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Yoga comes from the Sanskrit word yuk (literally meaning “yoke” which gave rise to the modern English words yoke and union).  In yoga, your objective is to gain control of the body and the mind.  By controlling the body through yogic exercises, you eventually learn to control your mind.  Unless you can control both body and mind, you will not reap the real benefits of yoga and meditation.

You may have heard others talk about yoga and meditation, but there may still be something mysterious about what it involves.  One common perception is that you can essentially practise yoga by simply doing the series of physical yoga positions.  There is indeed a refined system of yoga positions to be followed, but it is important to realise that yoga is immensely more than physical exercise if you really wish to maximise the benefits of holistic yoga.

The meaning of yoga, and the ultimate objective of yoga meditation, is to achieve the union of body, mind, and spirit; union of the individual with the entirety of creation; and unity of the individual with the creative force, the divinity in all there is.  By helping you achieve unity with this life force, you discover who you truly are.

One of yoga’s most important benefits comes from the use of meditation for stress relief.  Health experts believe that stress can give rise to many of the common illnesses.  Stress can lead to elevated blood pressure, faster heart rate, and production of toxic substances.  Yoga meditation induces opposite effects, relieving stress and promoting relaxation.

Yoga positions stretch and tone most of your muscles, helping you achieve overall fitness.  The exercises increase the range of motion in joints and help protect muscle from injury during more strenuous physical activities such as sports and athletics.  Many yoga positions enhance the flexibility and improve the alignment of your spine.  If you suffer from chronic back problems, you can well appreciate the relief to mind and body this can bring.

A number of yoga positions are designed to improve circulation, enhance digestion and promote more efficient elimination of toxic wastes.  Internal organs are tenderly massaged and toned, helping them to function more optimally.  It is easy to see that yoga can become the core of your health and wellness program.

Yoga has developed a rich system of exercises and techniques that are used to promote harmony and well-being of body, mind, and spirit.  By regularly performing the various yoga positions, you enhance the functioning of your musculoskeletal and circulatory systems.  By regularly practicing yoga meditation, you achieve deeper levels of relaxation and strengthen your mind’s power of concentration.  The system helps you gain soundness of body, clarity of mind, and vitality of spirit.

If you follow the holistic yoga practices regularly, you will soon find that they open up opportunities to reconnect with the self and to learn self-acceptance.  Through sustained practice of yoga and meditation, you can experience the invaluable benefits of inner peace and joy that can come with a healthier body and more self-awareness.

For a full guide to holistic yoga and yoga meditation techniques “Enrich Your Mind, Body and Soul with the Power of Yoga” at http://digitalinformationdownloads.com/wellness/yoga will enable you to practice the proven system in the comfort of your own home.

For a FREE mini ebook from “Enrich Your Mind, Body and Soul with the Power of Yoga” go to http://digitalinformationdownloads.com/wellness/yoga and click on the FREE Ebook box.  Buy now to claim your 2 free bonus books!

You’ve heard about various meditation techniques on television and in magazines, and you’ve seen the relaxed, peaceful and fulfilled expressions on the faces of those who successfully practice meditation techniques on a regular basis. But before you can begin to reap the benefits of meditation in your own life, you need to understand more about what meditation is and entails, and what meditation techniques are available for you to engage in and find fulfillment through.

Meditation is the act of separating your mind from your body in order to achieve a higher plane of consciousness where the every day details of every day life do not interfere with your ability to achieve a sense of wonder and fulfillment from your joining with the world around you. This act can be achieved through a variety of meditation techniques; because there are so many ways to relax your entire being until it is able to join as one with the universe, you will simply need to experiment to find what works best in your own life.

Popular types of meditation techniques include Buddhist meditation, Zen meditation, yoga-based meditation, hypnosis-based meditation and Christian meditation. Each of these meditation techniques carries a common thread in that they enable their practitioners to attain a higher plane of consciousness in order to leave behind common worries and instead become filled with wonder for the universe as a whole in order to be filled with a sense of peace and understanding to bring back to their own lives. Each of these meditation techniques also has differing modes of practice, however, and those modes can mean the difference for you when you are finding the most positive way to attain enlightenment.

