignment and prepare the body for automatic responsive sequencing. As you continue to observe, adjust and integrate into your postures, this will lead to less strain on the all the muscles, bones, joints, (CNS) Central Nervous System and (PSNS) Parasympathetic Nervous System responses.

When we move and act with intelligence and intention we open channels within our structural framework that results in improved alignment, a nurturing sense of balance and steadiness in postures for better symmetry overall. 

How’s your form? Do you move with intelligence?

Sources:  

NY Times article: Stretch/ When Yoga Hurts, by Lizette Alvarez: http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/07/24/24stretch/

 YogaFORM Links: www.fittotrain.com.  Blogroll: http://gimmedailymuse.wordpress.com/

Keep Yourself Open To Something New

Leeann / Deals, Reflections, Studios, Teachers, Tips / , , , , , / 2 Comments

If you are a long practicing yogi or new to the practice, you might have noticed that there are a lot of choices out there.

When I first started practicing yoga, there was one evening class at UBC called yoga. They didn’t even distinguish it by saying Hatha. Now, there are so many studios in the lower mainland, teaching different styles, I am sure you could go to a different class every day and not run out of options.

So with all those choices where do you start?

Price might be your starting point:

Yoga can definitely be pricey. This can be quite daunting when you are not exactly sure which type of yoga would be best for you.

There is the option of getting a two week unlimited pass. This is great for when you want to try out a specific studio. But what if you aren’t sure which studio to try out?

I feel the best option out there is the Passport to Prana card. With this card you have the option of trying out quite a few different studios. Depending on when you buy your Passport to Prana card, you might have a year to try out all the different studios registered with this program. The most current Passport to Prana card expires in July, but that gives you at least three months to figure it out.

Try the smaller studios; they can be a lot cheaper than the bigger chains. Even your local community center can offer a pass card at a reasonable rate.

Ask around:

You’d be surprised at what the universal will provide if you only just ask. Why not ask the girl walking down the street with a yoga mat on her back. I know that asking a stranger in your own town might seem a little intrusive, but hey, give it a go! I am sure she won’t mind too terribly, if you ask politely. Failing that, try the internet. You have already found us here; there are reviews throughout our site & hopefully many more to come. Be brave, search around.

Sometimes you just have to plunge in:

Be courageous! Try something new. I feel the best thing to do is keep your mind open, give yourself permission to be a little awkward. Remember to be kind to yourself and not worry so much about perfection. If you don’t like the specific style you chose, try again. Yoga can sometimes be like trying on a new pair of jeans; they don’t always fit like your old comforts, but you might surprise yourself into converting to something new.

Remember to keep it fun:

One of my favorite yoga teachers at Semperviva, Bernie Clark, reminds me all the time: laugh, have fun, you’re paying for this.

Quick Yoga Series Video For Runners

Taya / Tips / , , , / 1 Comment

The lovely folks at FitSugar.com thought the yogis and yoginis in Vancouver would be interested in checking out their latest video: Yoga Series For Runners. The video is especially beneficial for runners who are new to yoga, and it offers excellent poses for seasoned yogis who are interested in getting into running. The series was created by Kimberly Fowler, founder of Yoga For Athletes and yoga guru of the LA Marathon. Check it out below:

5 Fundamental Yoga Diet Principles

Tanya Lee Markul / Food, Reflections, Tips / , , , , , , , , , / 1 Comment

We are what we eat! The quality and types of food we consume affects us both mentally and physically. Here are some fundamental diet principles for everyone, especially yogis.

Prefer nutritious value versus going for taste – sure, there may be days when a chocolate covered donut sounds better than an apple, but if you really don’t have to (really, really) then don’t do it. You’ll end up feeling better about the apple. Learn to overcome your cravings and make awesome food choices.

Choose nature – seasonal fruits, vegetables, seeds and whole grains. You can even try the 100-mile diet (eating only produce and food that has been grown and made within 100 miles from where you live).

Don’t over eat. I’ve heard that it’s best to only fill your stomach half way up. It makes it easier for digestion and it also doesn’t leave you feeling lethargic. Taking your time when eating and chewing puts less strain on your digesting system. And wait until after your meal to consume liquids. Remember over eating leads to weight gain!

Drinks. Avoid as much alcohol as possible and limit your intake of caffeine to two cups of Joe or tea per day. Drink at least ten to twelve glasses of water (at least two glasses when you first wake up).

