The Importance of Meditation in Your Yoga Practice

For some, yoga and meditation go hand in hand. For others, meditation is one of those things that is known to be beneficial, but has nothing to do with your practice on the mat, unless we are talking Savasana (aka Corpse pose).

However, yoga is defined in the Yoga Sutra of Patanjali, as  "the complete settling of the activity of the mind.” In Sanskrit:  yogash chitta-vritti-nirodhah (Yoga is the complete settling (nirodha) of the activity (vritti) of the mind (chitta).) 




As we learned in a previous post, 8 Limbs of Yoga: The Basics, the physical poses of yoga as we know it is just one limb. The very act of asana, or physical poses, is preparation for your "seat". As you stretch and strengthen your body, you are really priming your physical body to sit in meditation (the slimming waste line, toned arms, increased self-esteem, and overall blissness are just perks, really).


The perks of meditation-- psychological, physiological, and spiritual-- are endless. Leaving even the hesitant of potential meditators wondering why they haven't started yet.....


Psychological Perks

1. Decreased levels of anxiety and stress, eliminating many stress-related ailments. 
2. Enhanced creativity and intuition. 
3. Ease in enabling our mind to enter alpha, theta and delta waves very easily, which are the basis of deep relaxation and stress-relief. 
4. Develop willpower, boost self-confidence and foster a positive mentality.
5. Raised levels of emotional equilibrium. 
6. Improved memory, ability to retain information, and increased concentration, focus and productivity. 
7. Increased level of serotonin in the body, which helps in resolving problems with obesity, depression, migraines, insomnia, and fatigue.
8. Ability to overcome fears, phobias, and bad habits such as nail biting, alcohol addiction and smoking. 
9. Sharpened intelligence and improved perceptual ability. 
10. Enhanced levels of tolerance and patience. 

Physiological Perks

1. Reduced heart, respiratory, and metabolic rate. 
2. Lowered cortisol levels (stress hormone), providing relief from the adverse effects of cortisol. 
3. Reduced muscle tension and enhances the quality of living. 
4. Reduction in the production of free radicals that are responsible for tissue damage and premature aging. 
5. Improved breathing ability and awareness, increasing the airflow to the lungs and enhancing the level of strength, vigor and energy. 
6. Boost the immune system and slows down the process of aging. 
7. Reduced symptoms of pre-menstrual syndrome. 
8. Enhanced functioning of the brain. 
9. Relief from migraines, headaches, and other neurological and nervous system problems.
10. Strengthened pre-frontal cortex, known to aid in judgement and self-control.

Spiritual Perks

1. Inner happiness, resulting in total peace of mind. 
2. Knowledge that contentment comes from within. 
3. Constant source of bliss, despite circumstances and events beyond our control. 
4. Improved human qualities such as compassion, self-growth, and gratitude. 
5. Improved wisdom and deep understanding of self and others. 
6. Decreased amount of judgement of self and others
7. Small steps towards enlightenment.
8. Ability to stay in the present moment.
9. Increased connection to others, nature, and the universe.
10. Beautiful realization of cosmic consciousness and our true eternal nature. 
11. Bliss, bliss, and more bliss!