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Meditation
Support
Using Yoga
Postures to Deepen Your Meditation
By Bharat Cornell
from
the July Daily Meditator
Swami Kriyananda
in his book, Ananda Yoga™ for Higher Awareness, explains
that although Hatha yoga (postures) benefits the body tremendously,
its original purpose was to prepare the body and mind for meditation.
Paramhansa Yogananda
said, "The ordinary person's energy is locked in his body.
The lack of availability of that energy to his will prevents him
from loving the Lord one-pointedly… Only when the energy can
be withdrawn from the body and directed upward in deep meditation
is true inner communion possible." This is why, for new meditators,
Yogananda emphasized the importance of relaxation. Physical and
mental tension blocks the free flow of energy in the body and draws
our awareness outward. We are trying to redirect our energy inward
in meditation, so tension of any kind hinders our efforts. Practicing
yoga postures before meditation is a marvelous way to release these
energy blocks.
To better support
one's meditative efforts, it is extremely helpful to do the yoga
postures in a specific order. In Ananda Yoga™ the posture routines
are sequenced to bring our energy inward and upward. In the feature
article, Exploring the Essence of Ananda Yoga, Gyandev McCord,
the director of Ananda Yoga worldwide, writes, "Standing asanas
(postures) come first, to center the awareness in the spine and
begin to tune into energy. Then we move to a variety of floor poses,
designed to stretch and open the spine, and focus energy there.
Inverted poses follow, to draw the awakened energy to the brain
with the aid of 'subtle gravity.' Deep relaxation in Savasana (the
Corpse Pose) then helps us internalize this energy in the brain.
Finally meditation brings energy to the spiritual eye."
Yogis discovered
long ago that every posture has not only certain physical benefits,
but spiritual ones as well, so it is very helpful to tune into the
consciousness of each pose. Gyandev McCord elaborated on this in
Yoga for Busy People:
"Each yoga
posture stimulates inner flows of energy, or life force. In turn
those energy flows affect our consciousness, drawing us toward a
certain quality of mind or attitude, such as calmness, vitality,
or inner harmony. In itself, this effect is quite subtle, but we
can enhance it if we take full advantage of the mind-body connection.
We can greatly increase the flow of energy within us, and lift our
consciousness toward that quality.
"In Ananda
Yoga, one of our main tools for doing this is the use of affirmations.
Each pose has an affirmation to reinforce a particular spiritual
quality associated with the pose and with its energy flows. The
power of your mind will magnetically increase the flow of energy
within you. Each pose will become a mini-meditation, and you will
begin to enter into the spiritual quality of that pose."
In this issue
the book excerpt, Ananda Yoga for Higher Awareness, explains
the mind-body connection in greater detail, and Gyandev's Exploring
the Essence of Ananda Yoga article tells how we can practice
Hatha yoga in a deeper, more meditative way. Basic Rules for
Yoga Practice describes the overall attitude in which the poses
should be done as well as certain precautions one should take. Relax
Completely: Try this Pose! teaches you Savasana, which can be
used for deep relaxation before meditation.
Ananda offers
many excellent resources for those who want to practice Hatha yoga.
The Yoga for Busy People DVD/Video, features three wonderful
25-minute routines, which target a special need or outcome-vitality,
calmness, or inner harmony. This DVD/Video is a perfect companion
for home use. Two books by Swami Kriyananda, The Art and Science
of Raja Yoga and Ananda Yoga for Higher Awareness, describe
the practice of Hatha yoga in a marvelously clear and comprehensive
way. You can also receive personal instruction in Hatha yoga from
Ananda Yoga teachers. For those seeking in-depth instruction, the
Ananda Yoga Teacher Training course offers certification.
All exercise
programs (or yoga poses) are not suitable for everyone. If you are
new to yoga practice, I recommend that you consult with your physician
and also receive personal instruction from a qualified teacher.
If you can't find an Ananda Yoga teacher near you, look for an instructor
who teaches yoga as a preparation for meditation, as well as for
its physical benefits. If this isn't possible, you can still apply
the principles of Ananda Yoga in your home practice. Again, the
Yoga for Busy People DVD/Video is perfect for this.
May your practice
of yoga and meditation bring you the joy you are seeking.
Highly Recommended
Resources:
More Articles
on Yoga Postures:
from the
July Daily Meditator
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