A fellow yoga teacher recently said to me, "If you"re not meditating, you"re not practicing yoga."
Cue the gasps of horror! I know there are a lot of individuals who would not take extremely kindly to that statement. But while asana-focused yoga classes have taken the U.S. by storm ... seated, silent meditation is, well, a slightly harder sell.
I"ll confess that I winced at her words-- but I can"t disagree with her either. The reality is, if you"re not meditating, you"re not practicing yoga. A minimum of not to its fullest.
This can be confusing and controversial for a lot of people who have actually made yoga a huge part of their lives, but do not exercise meditation. So let"s take a go back. The majority of yoga courses in the West are really hatha yoga classes. Hatha yoga is the the union of mind-body-spirit though a practice of asanas. Don"t get me incorrect-- hatha yoga is effective things. For me, and for countless others, the physical practice of yoga is far more than exercise. But there is also a lot even more to this ancient viewpoint than down-dogs. Asana is but one branch of the eight-limbed course that is yoga.
That’s right, there are eight limbs of yoga. You may have become aware of pranayama, or yogic breathing practices, but there are other branches that you may never ever hear discussed in a yoga course. Taken entirely, these eight limbs function as a comprehensive guide to living well. They guide the professional on issues of morality and principles (yamas and niyamas), union to the divine (Samadhi), control of the senses (Pratayahara), and growing inner awareness (Dharana).
Dhyana, or meditation, is simply as important as asana. Some would state it"s the most essential limb, however actually, they all collaborate. With meditation, we find out to peaceful the mind, be completely present, and see things as they genuinely are. Meditation has the ability to enhance our asana practice, simply as asana is a remarkable preparation for meditation. With asana, we develop physical and mental discipline, in addition to flexibility and focus. All these things are required for meditation.
Whether you are put off by my fellow yoga instructor"s statement or not, understand that this post is not planned to shame the asana-only yogis of the world. For many individuals, asana comes first for a reason. Possibly because it is the most accessible. The concept of sitting in meditation for even 10 minutes can be a terrifying thought, however somehow, after cultivating the focus and awareness required for asana and pranayama practice, the act of meditation ends up being a bit more doable. Which"s how the eight limbs work-- they work together.
Time and time once more, it appears that once people get in touch with a hatha yoga practice, they eventually get curious about the other aspects of yoga as well. Even if you"re not there yet, it"s possible that your meditation practice is waiting to begin/be explored/deepened. When you show up, you could be amazed at exactly what you discover there.
Is meditation a part of your practice? What is your response to the concept that asana without meditation is not "real" yoga?
Is It Really Yoga without Meditation?