Yoga Blog

Meditation

What is the meaning of Om?

Om is a sound and symbol, rich in meaning and depth, often chanted at the beginning and end of yoga classes. It appears at the beginning and end of most Sanskrit (ancient language originated in India) prayers. It is a mystic syllable, considered the most sacred mantra. Hindus believe that as creation began, the divine, all-encompassing consciousness took the form of the first and original vibration manifesting as sound “OM”. Hindus believe the mantra “OM” is the name of God,

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Hand Counting Meditation Practice

Counting on the fingers is an ancient Indian ritual used for breathing exercises and meditation. One does so by placing the thumb in various positions each time we breathe in. Move the thumb around the knuckles in a circular manner. See the diagram below. Doing so, you take 12 compete breaths. Consider that one round. You can keep track of your rounds with your other hand. When sitting down to meditate, I like to breathe 10 rounds of 12. When

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Meditations & Poems of Comfort

A Few Meditations and Poems of Comfort, Solace and Inspiration Practice the verses below by Thich Naht Hanh in sync with your breath: Breathing in I calm my body. Breathing out I smile. Dwelling in the present moment. I know this is a wonderful moment. Breathing in, calm. Breathing out, smile. Present moment. Wonderful moment.          – Thich Nhat Hanh The Peace of Wild Things When despair for the world grows in me and I wake in

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Breathing Techniques (Pranayama)

Breathing Techniques (Pranayama) Breathing Techniques are best learned with a teacher. That being said, you can follow these directions and practice on your own. Just set time aside to assimilate the effects of the breathing practice into your being. Warrior Breath The warrior or ocean sounding breath is focusing, grounding and aids in concentration. It is called the ocean sounding breath because you make an ocean sound by contracting the glottis with the inhalation and exhalation. This breathing technique is

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