Meditative Yoga.

[Guest guest]

Dear Friends,

 

Thanks to the efforts of stalwarts like Sri B K S Iyengar, Swami Satyananda

Saraswati, Swami Ramdev and many others, hatha yoga has become a household name

all over the world. While the asanas and pranayama are relatively well known,

the meditative aspects are relatively less practiced. I am talking about such

aspects as Trataka and Yoga Nidra.

 

Trataka is extremely helpful in harnessing the energy of the third eye, or

activating the ajna chakra. This helps in developing intuitive powers essential

for any student of the occult. Some easy exercises are provided in this link;

http://bestonhealth.com/articles/articles.asp?som=yoga&arttype=trataka

 

Similiarly Yoga Nidra has the ability of arousing the latent powers of the mind.

A good article on Yoga Nidra is provided here;

http://www.lifepositive.com/Spirit/meditation/yoga-nidra.asp

 

I personally use a yoga nidra cassette for a 45 minute session everyday. Though

initially one tends to fall asleep, with practice you can stay awake and follow

the instructions. Pranayama (without the kumbhaka and rechaka) combined with

Reiki and yoga nidra have helped me tremendously in retaining my mental

abilities even while afflicted with a severe degenerative nervous disorder.

 

I have also watched a Venerable Jain Muni on "Astha" channel who teaches various

subtle exercises to energise the chakras. However I have not heard of it from

other sources. Vipassana meditation technique is also very useful. People also

say that the Sudarshan Kriya of Sri Sri Ravishankar is highly effective. It is

upto each individual to decide. I would strongly suggest that everyone should

follow some meditative exercise so as to curb the effects of excessive stress

that one encounters on a daily basis.

 

However the elements of Ashtanga Yoga must also be adhered to, especially if one

is practicing pranayama. They are;

 

• Ahimsa (non-violence),

• Satya (truthfulness),

• Asteya (non-stealing),

• Brahmacharya (celibacy) and

• Aparigraha (non-covetousness)

 

A good article may be read here;

http://www.lifepositive.com/Body/yoga/ashtanga-yoga.asp

 

Pranayama without the retention of breath is also advocated by Swami Ramdev.

This method is suitable for the householders who cannot lead the extremely

austere and disciplined lifestyle of the monks. If one practices retention of

breath without practicing ashtanga yoga then it is said that the procedure

becomes harmful.

 

One should also ensure that the sharpened intellect gained from the above

mentioned practices are only used selflessly for the benefit of mankind.

 

Regards,

Jagannath.