BENEFITS_OF_YOGA.pptx

BENEFITS OF YOGA

PHYSICAL BENEFITS

MENTAL BENEFITS

SPIRITUAL BENEFITS

PHYSICAL BENEFITS

Creates a toned, flexible, and strong body

Improves posture Improves energy level Helps maintain a balanced metabolism

PHYSICAL BENEFITS

Enhances functioning of respiratory, digestive, endocrine, reproductive and elimination systems

Can reduce blood pressure Improves efficiency of lungs Enhances sleep

PHYSICAL BENEFITS

Promotes cardiovascular and circulatory health

Relieves pain Improves athletic performance Improves balance

MENTAL BENEFITS

Calms the Mind

Attunes us to the Environment

Concentration and Mental Clarity are Enhanced

MENTAL BENEFITS

Reduces Stress and Anxiety

Encourages positive thoughts and self-acceptance

Promotes Flexibility

SPIRITUAL BENEFITS

Awakens the Spirit

Builds healthy spiritual awareness

Promotes interdependence between mind, body, and spirit.

SPIRITUAL BENEFITS

Enhances the concept of Oneness of all things

Personal energy connects to divine energy

Walking MeditationOn-line Instruction with Charles MacInerney

Walking Meditation is a wonderful initiation for beginners into the art of Meditation. It is easy to practice, and enhances both physical, mental and spiritual well-being. It is especially effective for those who find it difficult to sit still for long periods of time. Some people enjoy practicing in a beautiful outdoor setting, like a park. Others prefer to practice indoors, due to poor weather, or desire for privacy.


Walking Meditation should generally be practiced for between 15 minutes to 1 hour. A 20 minute walking meditation can also be used as a break between two 20 minute sitting meditations, allowing 1 hour of meditation without placing undue demands on the practitioner.


You can practice indoors by walking around the perimeter of your largest room. If you practice outdoors choose a scenic and quiet setting. Walk without a destination. Wander aimlessly without arriving, being somewhere rather than going somewhere.


Start out walking a little faster than normal, and gradually slow down to a normal walking speed, and then continue to slow down until you start to feel artificial or off balance. Speed up just enough to feel comfortable, physically and psychologically. At first you may need to walk fairly fast to feel smooth in your gait, but with practice, as your balance improves, you should be able to walk more slowly.


Be mindful of your breathing, without trying to control it. Allow the breath to become diaphragmatic if possible, but always make sure your breathing feels natural, not artificial. Allow the breath to become circular, and fluid.


Walk with 'soft vision' allowing the eyes to relax and focus upon nothing, while aware of everything. Smile softly with your eyes (see Mirror Exercise in Vision Chapter for details). Gradually allow the smile to spread from your eyes to your face and throughout your body. This is called an "organic smile" or a "thalamus smile". Imagine every cell of your body smiling softly. Let all worry and sadness fall away from you as you walk.


Walk in silence, both internal and external.


Be mindful of your walking, make each step a gesture, so that you move in a state of grace, and each footprint is an impression of the peace and love you feel for the universe. Walk with slow, small, deliberate, balanced, graceful foot steps.


After a while, when both the breath and the walking have slipped into a regular pattern of their own accord, become aware of the number of footsteps per breath. Make no effort to change the breath, rather lengthen or shorten the rhythm of your step just enough so that you have 2, 3 or 4 steps per inhalation and 2, 3 or 4 steps per exhalation. Once you have discovered your natural rhythm, lock into it, so that the rhythm of the walking sets the rhythm for the breath like a metronome.


After several weeks of regular practice you may experiment with the ratios adding a foot step to your exhalation and later to your inhalation as well. Whatever ratio of steps-to-breath that you settle on, it should feel comfortable, and you should be able to maintain it for the duration of the meditation comfortably. After several months you may find your lung capacity improving. If you are comfortable, lengthen your breath an extra step but avoid trying to slow the breath too much or you will do more harm than good.

Walking Meditation

Notice the beauty of your surroundings, both externally and internally. Smile with every cell in your body.

Joy in All Things

The cloud does not insist upon its form,

The wave does not force its way Over the ocean,So why should you clutch so tightlyYour little map?Follow your heartAnd know joy in all things.The path of freedom Has no markers,Yet leads to fulfillment:

.

The path of confusionIs crowded with signs Pointing in all directions.The Great Way is a humble, Solitary pathLeading home;Follow it closely and be guided.

How do you know you are on the way?When your map no longer serves you.

Breathe! You are AliveBreathe for your joy

to be steady and calm.

Breathe for your sorrow

to flow away.

Breathe to renew

every cell in your blood.

Breathe to renew

the depths of consciousness

Breathe and you dwell

in the here and now.

Breathe and all you touch

is new and real.

Everything is Your Life

Whatever you encounter,

Day and night,

Is your life;

You should therefore give yourself

To each situation as it arises

From moment to moment

Use your life energy

towards that purpose, so that

from the circumstances that

befall you, you may create

a harmonious life

with all things

in their rightful place.

BY :-NAVNEET CLASS:-9A

BENEFITS_OF_YOGA.pptx

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