In Christian meditation, the techniques used are similar to deep forms of prayer. When practicing Christian meditation techniques, you’ll become extremely relaxed and use traditional prayers to prepare your mind to undertake its journey to the next level. Eventually, you’ll be able to move on from the words of the prayer to a state where no words are necessary to simply attain the feeling of fulfillment. You will know that this form of meditation has worked in your case if you are left feeling peaceful and at one with the world around you. Forms of Buddhist and Zen meditation rely upon similar patterns to achieve that same ending.

Within yoga-based meditation techniques, the various positions of yoga exercises are used to thoroughly relax your body and prepare it to attain a higher state of existence. Likewise, in hypnosis-based meditation techniques, the act of hypnotizing your mind will allow you to relax physically while opening yourself mentally to all of the possibilities in the world around you. No matter which meditation techniques you choose to pursue, you will be able to attain greater peace and focus in your life.

Contrary to popular belief, Yoga is not merely a string of exercises which is practiced through various postures. It is a complete system set up to benefit the body, revitalize the mind and uplift the soul. For centuries now, Yoga has been a way of life and its exploding popularity is proof of the myriad benefits that millions have derived from it.

What is Yoga?

Yoga is one of the oldest known art forms of India and is believed to have been practiced even thousands of years ago. In fact, mention of Yoga can be found in the Hindu religious texts of Upanishads and Puranas which were compiled in the later Vedic and post-Vedic period thousands of years ago. The sage Patanjali is believed to have been chiefly responsible for giving structure to the art form and turning it into a system which could be practiced by the seasoned and the layman alike. To help in this, he wrote the book, “Yoga Sutra,” roughly two thousand years ago and laid down the essential principles governing the practice of this discipline.

These writings of Patanjali became the basis for a system known as the “Ashtanga Yoga” which is the most popular form of Yoga practiced throughout the world and is characterized by the following eight components:

- Yamas- restraints to be followed

- Niyamas- code of conduct to be observed

- Asanas- actual physical postures or exercises to be performed

- Pranayama- Regulated breathing

- Partyahara- to withdraw the senses from that which excites them

- Dharana- deep concentration on one object

- Dhyana- religious meditation

- Samadhi- complete merging of ones self

How do Yoga and Meditation Help?

Yoga and Meditation are inextricably linked together- you cannot practice Yoga without reflecting for a few moments on that power that rules over us all just as to have a strong mind, you need to strengthen your body. Together, they offer a unique way of building your body and mind as also providing you with mental peace. Your physical well-being improves, your thoughts are much calmer and you are on your way to a healthier and longer life.

Yoga can benefit you in many ways; some are simple like by improving your fitness and stamina, and the balance and flexibility of your body. Some benefits are more significant, like the high levels of energy that you begin to feel throughout the day, the positive thoughts that motivate you in your toughest decisions and the complete absence of negative thoughts, all contributing to a slow down in your ageing and an increase in your mental well being.

And that is not all, through Yoga and Meditation, you begin to focus on and understand the priorities of your life. Meditation helps you realize that there are higher powers at work and with that realization your perspective on life too changes.

Practice Yoga with Meditation today and let them bring you peace of mind, strength of spirit, better health, a passion for life, and a growing sense of overall well-being.

Yoga meditation is described to be an art and science of systematically, observing, accepting, understanding, and training each of the levels of our being, such that we may coordinate and integrate those aspects of ourselves, and dwell in the direct experience of the center of consciousness.

The Yoga of today is not actually a separate part of Yoga Meditation, simply because for a fact Yoga is meditation. However, to differentiate Yoga Meditation to the now popular belief that Yoga is all about physical postures, Yoga Meditation is a complete process unto itself and only a small though useful part of which relates to the physical body.