Don’t count calories or stress about vitamin in-take. Don’t be a slave to your taste buds, but focus on what is most healthy. Learn to listen to your body’s needs and remember moderation – do this and you’ll get exactly what your body needs. Yoga is all about self-discipline-you can do it.

Remember to take the time to detox, set goals, find your motivation and make choices that truly optimize your life and those around you.

Namaste!

Photo credit: http://yoga-connection.com

5 Excuses to Skip Yoga And 5 Reasons to Do It Anyways!

Tanya Lee Markul / Reflections, Tips, Yogis / , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , / 10 Comments

Although most of the time I have a lot of motivation I find myself sometimes lacking the discipline that could so nicely compliment it. This lack of discipline can lead me into a lot of trouble, but I’m working out ways to really listen to my body as to when it’s best to simply rest and when I should muster up both the motivation (and discipline) to persevere. As we know, if we want to really reap the benefits of yoga, we have to consistently practice and keep our focus.

1. I’m tired. This is probably the biggest excuse and the most frequently used (and probably the most valid given that a lot of us work a full-time job. Yoga a mere compliment to everything else we do). But, there are ways to get past fatigue. One of those ways is to get moving. Taking a few minutes for sun salutations to simply warm the body up could be all it takes to re-energize and prepare for a full practice (5 Sun Salute A’s and 5 Sun Salute B’s and a nice 5 minute Savasana could do the trick). Another way is restorative poses. Staying in a few restorative poses for 5-10 minutes can help to restore some lost energy (supported backbend for savasana, and a personal fave, supported legs up the wall pose). There are times when it’s best to refrain from practice all together (some refrain during their period, a new moon, full moon or sickness). Given these times, it’s most important to listen to your body and to do what’s best for it. And, let us not forget about meditation! We don’t always need a yoga practice to meditate!

2. I ate too much. This one has sabotage written all over it. You pretty much know when your class time is and if you have a home self-practice, well then, you have no excuse really as you can wait until your belly is ready. If you aren’t eating during the day because your life is too busy, then it’s probably a really good time to bring some balance (and nourishment) back in so as to not miss a class that can be so good for someone who is so busy (and possibly frazzled).

3. I don’t want to leave the house. For whatever reason, we all feel like we want to be hermit (or feeling shy) from time to time. In those instances, and if you don’t have a home self-practice, there are A LOT of great teachers who offer online classes. And, not that the online classes should replace the real thing (as we could miss out on great adjustments, the connectivity, etc), but sometimes online classes are exactly what we need when we don’t feel like going anywhere or perhaps when the weather isn’t great for driving, walking or cycling.

4. Oh I’m a little sore. Perhaps we’ve done a bit too much of this or that that has left us a little bit sore. Well, yoga is just the thing for sore muscles (of course listening to your body in order to not over do it). Yoga helps to relax tight muscles and helps to remove lactic acid build up (the stuff that makes muscles sore). Yoga can actually help the body recover faster from whatever other training sessions we endure.

5. I’m feeling depressed. There’s nothing that can’t turn that frown upside down like some yoga can. Yoga has been proven to help elevate mood and help with temporary phases of depression. Some of my favorite postures for when I’m feeling blue include, all-levels backbends (upward bow pose, bridge pose, camel pose and upward facing dog). Sometimes a good Vinyasa or a sweaty Ashtanga class can also help get you back in the swing of things.

What are your experiences, excuses, and reasons to keep going?

Photo credit: http://www.iyogalife.com/.

Elizabeth Gilbert: A New Way To Think About Creativity

Tanya Lee Markul / Reflections, Tips, Writers / , , , , , / 1 Comment

Author of the international bestseller ‘Eat, Pray, Love’ Elizabeth Gilbert thoughtfully and encouragingly reflects on the idea of encouraging creative minds to not be afraid to do the work they were put on this world to do.

I am sure a lot of us have experienced fear-based reactions when telling others about our own personal creative dreams or goals. Perhaps we have even been on the other end interjecting fear on someone else’s creative dreams or goals. Either way, I really enjoyed this video and truly believe that everyone has a truly unique innate talent waiting to be discovered and that most talent and skill are a result of hard work, vigilant dedication and by embracing eccentricities.

Click to hear to watch video.

And Exhale…..

And Exhale…..

