Yoga meditation is simply the combination of yoga and meditation. People practice yoga not just for physical exercise like that which is performed at a typical gym or health club workout, but for mental exercise as well. Practicing yoga brings about awareness to one’s body. Another way to bring awareness to one’s body is with meditation. It is no wonder that yoga and meditation go hand in hand. Practicing yoga meditation strengthens the mind-body connection that yoga is known for. In order to live a healthy and happy life, we need to keep our bodies and our minds in the best condition possible. ABC News reported that studies have shown that yoga and meditation…
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Learn Mindfulness Exercises By Taking Mindfulness Courses
Merriam-Webster defines mindfulness as the quality or state of being mindfulness the practice of maintaining a nonjudgmental state of heightened or complete awareness of one’s thoughts, emotions, or experiences on a moment-to-moment basis; also: such a state of awareness. Studies have shown that practicing mindfulness has many benefits to our bodies, minds, and souls. Mindfulness can reduce stress, improve focus, help with anxiety and depression, enhance relationships, and even help with weight loss. So how can you tap into these benefits? How can you become practice mindfulness? Well you can learn mindfulness exercises. You can also take mindfulness courses. While learning and practicing mindfulness exercises on your own will definitely get you…
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The Contortionist: Science, Morality and Extreme Relativism
A debate has raged since the publication of Sam Harris’ book, The Moral Landscape, as to whether or not moral questions can be approached using the scientific method. Even among Harris’ readers there has been a lot of skepticism, and the academic philosophy community has widely criticized his contention that science has a role to play in evaluating moral claims. The issues here are deep and broad, but I want to hone in on a few that came up in our lively and passionate YogaBrains discussion of this topic last night. The word “morality” is a tough one for intellectuals unimpressed by the claims of religion. For many years I felt that…
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Why Variety in Yoga is Important
Recently I was in a yoga class when we reached the backbending sequence. The instructor then stated, ‘We’re going to do three backbends now. My teacher always does three, so that’s just the way it is.’ Visions of my initiation arose: the mandatory three bridges or wheels that marked the beginning of the ending of class. Somewhere along the line ‘three’ became the rule; many Hatha and Vinyasa teachers have stuck with it, as if mandated in the Sutras. There’s nothing wrong with respecting your teacher or having a foundation. What concerns me is the dogmatism that sometimes infects instructors and students. The physicality that has emerged as the focal…
