Yoga & Meditation Tours

Yoga
When the surface of a lake is still, one can see to the bottom very clearly. This is impossible when the surface is agitated by waves. In the same way, when the mind is still, with no thoughts or desires, you can see the "Self" this is called "Yoga".

Yoga, literally means union. Yoga is an attempt to unite the individual soul with the Universal Soul or God through rigorous mental and physical efforts. It is an integrated system of body, mind and spirit, and is fastened to ideas, values and attitudes. Yoga is capable of ensuring physical well-being, mental harmony and moral elevation. The are eight steps in yoga 0YAMA Conditional yoga behaviour, personal and social, NIYAMA Attitude sublimate to yoga norms, ASANA, discipline of the physical body, PRANAYAMA control over bio energy through respiratory action, PRATYAHARA withdrawal of the senses inwards through abstraction, DHARNA that is concentration, DHYANA which is meditationand SAMADHI, the tranconsciousness.

Meditation
Meditation is an experience that cannot be described, just as colors cannot be described to a blind man. All ordinary experience is limited by Time, Space and Causation. Our normal awareness and understanding do not transcend these bounds.

Meditation emboldens body's immune system, wards off diseases and enables quick recovery from diseases. Meditation helps mould a mind healthy, alert, positive, and calm. This, in turn, produces a body filled with vitality and health. A blend of meditation, proper diet, and yoga postures improves the general health. Medical journals say even serious heart and circulatory problems can be reversed through a regime of diet, meditation, and exercise. Meditation takes away fear, worry, and anger and replaces the mind with positive, strong attitudes. Its daily practice gives control over the flow of life-force. As a result, an attitudinal change takes place leading to dispassionate approach to worldly pleasures.

Meditation is a simple and powerful tool to lead a stress-free life. Relationships will be rewarding once developed a calm, relaxed sensitivity of life via meditation. All forms of meditation are good, but in our high speed society, we need to learn how to protect our energy by closing down at the end.

The 14 Points of Meditation
1.. Regularity of time, place and practice are important. Regularity conditions the mind to slow down its activities with a minimum of delay.

2.. The most effective times are early dawn and dusk, when the atmosphere is charged with special spiritual force. If it is not feasible to sit for meditation at these times, choose an hour when you are not involved with daily activities, and a time when the mind is apt to be calm.

3.. Try to have a separate room for meditation. As meditation is repeated, the powerful vibrations set up will be lodged in the area; an atmosphere of peace and purity will be felt.

4.. When sitting, face North or East in order to take advantage of favorable magnetic vibrations. Sit in a steady, comfortable, cross-legged position with spine and neck erect but not tense.

5.. Before beginning, command the mind to be quiet for a specific length of time. Forget the past, present and future.

6.. Consciously regulate the breath. Begin with five minutes of deep abdominal breathing to bring oxygen to the brain. Then slow it down to an imperceptible rate.

7.. Keep the breathing, rhythmic, inhale for three seconds and exhale for three seconds. Regulation of breath also regulates the flow of prana, the vital energy.

8.. Allow the mind to wander at first. It will jump around, but will eventually become concentrated, along with the concentration of prana.

9.. Don't force the mind to be still, as this will set in motion additional brain waves, hindering meditation.

10.. Select a focal point on which the mind may rest. For people who are intellectual by nature, this may be the Ajna Chakra., the point between the eyebrows. For more emotional people, use the Anahata or Heart Chakra. Never change this focal point.

11.. Focus on a neutral or uplifting object, holding the image in the place of concentration. If using a Mantra, repeat it mentally, and co-ordinate repetition with the breath. If you dont have a personalized Manta, use Om. Although mental repetition is stronger, the mantra may be repeted aloud if one becomes drowsy. Never change the Mantra.

12.. Repetition will lead to pure thought, in which sound vibration merges with thought vibration, without awareness of meaning. Vocal repetition progresses through mental repetition to telepathic language, and from there to pure thought.

13.. With practice, duality disappears and Samadhi, or the superconscious state, is reached. Do not become impatient, as this takes a long time.

14.. In Samadhi one rests in the state of bliss in which the Knower, the Knowledge, and the Known become one. This is the superconcious state reached by mystics of all faiths and persuasions.