In Himalayan tradition of Yoga Meditation, one systematically works with the senses, body, breath, the various levels of mind, and then goes beyond to the center of consciousness. The science of yoga meditation as taught by the Himalayan sages, is already a complete science that has been divided into smaller pieces over time, each having individual parts that has sometimes unfortunately been cut out from the whole Yoga Meditation and has been given separate names and taught as unique systems of meditation.

Yoga Meditation of the Himalayan tradition involves a broad range of practices and not only deals systematically with all levels, it is also holistic. These practices include:

Meditation

Regardless of what object is used, such as breath, a visualize image, an internal point of focus, or a religious symbol, meditation evolves in stages.

• Gross objects . Yoga meditation may start with concentrating on identifiable objects or words.

• Subtle objects. Second would be to shift to their non-objective form, such as light or sound which constructs the object

• Bliss. Third would lead to the subtler, joy-producing essence or meaning of the object, or

• I-ness. Moving still deeper into the being-ness or existence itself.

Yoga meditation is systematic, moving inward from gross, to subtle, to subtler, and to subtle-most. Attention moves inward progressively, from the most external to the very core of the being.

Contemplation

Whether it is a reflection on the universal picture or an aspiring verse from the sacred texts of one’s religion, contemplation also evolves. One of the focuses of Contemplation in the Himalayan tradition is Mahavakyas or great Contemplations. The stages that contemplation evolves are:

• Thought. Contemplation may start with a verbal thought or process.

• Reflection. Second is to deepen to quiet reflection

• Intuition. Later bring intuitive wisdom, and

• Knowing. Then lead to a formless knowing.

Like meditation, contemplation also moves inward, following the steps of moving inward from gross, to subtle, to subtler, and to subtle-most. As the more external, gross, verbal way recedes, it leads to the very core of our intuitive being.

Prayer

Although Prayers might be different for people of different cultures and religions, prayer also evolves through stages:

• Repetition. Prayer may start by being repetitive and standardized in a traditional way

• Relationship. Then shifting to a more verbal and spontaneous inner relationship

• Feeling. Then developing to a deeper, non-verbal feeling of love and devotion and

• Communion. Transforms into still deeper communion.

Prayer also moves inward, progressively from the most external to the very core of our being. Prayers for strength, or for spiritual awakening, gradually come to completion.

Mantra

Whether the Mantra is of a particular religious significance, such as a short phrase or a spiritual language such as Sanskrit, or a seed syllable not of any particular religion or language, it also evolves through stages. Mantra usage deepens with practice:

• Spoken. It may be spoken first externally or internally

• Heard. Later heard or attended to internally

• Feeling. Then later experienced as a syllable-less feeling, or

• Pervasive awareness. Finally experiencing pervasive awareness that leads to its source.

Mantra like the other practices of Meditation, Contemplation, and Prayer, also moves inward.

The root meaning of Yoga Meditation lies in the meaning of the word Yoga itself, which comes from “yuj” meaning to join, to bring together the aspects of yourself that were never divided in the first place. Although some principles of Yoga Meditation are contained within various religions, Yoga meditation is not a religion.

Yoga is beyond an alternative form of therapy, a physical exercise routine or a breathing technique. It has more to offer than this. Yoga is also about preparing the mind, body and soul for meditation. In fact yoga and mediation goes hand in hand and was formulated in ancient India for meditation by the sages. Meditation is the state of mind to accomplish spirituality. Yoga helps a stressed out mind to relax and calm down in order to do the meditation practice.

Philosophy of yoga and meditation- the Patanjali yoga philosophy is based on “astanga yoga”, the eight limbs. Yoga meditation also describes the five state of human mind. The initial state of mind is disturbed, bewildered and distracted. They are hindrances in healthy growth of mind and body. Concentration and balance is achieved through yoga meditation postures.