Alison Boons / Reflections, Tips / , , , / 3 Comments

While Mother Nature showed that she is boss this weekend with snow galore, before this weekend it was apparent that the days are getting longer and the flowers are starting to peak their green leaves out of the ground & the trees are beginning to get buds, which means; (thankfully!) it won’t be long until spring is at our door!

Spring is a time of rebirth, a time for a change, a time of renewal, a time of cleansing and the time is quickly upon us. We generally begin to prepare ourselves for spring as the earliest signs begin to show their faces and decide what needs to change in our lives or in our homes; “Out with the old, in with the new.”

Spring “Cleaning” to me is a great form of practicing Aparigraha (Non-grasping), which is the 5th and last of the Yamas as outlined by Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras. Aparigraha means to take only what is necessary and not to take advantage of a situation or act greedily. Therefore, we should only take what we have earned, so in order to help us with our “non-grapsing” we need to work on the idea of  “letting go”. Letting go can be taken into many forms, either material items or feelings but gives us the opportunity to focus on what is really important in our lives.

While emotions can be the hardest thing to “clean” out, sometimes these are the most important. To take a second look at the relationships in our lives that don’t serve us and let them go so that we have the opportunity to cultivate new ones. This letting go of fear, doubt, heartache or whatever it is that you have been hanging onto, can be exactly what spring is, a rebirth for your life.

People have a hard time letting go of their suffering. Out of a fear of the unknown, they prefer suffering that is familiar. ~ Thich Nhat Hanh

When we think of spring cleaning we generally think of material items and cleaning the cobwebs out of the corners of the room, which is a fantastic tool to help us feel better and start the new season with a smile. However the task of spring cleaning can be a little daunting, here are a few tips to help you let go;

  • Clean out the frost bitten, old food that has consumed your freezer.
    If you haven’t eaten it yet, you don’t want to now!
  • Donate the millions of glasses and mugs that are taking over your cupboards.
    Really you don’t need THAT many!
  • Donate the food, that has taken over your pantry, to the Food Bank.
    There are people who can use it now!
  • Clean out the linen cupboard, get rid of the old tattered sheets, towels and stained dishclothes.
  • Hit the bathroom beauty product cupboard, discard all the expired product and the “sample” bottles lying around.
  • Clean out your Wardrobe!
    Donate the jeans that might fit again “one day” and instead tell yourself when that time comes you will reward yourself with a new pair.
    Let go of the shirts and socks and pants that have been lying around with holes in them that you will fix one of these days, you won’t!
    Let go of the clothes you have never worn even though they may be perfect for an occasion one day, remembering there are people that can use these things now!
  • Tackle your Storage Locker;
    Let go of the items sitting in boxes upon boxes.
    While not only fun to reflect on old photos and letters, it feels great to let go of the ornaments and boxes of old christmas cards, that really why are you saving it? R
    Realistically if its in storage and you don’t use it everyday, you probably don’t need it!

There are things that we never want to let go of, people we never want to leave behind. But keep in mind that letting go isn’t the end of the world, it’s the beginning of a new life.  — Author Unknown

While spring cleaning can be a daunting task, what a great way to practice Aparigraha and prepare you for the Spring Solistice which is only a few weeks away. So Take a Deep Breath, LET GO and EXHALE fully!

6 Simple Reasons Why You Should Detox

Tanya Lee Markul / Reflections, Tips / , , , , , , , , / 4 Comments

As I am starting my own little ’detox’, I thought it could be fun to share some reasons why detoxing is a good idea. It’s winter and it’s a lot harder to find motivation and energy during this time of year (at least it is for me). It’s an easy time to stray from disciplined yoga practices and healthy habits and instead cozy up in the blankets day after day waiting for the sun to return.

OK, so, detoxing includes cleaning the body from the inside out, resting, light exercise and let’s not forget nourishment. It’s total TLC time (tender, love and care) to help you replenish and renew your optimal health by enhancing the body’s natural healing system. And, there are plenty of ways to detox. You can detox for just a few days up to a couple of weeks, even more. You can also make up your own detox program or get some help from your local health food store. From deep herbal cleansing programs to juice fasting to refuelling with simple super healthy nutrients, there’s a program that can work for you.

