Yoga and Meditation

In the last yoga class I attended, I tried to focus on the meditation part of the practice. This is an area that I find myself most baffled by. I really have a hard time focusing and meditating at the end of practices, which I think is due to my lack of understanding.

For me its hard to just sit still and empty all of my thoughts; I have to be doing something. When I spoke to my instructor, she advised that I practice my breathing and really focus my breath on my energy. Whether it be to increase or decrease my energy, I need to find myself in a state of clarity and balance. I was also told that depending on my energy level, there are certain practices and poses that can help me move from agitation to relaxation; therefore, helping my meditation at the end of my practice.

My instructor also told me to try laying flat on my back, and imagine a glass of water that moves from empty to half full with my breath. She said that by focusing all my attention and energy to this glass of water I will forget my daily thoughts, and eventually be able to control my thought flow. She suggested that after I focus on the glass of water for a while, to bring my awareness to my body and focus on spots of tension. I was told to find the tension spots, and try to focus my breath to those spots in order to release the tension.

In my opinion, this is a lot to think about when you are trying to clear your thoughts. I am use to work outs that require me to just focus on my body and areas that have been injured, so to not push them too far. The mental aspect of a work out is foreign to me. I think I need to focus on one thing at a time, and then move on to the next. I also think that if I am able to understand the meditation process better, that I will be gaining more from my Yoga sessions. It could also help my understanding for the spiritual aspect of Yoga.

Update on cultural immersion project

I have been attending yoga two to three times a week now for the past month. This past week, I went monday and wednesday, and I had two different instructors. I tried to take a little information from each instructor, to help me better understand the theories behind all the techniques that are believed to create a more well rounded individual.

My first instructor had a very calm style that was aimed at creating peace and clarity in her students, so to help them focus all of their attention on their practice. She spoke softly and gave detail about each pose and our breathing techniques. She plays soft music in the background, and cooridinates her poses and whole practice to go with the music. A quicker paced melody would play at first, and a slower more relaxing melody towards the end. This instructor put more emphasis on our minds, the art of being able to clear your minds so to become one with your practice.

My second instructor this week is one I have had before. She places most emphasis on our breathing techniques, and believes that if we can find the perfect breath then we will be at one with our practice. She also plays a soft music in the background, but doesn't really utilize the melody like my other instructor. This second instructor demonstrates her practice a lot more than my first instructor; she doesn't speak as much in an attemp to calm us.

Both insturctors speak of spirituality and repeat chants that go along with their beliefs and practice. I think Yoga is a great work out for me, it helps me work muscles that i typically can't really get to with my normal running and hiking. However, I am still trying to understand the spiritual aspect of the practice. I don't know that I'll ever be as spiritual with my yoga as most are, but I'm entertaining the idea of it. I think it really could help people that don't really relate to a specific religion.