As mind-body practices, yoga and meditation present many advantages. Nevertheless, for those who observe one with out the opposite, you won’t be getting probably the most out of both behavior. You may really improve your expertise each on the mat and in your pillow by combining the 2.
Right here’s how meditation can deepen your connection to your yoga observe and vice versa.
Why Ought to You Observe Yoga and Meditation Collectively?
Meditation and yoga work collectively synergistically to learn one another. Some forms of yoga, together with kundalini yoga and sure types of hatha yoga, already embrace meditation within the observe.
“In yoga, meditation is the whole lot,” says Sam Rudra Swartz, an authorized meditation instructor and hatha yoga teacher. “The poses put together the physique, the respiration practices assist put together the thoughts, and then you definately spend this time alone along with your [thoughts] the place you place effort towards concentrating on precisely one factor,” whether or not it’s your breath, a mantra, or sensations in your physique.
Plus, the bodily observe of yoga may also help you to be extra conscious in your meditations. “A constant hatha yoga observe is necessary so as to have the ability to sit nonetheless in a tall, upright, alert pose that can facilitate this focus for meditation,” says Swartz.
Yoga additionally focuses on the breath by means of pranayama, that are respiration methods that maintain you calm and centered. With a constant meditation observe, you might be getting ready your physique and thoughts for this breath work throughout yoga poses and constructing focus and focus by means of every stream.
Observe these workouts sufficient and also you may begin to discover their results in your on a regular basis life as effectively.
“We’re taught that yoga is all a couple of calm and centered thoughts, in order that the whole lot you do all through your day is a meditation,” Swartz says. “Your entire day may be a part of your observe.”
Do You Meditate Earlier than or After Yoga?
“There isn’t any steadfast rule as as to if or not you observe one or the opposite first,” Swartz says. Nevertheless, historically, a yoga observe helps a meditation observe. Within the authoritative textual content, The Yoga Sutras, bodily observe (asana) is meant to be regular and cozy, to arrange for longer, sitting meditations.
Nonetheless, Swartz says it’s OK to be versatile about which one you do first. Some meditations work greatest very first thing within the morning when life is quiet and the solar is rising. “Should you’re an early riser and need to align with the deeper traditions of the non secular observe, meditate as early as attainable,” he says, then do a light observe.
Later within the day, you may need to stream earlier than you sit. “In case your observe is sort of rigorous, you’ll need to finish your bodily observe with a minimum of a couple of minutes of deep leisure and meditation,” he says.
What Are the Advantages of Yoga and Meditation?
Yoga and meditation have quite a few documented and researched advantages, a lot of which overlap. Whether or not you interact in a single or the opposite, your thoughts and physique will thanks for adopting these historical practices on your trendy life.
The advantages of yoga
The advantages of meditation
- Meditation can enhance your well-being and supply extra advantages on your thoughts, like serving to elevate temper and ease stress.
- Researchers now know meditation can change your mind construction and thus assist maintain it wholesome. Information from the Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences means that meditation may assist protect each grey and white matter within the mind, which may also help gradual age-related decreases in each.
Prepared to achieve all the advantages of meditation and yoga? Begin with Yoga52 or Beachbody Yoga Studio, which have courses and packages for all targets and talent ranges.
Mix one class per week with meditation. Should you’re new to the observe, BODi options guided meditation packages in Sound Meditation or Unstress that vary from 10 to 45 minutes in size.
