Yoga and Meditation and Poses

Yoga and meditation are intimately connected as the physical practice of yoga uses positions of that body that center and align your energy.

As your physical energy becomes balanced so too does your mental, emotional and spiritual energy.

Yoga naturally lends itself to meditation.

Using simple restorative postures can deepen your meditation practice and replenish your energy when you feel depleted.

The most simple physical posture for relaxation is the corpse pose or savasana.

Lie on your back with your feet separated slightly wider than your hips. Your arms rest away from your body with your palms facing up.

The challenge in savasana is in letting go. Follow your breath. Watch your mind here. Is it difficult to "do" nothing? Do you feel like you are wasting your time just lying here?

As your body surrenders to this position it is given an opportunity to rest. It is in this place of rest that your body; physical, mental, emotional and spiritual, can repair itself from the forces that continually drive it.

The forces of ambition and greed, striving, desire, fear, worry, doubt, compulsive activity, addictions, thinking... all depleting the life force within you.

With practice, this posture can offer an oasis of serenity, a return to sanctuary.

Another simple posture to restore balance to body, mind and spirit is to lie on the floor with your feet resting up on a couch or sofa so your hips and knees are in a 90 degree position.

This allows your feet to be higher than your heart. This position allows gravity to help the return of fluids to the heart, soothing both mind and body.

Allow yourself to receive this deep nurturing to heal and restore yourself in all aspects.

Again, as you place your body in positions where you feel you are doing nothing, how does your mind react? Do you only feel your value in doing? Is it difficult for you to just be?