Yoga And Meditation – Complementary But Not Compulsory
Yoga Meditation
When you first tell someone that you practise yoga, or will be beginning yoga classes at an indeterminate point in the future, this may draw a reaction from roughly 30% of people that runs something along the lines of “Oh, so you’ll be sitting cross-legged going “Ommmmmm” for a while then, yes?”. Although unamusing, this is a relatively common reaction and it is helpful to be prepared for it. But on the other hand, there is an undeniable link between yoga and meditation which, although not compulsory, is certainly available to those who wish to explore it.
Of course there is a link between yoga and Buddhism, as well as with other faiths, which encourage meditation. But it does not need to be religious or even spiritual meditation that the novice yogi indulges in. Meditation is nothing more than seeking to clear your mind and achieve a certain amount of peace and balance – something that can very well be free of any religious attachment. A lot of people find that yoga simply helps them to arrive at a level of relaxation that helps them deal with the stresses of everyday life. Whether that includes meditation, spiritual or otherwise, is a choice for the individual.
This may be something that is decided by the class or the books which are read by the novice yogi when they choose to take up yoga. If someone is uneasy about a perceived religious aspect, then there are plenty of entirely secular and non-denominational perspectives on yoga which will suit them. However, the link between yoga and meditation can be positive and beneficial for anyone, allowing us to be relaxed and peaceful in mind as well as in body.
The word “yoga” itself in Sanskrit means “union” and represents the union of mind, body and spirit. Whether or not the “spirit” aspect interests you, having a level of balance between mind and body which allows you to deal with stressful situations – a spiritual matter in and of itself, some would argue – is something that most of us would welcome as a matter of course in today’s world.
December 10th, 2009 at 6:36 am
First I wanted to say, that it is wonderful that there are sensitive teachers like Jocelyn that understand how much courage it takes for overweight women to go to any fitness class, let alone yoga.
A yoga class, in my opinion, should be a gathering of individuals doing individual exercises under guidance and not a race of who can hold the most difficult free yoga positions the longest, which is unfortunately how many of the classes I have been to have been. Competition goes against the whole nature of yoga. Having been subject to the rolled eyes and disgusted look of skinny classmates when asking how to modify something so that I could keep up, I know how hard it is. You only ask a few times before you feel intimidated, and at some point you end up staying away from it.
Thankfully, I have found a teacher like Jocelyn who only takes on 5 students per class. I’ve been in this class for 2 years, and the other girls in it have become friends. That makes it so much more enjoyable!
Thanks for stopping by! I like the mix of research and personal story in *your* free online yoga blog. You always make me laugh.
yoga basic positions should always be done in comfort and safety. And spandex is evil.
As to finding good workout clothes, I’ve bought a lot of things at Junonia, including swimsuits.