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How Yoga and Meditation Can Improve Your Quality Of Life

Written by health-and-fitness on November 23rd, 2008

Did you know that yoga and meditation have not only helped stressed out people slow down and relax — but, in some cases, have also cured people of asthma, ADHD, high blood pressure, diabetes, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis and cancer? The miraculous nature of yoga and meditation has been witnessed from India to the United States and the science behind the cures indicates that the beta-endorphins released during yoga practice may be the main contributing factor to the physical healing.

In recent years, Sahaja yoga and meditation has caught a lot of media attention for its alleged healing properties, as well as its use at Rikers Island prison in New York City to treat mentally disturbed criminals. It is believed that Sahaja yoga can instill a sense of deep spirituality and facilitates the release and circulation of beta-endorphins associated with wellness. The end goal of yoga meditation is a sense of inner awakening and union (sometimes referred to as “kundalini”).

Students of this branch will study the three vertical energy channels within the human body: the sun channel (governing our thought processes), the parasympathetic / nervous system channel (governing our body processes) and the moon channel (governing our emotions). In addition to these three channels, millions of chakras (literally translated from Sanskrit to mean “wheels” or energy centers) are swirling around us, keeping the channels in motion. Chakras can vary from religion to religion, but Sahaja Yoga focuses on several in its yoga and meditation: the crown chakra (pituitary gland / consciousness), the third eye chakra (pineal gland / sleep and awakening), the throat chakra (thyroid / growth and maturity), the heart chakra (thymus / stress and wellbeing), the solar plexus chakra (pancreas / digestion and energy), the sacral chakra (groin / sexuality and reproduction) and the root chakra (adrenal gland / basic fight or flight instincts and kundalini awakening).

Another study is the Raja Yoga tradition (the “king” of yoga or “royal path”), which is heavily steeped in spirituality. Practitioners believe in a serious code based upon self-restraint, quietude, concentration, regulation of breathing, uniting body and mind through action, withdrawing from the senses and studying religious texts. Often retreats are offered (by places like the Margaret Austin Retreat Center in Texas or the Chopra Center in Carlsbad, California) to help students immerse themselves in a new way of thinking. Students will learn about the Eightfold Path and the seven chakras, in addition to yamas and niyamas (code of conduct and religious observances, respectively).

Yoga and meditation have been restoring energy and balance for thousands of years. For that tattooed man at Rikers Island prison, finding that much-coveted sense of spirituality has been his only relief from his physical captivity. For the mother of three, this hour of quietude has calmed her nerves and boosted her spirits. For the man with intermittent explosive anger disorder, his emotions are now subdued and connected with something larger than himself. For the cancer patient and the arthritic elderly, yoga and meditation has relieved pain that hundreds of harmful prescription medications could not. Miracles are happening everywhere, so why not get started today? More information can be found at SahajaYoga.org, Yoga.com and IAYT.org.

There are many different forms of Yoga that people around the world practice. Some use it primarily for its low-impact workout whereas others love the feel of meditation and concentration required in some of the many poses. Yoga is a great way for those suffering from injury or unused to a cardiovascular workout to begin their path to becoming physically and mentally fit. Exercise is an important part of our daily lives and the added benefit of learning relaxation techniques is enough to entice anyone onto a mat. Find your relaxation and work out by clicking here for more information: Types Of Yoga and at Laughing Yoga also at Hatha Yoga Techniques

Tags: Yoga and Meditation