Meditation an ancient practice is rooted in Vedic Hinduism. It is a state in which the mind dissolves and is free of thoughts.

Full fledged in Western culture, meditation is a common practice known to everyone. It includes a wide variety of spiritual practices that masters on the mental activity of a person. Most of them approach Meditation for achieving peace of mind.

Types of Meditation: is on the basis of different religions-
• Bahai faith
• Buddhism
• Christianity
• Gnostic
• Jainism
• Hinduism
• Islam
• Judaism
• Sikhism
• Taoism
• New Age
Just thinking on one topic is Christian type of meditation. In this, mystics reach a state of achieving complete silence of mind known as contemplation. In Hinduism, meditation by the repetition of mantras is introduced that induces a positive energy. In Buddhism, meditation masters on breathing.

Repetition of Mantras help one to be free from thoughts and helps to reach a sound feeling peacefulness on mind. Different postures are followed for meditation. A comfortable position should be attained before practicing meditation that helps to relax oneself from the meddling matters of the daily life.
Meditation helps one to find a positive attitude towards mind and enriches personal growth.
Prayers: meditational prayers are related to one religious background. It is one of the contemplative prayers that connects one to the cosmic powers.

Declaration and visualization: makes one to deepen the relationship with the devotional powers. The positive visualization that one wishes to reach should be done along with the meditative prayers should be done.

Transformation through meditation: positive will of the person together with the meditation makes one to achieve developmental transformation in oneself.

Different techniques:

Many simple techniques are there that can be practiced. A place with little distraction preferably a prayer room with icons, incense or something is the finest place for meditation.
• Hearing the silence- with less distraction.
• A comfortable posture should be attained for better meditation.
• It is advised to meditate twice a day for better results.
Common postures:
1. Cross legged posture
2. Seated posture
3. Kneeling posture
4. Lying down posture

The three stages of meditations:
1. Dharana- complete concentration of mind
2. Dhyana- contemplation or worship
3. Samadhi- complete merging into a spiritual freedom

Benefits of Meditation:
• Controls stress- the person finds to manage the root causes of the stress in his life.
• Pain Management- the proper practice of meditation helps one to manage chronic pain that persists on and other psychic disorders connected to it.
• Physical healing- heals cancer, high blood pressure, infertility, respiratory problems, premenstrual Syndrome etc
• Gain repressed memories
• Handle pain attacks

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Yoga is a family of ancient spiritual practices dating back more than 5000 years from India. It is one of the six schools of Hindu philosophy. In India, Yoga is seen as a means to both physiological and spiritual mastery. Outside India, Yoga has become primarily associated with the practice of asanas (postures).

Yoga as a means of spiritual attainment is central to Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism and has influenced other religious and spiritual practices throughout the world. Hindu texts establishing the basis for yoga include the Upanishads, the Bhagavad Gita, the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, the Hatha Yoga Pradipika and many others.

The four main paths of Yoga are
• Karma yoga: The yoga of action in the world
• Jnana yoga: The yoga of knowledge and intellectual endeavor
• Bhakti yoga: The yoga of devotion to a deity
• Raja yoga: The yoga of meditation
A committed practitioner of yoga is referred to as a yogi, yogin (masculine), or yogini (feminine).
The aims of the yoga practitioners are extremely varied.
1. Inspiration of Spiritual Element
2. Increased Flexibility and Fitness
3. Solutions to varied Health Disorders
4. All – round development : Mind, Body, Soul
Yoga entails mastery over the body, mind, and emotional self, and transcendence of desire. According to the followers, the Yogi eventually reaches the enlightened state (Moksha) where there is a cessation of thought and an experience of blissful union. This union may be of the individual soul (Atman) with the supreme Reality (Brahman), as in Advaita Vedanta; with a specific god or goddess, as in Dvaita, or dualistic forms of Hinduism and some forms of Buddhism.

