Meditation holds key to contentment
In our ongoing search for peace, meditation holds the key to
contentment. It's wise to wake up to improving your mental health. After
all, it really is all in the mind.
Meditating makes for a great group exercise as it boosts trust and support within the team
We live in an age of information; of detail and connectivity. Everything, from our social circle to our area of work is getting wider. In such a time and age, survival comes to those who can multi-task and are able to shuttle work and social responsibility through wise decision making and efficient working style. Needless to say, the modern mind is extremely exhausted and laden with stress.
On the brink of hyperactivity, we are unable to treat our mind to a moment of calm. The natural outcome is insomnia, hypertension, cerebral tension, heart disease, and a host of other diseases that stem from depression and anxiety. We seize every opportunity to heighten and trigger the mind, but don't understand the importance of 'letting go'. It is the ancient oriental science of meditation that introduces us to the concept of relaxed alertness and nourishes our mental faculties. It is both a prevention and cure for mind troubles.
In yogic terminology, kleisha or afflictions are the root cause of stress. The science of yoga advocates exploring and understanding the mind through meditative practice. Classically the whole process of meditation moves through stages of withdrawal of awareness or pratyahara, intensification of awareness on the object of meditation or dharana and finally experiencing the continuity of awareness with the object of meditation that is dhyana. The outcome is internalisation and harmony.
Pratyahara disassociates the mind from the senses. One way to do this is nidra yoga or psychic sleep. Unlike biological sleep where your minds sinks into dreams, this is a state where the conscious mind is quiet and the subconscious is receptive. The process involves laying on the yoga mat in shavasana or the corpse pose and concentrate your attention on your body parts and breath. Instead of a power nap, practice for 15 minutes in the morning or afternoon. This is especially helpful on days when the workload is at its peak.
In case you're still restless after the sleep session, synchronise your breath to the tune of the Sanskrit chant so-ham. This is called ajapa japa and involves visualising your breath as it makes its course as it ascends from the navel to the throat and back. An early morning session of ten minutes in a garden ensures a calm start on your day.
Yet another technique is the antar mouna or inner silence. This offers respite from repetitive disturbing thoughts and usually follows from nidra yoga. It involves observing the spontaneous patterns of your thoughts, without being directly involved in them. The idea is to be able to achieve a certain objectivity to analyse your mind, in order to attain control over it. The exercise enables you to snap out of setbacks and take failures in your stride.
Then comes dharana, in which you can take one object and focus your attention on it completely for about 10 to 15 minutes. This sharpens mental alertness and enhances concentration. It is recommended to do this an hour before an critical meeting or presentation.
The pre-requisite to inner exploration is an alignment with gravity, which centres on posture, by either sitting erect on a chair or on a cushion with the spine, head and neck in a straight line. This helps you achieve a free and rhythmic breathing flow and is highly recommended for those who have demanding desk-jobs.
Most people lose focus by getting muddled up in work politics. This tension hampers their performance and also their inter-personal relations. The operative word here is detachment. Since meditation enables you to look at your life objectively, you're less affected by the situations taking shape around you. Meditation isn't just about sitting in postures and chanting mantras, but is a way of life. One must understand that work and stress are not synonymous, but it is an incorrect estimation of our capabilities that does the damage. Plans should be realistic, deadlines should be met with and if there's too much on your plate, take it one task at a time.
Another way to inculcate inner peace is by developing a hobby, one that you can enjoy daily. Film the sun rise, star gaze, cook for friends, or just play around with the paint brush. Every mind has its moments of pain and pleasure. A happy mind is one that is capable of turning each one into a fond memory.
Sushant Pandey, Head of Yoga and Meditation, Ananda Spa in the Himalayas
On the brink of hyperactivity, we are unable to treat our mind to a moment of calm. The natural outcome is insomnia, hypertension, cerebral tension, heart disease, and a host of other diseases that stem from depression and anxiety. We seize every opportunity to heighten and trigger the mind, but don't understand the importance of 'letting go'. It is the ancient oriental science of meditation that introduces us to the concept of relaxed alertness and nourishes our mental faculties. It is both a prevention and cure for mind troubles.
Sushant Pandey, Head of Yoga and Meditation, Ananda Spa in the Himalayas
Pratyahara disassociates the mind from the senses. One way to do this is nidra yoga or psychic sleep. Unlike biological sleep where your minds sinks into dreams, this is a state where the conscious mind is quiet and the subconscious is receptive. The process involves laying on the yoga mat in shavasana or the corpse pose and concentrate your attention on your body parts and breath. Instead of a power nap, practice for 15 minutes in the morning or afternoon. This is especially helpful on days when the workload is at its peak.
In case you're still restless after the sleep session, synchronise your breath to the tune of the Sanskrit chant so-ham. This is called ajapa japa and involves visualising your breath as it makes its course as it ascends from the navel to the throat and back. An early morning session of ten minutes in a garden ensures a calm start on your day.
Yet another technique is the antar mouna or inner silence. This offers respite from repetitive disturbing thoughts and usually follows from nidra yoga. It involves observing the spontaneous patterns of your thoughts, without being directly involved in them. The idea is to be able to achieve a certain objectivity to analyse your mind, in order to attain control over it. The exercise enables you to snap out of setbacks and take failures in your stride.
Then comes dharana, in which you can take one object and focus your attention on it completely for about 10 to 15 minutes. This sharpens mental alertness and enhances concentration. It is recommended to do this an hour before an critical meeting or presentation.
The pre-requisite to inner exploration is an alignment with gravity, which centres on posture, by either sitting erect on a chair or on a cushion with the spine, head and neck in a straight line. This helps you achieve a free and rhythmic breathing flow and is highly recommended for those who have demanding desk-jobs.
Most people lose focus by getting muddled up in work politics. This tension hampers their performance and also their inter-personal relations. The operative word here is detachment. Since meditation enables you to look at your life objectively, you're less affected by the situations taking shape around you. Meditation isn't just about sitting in postures and chanting mantras, but is a way of life. One must understand that work and stress are not synonymous, but it is an incorrect estimation of our capabilities that does the damage. Plans should be realistic, deadlines should be met with and if there's too much on your plate, take it one task at a time.
Another way to inculcate inner peace is by developing a hobby, one that you can enjoy daily. Film the sun rise, star gaze, cook for friends, or just play around with the paint brush. Every mind has its moments of pain and pleasure. A happy mind is one that is capable of turning each one into a fond memory.
Sushant Pandey, Head of Yoga and Meditation, Ananda Spa in the Himalayas
