Yoga in Practice - How to Find
Peace of Mind
By Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500
Photo - Julien Bastide
Many Yoga practitioners
are familiar with the value of a silent retreat to an
Ashram or another sacred place. An extended silence
turns the mind inward, which makes us more mindful
during Yoga and meditation practice. Silent Yoga
retreats give us "breathing room" and allow our minds a
chance to wind down.
This is all well and
good, but what if you do not have weeks to awaken your
inner light in the company of your favorite Guru? You
completely realize the benefits of relaxing and
rejuvenating in silence, but you have time commitments
or financial restraints that prevent it.
What action can you take
that will result in a journey of self-discovery and
development of inner strength? If you cannot go to a
silent Yoga retreat, there is a way to bring it to you,
but it requires a commitment, and you may just discover
inner strengths you were not aware of.
How many days would you
like to go away? Sit down and write a realistic
agreement of how many days you can wake up early and
practice in silence. In order to do this, you will have
to go to bed an hour or two earlier. On the following
morning, you can begin to create an everyday silent
retreat in your own sacred space and time.
What should you do? Let's
look at the potential opportunities you have by getting
out of bed early and practicing in silence. Many people
think Yoga revolves around asana only. This is a good
physical activity in the morning, after a warm-up, but
you have a large variety of options to choose from.
Silent prayer, mantra,
japa, and positive affirmations will steady your mind
and purge pessimism from your inner being. The mental,
emotional, and spiritual value of this practice cannot
be understated.
Pranayama easily helps
one connect the mind and body. However, you should
practice the silent variations of pranayama, without
waking other people in your house. In the case of
Udgeeth pranayama, one could recite "Om" mentally,
without having to make any noise.
Reading in silence is a
perfect way to expand your mind and absorb motivational
content. You can read scriptures or motivational books.
If you can disconnect your PC, or lap top, and
discipline yourself to stay off the Internet, an e-Book
could also be beneficial.
The only reason for
avoiding the Internet is to stay away from
multi-tasking. A silent Yoga retreat is much like
meditation in motion. The Internet is a valuable
resource, but it is also a distraction from focusing
your mind.
Meditation, of all kinds,
is a powerful method for starting your day in silence.
There are so many methods for meditation that you could
easily choose something different each day for weeks.
You could practice a
walking meditation, but do take the time to break the
silence with friendly neighbors and dogs. Combining
meditation, with positive visualization, can change your
life with the Law of Attraction.
The positive results of
starting your day, as a silent retreat, are profound.
All that is required is for you to go to bed earlier and
do something constructive in silence.
© Copyright 2008 - Paul Jerard / Aura Publications
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