Common to most forms of yoga is the practice of concentration (dharana) and meditation (dhyana). The awareness is concentrated on a fine point of sensation (such as that of the breath entering and leaving the nostrils). Sustained single-pointed concentration gradually leads to meditation (dhyana), in which the inner faculties are able to expand and merge with something vast. Meditators sometimes report feelings of peace, joy, and oneness.
Advantages of Yoga

Yoga emphasizes treatment of the root cause of an ailment. It works in a slow, subtle and miraculous manner. Modern medicine can claim to save a life at a critical stage, but, for complete recovery and regaining of normal health, one must believe in the efficiency of yoga therapy.

On a physical level Yoga postures stimulate the glands, organs, muscles and nerves in ways that traditional exercise cannot. Muscle tightness and strain is quickly relieved and both circulation and digestion improves. Stress-related symptoms like poor sleep, fatigue, muscle spasms, anxiety, and indigestion are greatly improved.
Through continued practice Yoga postures can have a profound effect on the inner dimensions of life, establishing deep calm, concentration, emotional stability and confidence.

Roderick Corkern is an active fitness and exercise equipment expert with over 16 years of helping people overcome fitness issues and teaching them to integrate exercise into their life.

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As we all know, yoga is a group of ancient spiritual practices, which has shown a tremendous growth in generating awareness among the people all across the globe, regarding their physical fitness since last few decades.

Yoga is not only confined to the various aspects of physical fitness, rather it also enables to achieve the state of mental balance as well as enlightenment which will further lead to the betterment of the life.

The various types of yoga positions are the simple movements which are capable of being performed by the normal individual simply. But in order to obtain the best outcomes, the mind and body should work in accordance to each other. Therefore, all the movements should be performed gradually, amiably, and with an ease.

A) Yoga Positions (Asanas)

It has been found after undergoing various researches that the yoga positions are considered as the best practices for the toning up of muscles, lubrication of the joints, and massaging of the body as compared to other exercises.

Not only this, these positions enable each nerve inside the body, glands, ligaments, and muscles to exercise. Therefore, it is apt to say that the performing yoga asanas is the most outstanding method of self care.

B) Various types of yoga positions

Standing Yoga Asanas; One of the most effective standing yoga position is Tadasana, which deliver flexibility and pliableness to the joints and muscles in case of physical and mental stress.

a) Forward Bending

Paschimotanasana is one of the forward bending asanas, which is accompanied by the gradual stretching of the body for the extension of back portion of the spine so as to deliver elasticity which will further impart flexibility to the limbs.

b) Back Bending

Bhujangasana is a type of back bending asana, which extends the front portion of the spine. Therefore, the combination of Bhujangasana and the Paschimotanasana results in obtaining nimbleness for the body.

c) Matsyendrasana

The combination of Matsyendrasana with the Paschimotanasana and Bhujangasana delivers buoyancy to the spirit as well as a whole arrange of new bodily movements.

d) Adho Mukhavasana

Adho Mukhavasana is an inverted position which strives against the stresses of day-to-day life.

e) Padmasana, Vajrasana, & Simhasana

These three asanas are the sitting yoga positions, which enable the body to maintain upright position by correcting the defective posture as well as to help in toning up of the muscles.

f) Marichyasana

Marichyasana focuses over the abdominal and lumbar regions due to which it maintains the good functional state of various abdominal organs and results in the massaging and toning up of the pelvic and lumbar areas.

g) Sirsasana & Sarvangasana

These two positions play a significant role in making the forelimbs strong.

Therefore, it has been found that by going through various types of yoga positions, you can easily keep yourself physically, mentally, and spiritually fit. But, it is always recommended to avoid performing all the yoga asanas at one go, as this may lead to various severe outcomes instead of benefits. Therefore, you should always practice different types of positions each day for a variety.

For more Articles, News, Information, Advice, and Resources about YOGA and MEDITATION please visit YOGA TIPS and MEDITATIONBUZZ

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