Yoga meditation technique-
There are numerous ways to learn yoga meditation techniques. The main aim of all these yoga meditation practice is attainment of self-realization. Yoga is a science; the techniques are ways to develop the skills in order to meditate so as to discover about self within. Here is explained a step by step yoga mediation technique.

Relaxing the body for yoga meditation-
In this yoga meditation the body is relaxed with the help of yoga postures and relaxation exercises like yoga nidra or corpse pose and also Hatha yoga postures. One grows and absorbs with more and more practice of yoga meditation exercises. The main aim in any of this technique is to relax the body whenever needed.

Sitting straight posture for yoga meditation-
There are several postures in yoga. Swastika Sana, siddhasana, sukhasansa are some of the postures. It may take years to develop and refine the yoga meditation poses. Adjustments in arms, legs and feet can be done for yoga meditation. The aim is to develop comfortable seating posture with head, neck, trunk and body straight.

Breathing process for yoga meditation-
Awareness is important for breathing. Observing the breadth when to pause, inhale and exhale can be learnt with pranayama, kapalbhati, anulom vilom etc. Proper breathing practice is the essence of any yoga meditation.

Thought process by yoga meditation-
Instead of eliminating the thoughts try to ponder and contemplate on the neutral aspects. Yoga meditation lies with letting go and free flow of thoughts instead of repression and emotions. Introspect and discriminate on the train of thoughts through yoga meditation.

Promoting thoughts by yoga meditation-
The next step is towards assuaging the karmas and samskar with promotion of good thought. The good thoughts are reinforced into will power and finally into actions. They are implemented in day to day life.

Not allowing being disturbed in yoga meditation-
Self-control and equability is accomplished without getting wavered from any kinds of external as well as internal disturbances. Maintaining equanimity expands in due course of time, in stages in yoga meditation.

All these yoga mediation techniques work together for attainment of supreme self.

Each one of these healing methods is thousands of years old. The exact origins of meditation and self-hypnosis are not known. We do know that Yoga existed over 5,000 years ago in the Indus Valley. Despite the evidence that each of these methods creates peace of mind, within the practitioner, they have only recently gained worldwide attention for their results.

Meditation is often linked to Yoga, since it is one of the many aspects of Yoga. However, meditation is also a separate entity and has existed in almost every corner of the earth for a very long time. Proponents of self-hypnosis can make similar claims and healers have successfully used this method for a variety of ailments that afflict mankind.

All of these methods have existed despite fundamentalist efforts to prevent them. Why should fundamentalists care about Yoga, meditation, and self-hypnosis? The keyword is “self.” If you can control your mental, physical, and spiritual health, you can regulate your own life. This strikes fear into the hearts of those who work very hard to regulate and control the masses.

Ask anyone who practiced Yoga, but has lived under a suppressive form of government, about his or her experience. Over the past 15 years, I have met many former Soviet Block citizens, and learned so much from them. Many of them shared their experiences about practicing Yoga, martial arts, meditation, self-hypnosis, and religion in secret. Families practiced together secretly to avoid drawing attention to them.

Attention to yourself is not desired in any suppressive society. To become the custodian of a healing method is one thing, but to risk your life for it is truly brave. For this, and many other reasons, these people are the unsung heroes for freedom, self-improvement, and healing methods.

For those of us who live in a free society, we often take for granted that you can practice Yoga, meditation, self-hypnosis, or any other form of self-healing, without fear of reprisal. You can point yourself in a positive direction and pursue it freely. No one is holding you back from improving yourself and you don’t have to hide in a closet to practice.

The next time you make an excuse about not having enough time to practice Yoga, meditation, religion, or self-hypnosis, think of the people who have to put their lives on the line for a little personal freedom.

Lastly, you can always make an appointment with yourself. Write it down in your appointment book, on your laptop, or anywhere else you will see it. Make an appointment with yourself to practice Yoga, meditation, or self-hypnosis and remember those who gave their lives for the freedoms you have.