It’s an excuse to kick bad habits! Take a break from alcohol, coffee, cigarettes, refined sugar and saturated fats, all of which act as toxins and act as obstacles to the natural healing processes of the body. You can even use detoxing as an excuse to finally quit smoking or to kick the habit of caffeine hydration. That’s right, a double espresso doesn’t do too much for your body even if you have one four times a day.

Try something alternative! You should try to avoid chemical-based personal care products or household cleaners during a detox (you would be surprised how much gets absorbed by the skin and lungs!). Chemical-based products are after all, toxic. Experiment with some natural alternatives especially for deodorant, soaps, toothpastes and shampoos. And, get a dry brush for your skin. It feels great!

Say goodbye to stress and hello to yoga and meditation. Stress, in large amounts, creates a toxic build up and slows down the detoxification process, not to mention it can lead to a number of other negative things including one serious bad attitude. Yoga and meditation help you to learn how to deal with the inevitable stress that life brings and in many ways, teaches you to smile from the inside out.

Ok, duh, it’s good for you! Detoxing gets rid of toxins, allows your body to heal and creates a clean ‘slate’ for you to, in a way, start over. Bust out of bad habits and create new, healthier habits. If you are noticing a lot of skin breakouts, can’t think clearly, experiencing a lot of low-grade infections, dark circles under the eyes, feeling sluggish or having intestinal issues, then it’s probably a good time to detox.

Rediscover your discipline. And, why exactly would you want to do that? Well, to get your control back and to find something that you didn’t know you lost. We can get sucked into bad habits for months, even years! Better to nip them in the bud while you still can! And, when you are achieving your goals, you feel great. Detoxing and sticking to it inspires the will within!

Detoxing also inspires others! When you detox and start to feel great, you typically want that greatness for those around you. And, when friends and family start to see how good you are feeling and the good decisions you are making, it’s an inspiration for them to do so too.

Detoxing helps us to get back onto the track of living a healthy life, but it’s not easy, especially not at first. The exiting of toxins can be harsh, especially at the beginning, but just think, it may uncomfortable as they come out, but imagine the damage they could do if you just kept them in there.

Take your time, you can do it and start living as optimally as you can. You won’t regret it.

Meditation Matters

Sophie Legrand / Meditation, Reviews, Tips / , , , / 5 Comments

You might have read articles about a recent study – conducted by the University of Massachusetts on 16 participants for 8 weeks  – which showed how meditation can change the brain and increase grey matter in certain areas linked not only with learning and memory, but also awareness and compassion.

Sometimes, these scientific conclusions offer a good opportunity to challenge the sceptical side of our mind, which resists practices that it associates with new age. However, it can just as easily equate  to: ‘meditation actually works, it’s now tangible, it’s all there on the MRI scans’. Hopefully, new evidence like this can incentivise us to develop new habits, and that’s precisely what a lot of meditation relies on:  routines.

It is the same with asana practice: the more you do it, the more you will want to do it and, before you’ve realised, it becomes one of your everyday needs. How many times have you craved practising yoga? Personally, I notice it when I find myself standing in tree pose when stirring a sauce in front of my hob. I know I need meditation when the buzzing of my emotions and thoughts takes over my mind.

If it is not in your daily life and you don’t know how to start, it could be slightly intimidating and puzzling. What does one really do when meditating? So, why not book a class or a short retreat, or drop by your local Buddhist center to learn Metta – the loving-kindness meditation –  or mindfulness meditation, for example. Also, maybe look out for meditation workshops at your favourite yoga studios.

There’s a book I find quite helpful and simple to use, in the same series as The Yoga Bible by Christina Brown, and it’s called The Meditation Bible by Madonna Gauding.  The first sentence reads as an invitation: ‘If you are new to meditation, you will feel comfortable here. And if you are an experienced meditator, you may find renewed inspiration.’

[source: store.higherheart.com]

The first part of the book is a guide to meditation, the ‘what, why and how’ of it, then the author leads us through 140 different meditations, from all sorts of traditions. They are categorised, which can help for days when you have a specific focus in mind: ‘calming and centring’, ‘get moving’, ‘love and compassion’, ‘problem-solving’, etc. Some might sound a bit esoteric, but 140 is plenty to choose from!

Finally, I’ll leave you with Bob Weisenberg‘s fantastic effort of compiling the Bhagavad Gita around different themes, issues and questions. This week on Elephant, he gathers the Gita’s best quotes on The Yoga of Meditation.

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