Now is the time to travel within ourselves while the outer boundaries are closed.
And while circumstances in the world are not always up to us, our inner freedom of action is solely in our power. And in this troubling time, it is important to support ourselves with yoga and meditation.
Meditation is a mental cleansing practice that requires solitude and concentration. Just what you need while on lockdown.
Why meditate? The same reason you unplug your computer – so it doesn’t overheat and wear out too quickly.
Our brain is a control center that runs 24 hours a day, even while we sleep. It continuously performs a huge number of operations, both consciously (thought out) by us and unconsciously. In times of stress, the system is severely overloaded and overheated. And meditation is the best way to prevent fatal wear and tear.
The hardest part of the art of meditation is stopping the incessant flow of thoughts in your head. But if you know its consistent technique and follow it – it is quite possible, just by accustoming and training your brain to relax.
The stages of meditation, which should be mastered in this sequence:
- Pratyahara
- Dharana
- Dhyana
Pratyahara – disconnection from external objects. Not hearing, not seeing, not feeling. Or rather, not following your thoughts about feelings. Basically, shavasana, which we do at the end of every yoga practice, is pratyahara.
Dharana is immersion and concentration within ourselves. Many people ask, “How can you be relaxed and still be concentrated?”
Such a question arises because, for us reasoned beings, any concentration is primarily related to the workings of the mind. That’s why it doesn’t sink into our minds that it’s possible to concentrate and be relaxed. But if you have mastered the first stage of meditation pratyahara and your mind is calm, then concentration without the involvement of the mind is quite possible.
Dhyana is contemplation and total stillness of the mind. When all psycho-emotional states stop inside and amazing, incomparable peace comes. Such a complete feeling of merging with the universe.
The techniques of pure meditation described above are not easy for women. We are creatures who live first and foremost by emotions and feelings. And this is normal, this is our nature. Therefore, it is better to begin practicing meditation-visualization for the beautiful half of humanity. It is based on our imagination.
Here is a very simple example of the healing meditation-visualization
Close your eyes and breathe. Imagine that you are breathing in sunlight, which fills your body more and more each time. The sunlight inside you fills every cell and heals you. Direct your attention to areas of your body that are bothering you, maybe hurting or tense. Breathe this way until you fill your vessel, your body, with the healing energy of the sun in its entirety. Keep it in you.