© Copyright 2005 – Paul Jerard / Aura Publications

It is like life is going at a fast pace today. Technology, faster cars, airplanes, and all forms of transport, and life in general are going faster. It seems hard to keep up, and Yoga, and Yoga meditation with its techniques as old as 4000 years claims to bring peace and harmony today. So, why does yoga and meditation work?

Technology got such a big investment, because it was and is believed that it will allow us to live more easily. The dishwasher stops woman and men everywhere from having to spend hours washing dishes. An airplane makes a vacation and not a pilgrimage. A van is there to help us from carrying heavy things without having to do it ourselves!

However, even with all this added technology, life still has gotten to a faster pace. It seems like every time the computers increase in speed, the world has to move just a bit faster.

Yoga is truly an ancient technique; a gift to man that applies just as well from when it was handed to us, as it is today. But, why does it work? Yoga has more and more people becoming interested in it. More and more people are meditating, and it is no longer a taboo to say you meditate or do yoga.

I remember some time ago hearing about how we breath. We have to options, one is breathing from our chest, while the other is breathing from the stomach. The interesting point is that babies breath from there belly, whereas as we become adults we tend to only breathe from the chest area.

Breathing is a fascinating topic, and one which most people don’t think about. By simply changing breathing from a fast pace to a slower pace, we automatically relax more. As we close our eyes, and do meditation, we relax more.

It seems like all the troubles of the world disappear, and when we open our eyes again, we have new vigor. We have a sense of peace. And if you have not meditated before, then it is something to consider.

Meditation brings peace of mind. And with the added benefit of other parts of Yoga, the diet, the exercises, postures, and positive thinking, it can truly bring us into harmony, even today.

Scientific research has shown the benefits of yoga and meditation. The peace of mind it brings you is simply amazing. Even in a world that can seem chaotic, meditation and yoga can truly bring peace to you.

Looking at people who have done meditation for a while, and regularly, you will see that they can handle more things with a relaxed state of mind, than others who don’t do meditation and yoga.

Is Yoga meditation practical in nature or theory? Can someone in university study Yoga, and know about Yoga or see the benefits? Can reading a good book make us experienced at Yoga?

This is an interesting topic; after all, to succeed in many fields, to pass that course, you need to be graded. You need grades to achieve becoming an accountant, lawyer, etc. However, is this same with Yoga meditation?

Yoga meditation however, can not be viewed in such a light. Whereas in life we learn that education is a key to success in whatever we choose to do, in Yoga this is far from the case.

Whether you are simply meditating or doing Yoga meditation, the key to success is practice. Often we may neglect such points. We may feel that we need every Yoga or meditation book to help us on our journey. Though these help, books of Yoga on a bookshelf don’t give you the skill. And this is same whether that is Yoga meditation or becoming an accountant.

Yoga is about finding that spiritual aspect in a practical way, and this only happens with practice. If you hold to the position that reincarnation exists, then you know that some things may take many life times to master.

Yoga meditation is in similar view with reincarnation. Achieving bliss, the highest consciousness, and seeing past the illusion of Maya is something that can take many lifetimes.

This may make you think that there is no point, if it is going to take many lifetimes, however, that is not the case. The best time to begin is now, if you have not done so already. Yoga offers many benefits, and not just spiritual, though that is the aim of practicing Yoga for many.

Yoga is practical, and one which requires consistent effort. Though the first few times of doing Yoga may seem complicated and new, over time you will get more experienced, and experience the benefits that Yoga gives.

Many people buy books on Yoga, yet so few will ever pick up that book, and sit down and participate. Participation is the key to success with Yoga. And success is another misconception, as success is a constant thing, and not a destination.

Beginning Yoga for yourself can be a simple process. I have found that first getting experience with meditation did help. It allowed the Yoga meditation periods to be more fulfilling. Though you can start Yoga from any age, any place with some peace and quiet.

You can start with one pose and then from there as you gain more experience do more, until you are flexible and balanced in mind, body, and soul.

