As mind-body practices, yoga and meditation present many advantages. Nevertheless, when you observe one with out the opposite, you won’t be getting probably the most out of both behavior. You’ll be able to really improve your expertise each on the mat and in your pillow by combining the 2.

Right here’s how meditation can deepen your connection to your yoga observe and vice versa.

Why Ought to You Observe Yoga and Meditation Collectively?

Meditation and yoga work collectively synergistically to learn one another. Some kinds of yoga, together with kundalini yoga and sure types of hatha yoga, already embody meditation within the observe.

“In yoga, meditation is every little thing,” says Sam Rudra Swartz, a licensed meditation instructor and hatha yoga teacher. “The poses put together the physique, the respiratory practices assist put together the thoughts, and then you definately spend this time alone together with your [thoughts] the place you place effort towards concentrating on precisely one factor,” whether or not it’s your breath, a mantra, or sensations in your physique.

Plus, the bodily observe of yoga may help you to be extra aware in your meditations. “A constant hatha yoga observe is vital so as to have the ability to sit nonetheless in a tall, upright, alert pose that may facilitate this focus for meditation,” says Swartz.

Yoga additionally focuses on the breath via pranayama, that are respiratory strategies that hold you calm and targeted. With a constant meditation observe, you’re making ready your physique and thoughts for this breath work throughout yoga poses and constructing focus and focus via every circulate.

Observe these workouts sufficient and also you may begin to discover their results in your on a regular basis life as properly.

“We’re taught that yoga is all a couple of calm and targeted thoughts, in order that every little thing you do all through your day is a meditation,” Swartz says. “Your complete day will be a part of your observe.”

Do You Meditate Earlier than or After Yoga?

“There isn’t any steadfast rule as as to whether or not you observe one or the opposite first,” Swartz says. Nevertheless, historically, a yoga observe helps a meditation observe. Within the authoritative textual content, The Yoga Sutras, bodily observe (asana) is meant to be regular and comfy, to arrange for longer, sitting meditations.

Nonetheless, Swartz says it’s OK to be versatile about which one you do first. Some meditations work finest very first thing within the morning when life is quiet and the solar is rising. “In the event you’re an early riser and need to align with the deeper traditions of the non secular observe, meditate as early as attainable,” he says, then do a mild observe.

Later within the day, you may need to circulate earlier than you sit. “In case your observe is sort of rigorous, you’ll need to finish your bodily observe with at the very least a couple of minutes of deep rest and meditation,” he says.

What Are the Advantages of Yoga and Meditation?

Yoga and meditation have quite a few documented and researched advantages, a lot of which overlap. Whether or not you interact in a single or the opposite, your thoughts and physique will thanks for adopting these historical practices to your fashionable life.

The advantages of yoga

The advantages of meditation

• Meditation can increase your well-being and provide extra advantages to your thoughts, like serving to elevate temper and ease stress.
• Researchers now know meditation can change your mind construction and thus assist hold it wholesome. Knowledge from the Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences means that meditation may assist protect each grey and white matter within the mind, which may help gradual age-related decreases in each.

Prepared to realize all the advantages of meditation and yoga? Begin with Yoga52 or Beachbody Yoga Studio, which have lessons and applications for all targets and talent ranges.

Mix one class every week with meditation. In the event you’re new to the observe, BODi options guided meditation applications in Sound Meditation or Unstress that vary from 10 to 45 minutes in size.