SPLENDOR OF YOGA -- PART -- 15

SOME SIMPLE MEDITATION TECHNIQUES

PRACTICE "STOPPING"
When you stop, first physically and then through mindfulness of breathing, mentally you give yourself the possibility to catch up with yourself. In our hectic lifestyle at times, we can totally ignore how our body feels, how our mind and emotions are doing and be unaware of accumulated anxiety and stress. So, by stopping, you can begin to restore the important communication with your own self.
For example: When the phone rings, we let it ring three times and while it does so we consiously stop all other activity and come back to our physical body by breathing in and out. This way we use the telephone as means to cultivate peace, calmness and awareness. Similarly, using the computer at home or at work, we must take a short break every 45 minutes. Take a short break for five minutes and move away from the computer or just relax on your chair.Take couple of deep breaths in, relax and feel happy. Doing this will help you have more energy. This also gives you a better sense of how to continue your work.

(MY HONEST REQUEST TO ALL COMPUTER MANUFACTURERS AND SOFTWARE PROGRAMME MANUFACTURERS TO INCORPORATE A BELL RING SOUND IF AND WHEN A PERSON USES THE COMPUTER CONTINUEOUSLY FOR AN HOUR....A BELL RING TONE SHOULD ALERT THE USER TO REALX FOR 5 MINUTES. THIS WILL HELP MILLIONS OF PEOPLE IN THE WORLD)

WALKING "MEDITATION"
This can be simple meditation. We walk very often, so we can easily use this as meditation. We need to slow down 50 -- 70 per cent and take gentle steps on the earth. We must allow our attention to go to the soles of our feet, allowing our energy to come down from heads to our belly and our feet. We may realise that while we are walking slowly, we are at the same time breathing in and out, and we may use this awareness to allow our minds to focus on this activity of walking slowly and being aware of our breathing.

DEEP "RELAXATION"
Lie down for 20 minutes. Take a break; sometimes the activities of the day deplete our energy. Take these 20 minutes for your own self to come back to your body, feeling any area where they may be tension, allowing your breathing in to expand your abdonimal area and letting go with breathing.
Enjoy some moments of silence, inner and outer. Slowly your body and then your mind will respond to this technique.