As a marketing company, we are often asked about how to get the best “lead generation” from local advertising for Fitness Centres, Gyms, Yoga and Meditation Classes, Beauty Salons, Hairdressers, Nurseries and Non-Profit organisations. As the world of traditional print and online advertising merge, how can you take best advantage of your local and immediate population from print advertising? (You also find plenty of information on our web site about internet online advertising)

One of the most effective forms of advertising, from our experience working with clients in the sectors mentioned previously, has been with UK local government publications. These are delivered into households within Boroughs, Municipalities or Counties. Most of these publications are focused on around 200-225k households, so not huge (UK statistics). However, because they go into each home in the area, their penetration value is excellent and their readership is correspondingly high. In comparison, readership of a local newspaper, free or bought, is usually around 30k – so you see the difference and the potential. Also, the costs are similar between both publications, but the return on investment is much higher for the government publications. Many of these local governments require external funding to afford a large print run, and that’s why they need advertisers like us.

From our experience, these types of publications work extremely well for the aforementioned businesses, and we have a number of our clients benefiting from very positive lead generation by using them. Many companies and organisations give up on a print advertising campaign too soon. We have a superb article on Life Value Cycle – The Cost of Client Acquisition which shows that if print advertising is performed correctly, it can bring very positive results. This article explains that just one response to an ad could have well paid handsomely for your investment.

Define your Target Audience

Firstly, it is important to define your target audience. With researching your current client’s ages and other demographics like income, size of home, number of cars etc, you may find that the majority of sign ups were from people aged 30-45, as an example. Remember that it is not effective to target over many different demographic levels and ages, so settle for the obvious core or most popular age band, income or ethnicity – whatever is more relevant to the service or product you are selling.

Firstly, design your ad so as to appeal to this audience with the correct wording. Make sure the ad looks professionally created and do not use clipart and amateur photography. A perfectly formed ad can convey a message effectively, and a well chosen photograph can work wonders! (Have a look at photo library www.dreamstime.com where you should find the images you require and many for less than £1)

So, what do you need to do?

Firstly, check your local municipality, borough, country or state online via the internet and see if you can find the details (as you may not receive the publication personally). If you receive the publication, give them a call to discuss your requirements and target audience, however broad or narrow.

The art of marketing is to test – test – test – so give it a go, but make sure that the message in your ad reflects your expected response outcome. Ask yourself, “Will my target audience respond to such an ad”?

Why not offer some free inductions or courses? Do also remember that the most powerful word in Marketing is “free” – we all love something for nothing!

Please do get in touch if you require any further information on this subject.

You don’t need to fall into the stress mode of life. You can use breath to relax, rather than stress, your mind and body. Yoga helps you to relearn that natural state that your body and mind want to be in relaxation.

Deep breathing is both calming and energizing. The energy you feel from a few minutes of careful breathe is not nervous or hyper, but that calm, steady energy we all need. Slow, steady, and quiet breathing gives a message to your nervous system: Be calm.

Whole books have been written on yoga breathing. Here is one 5-minute Breath Break. (Read through the instructions several times before you try the practice.)

1. Sit with your spine as straight as possible. Use a chair if necessary but don’t slump into it. Feet flat on the floor with knees directly over the center of your feet. Use a book or cushion under your feet if they do not rest comfortably on the floor. Hands are on the tops of your legs.

2. Close your eyes gently and let them rest behind closed lids.

3. Think about your ribs, at the front, back, and at the sides of your body. Your lungs are behind those ribs.

4. Feel your lungs filling up, your ribs expanding out and up. Feel your lungs emptying, your ribs coming back down and in. Don’t push the breath.

5. The first few times you do this, do it for 2 to 3 minutes, then do it for up to 5 to 10 minutes. At first, set aside a time at least once a day to do this. When you learn how good it makes you feel, you’ll want to do it at other times as well.

Just as one stressful situation goes into your next challenge, relaxing for a few minutes every day gradually carries over into the rest of your daily life and activities.