Here is the formula for bliss in yoga, i say from my experience:
1. Clearly know what you are doing: this
will reduce the amount of thought you put in designing next move or
deciding the next asana. Creative/ inquisitive thoughts are good, but can very soon
generate the feeling of doubt. If it helps write down the order of the
asanas that you are going to do.
Before going to the next point: we must understand what we do when we meditate.
Your
mind is nothing but a good monkey that is ready to listen, but in
search of the right guru ! You cant' but reach your mind, for it is untouchable
[infact the idea of reaching it will generate ideas about the duality
of mind and self and further complicate]. We observe our breath, we let
the body do what it wants and we just observes it as a pure observer.
[at least that is the kind of meditation i do, and i talk of this
because i believe that this might in general cover other methods; my
apologies]
A posture that is least harmful to the body is chosen,
for sitting for long hours. Then observing from the inside, from the
minds' eye the changes to our body, it is like all the
voluntary actions retiring to admire all the involuntary ones.
breathing, the pumping heart that asks for no gratitude, pulsating body
with the flow of blood. You go on to observe, nothing great happens,
things are very distinctively elegant. You eventually feel them all
syncing, beautifully,
you can observe how many times the heart pounds before you take another breath.
you can observe how slowly that number is falling.
you can observe how slowly your thoughts per second are reducing
you can observer not observing anything atall, unlike a protocol, you find yourself just being aware.
the
meaning of the word observer now starts to differ from the word aware.
You start to realize that being aware is not an action but an effort
less state [those who have followed newton, try and relate awareness to
an inertial state, meaning a body can be in that state without requiring
any external effort.]
Soon your mind
starts to calm, collect and settle down. Soon you realize that your
monkey has actually learn to something. Learnt something, out of nothing,
out of not doing anything, out of not seeking to learn.
You
have essentially connected your body to your mind. the streamlined body
has only done its job like it is meant to. but the kind of mimicking
mind that we have has set that UN-bothered flow of the body into the
mind. [those who follow electromagnetic induction, realize that this is
like an electric current, without even touching, just by its decent
flowing, has induced a magnetic field in the receiving body] Peace has
been attained.
Meditation is mind receiving lessons from the body, unlike the usual control of the body by mind.
2. Place your mind in your breath and feel your body: Almost all the asanas designed from the first masters have stages/postures that we need to go through. We inhale and exhale alternatively while performing these postures. If meditation just observers the natural rhythm of the body, sewing yoga with assigned breathing will try to train that rhythm of the body itself. Yoga practices us to take breath at right places of physical movement. Yoga rightly structures the co ordination of body movement and breathing, and this is all is stamina about !
The second point is to be clearly aware about your inhalation and exhalation, it is best to feel your body move. Identify and avoid if you are doing any inhalation or exhalation longer than others.
3. Do not force yourself: there
might have been situations where you were encouraged to use all the
grit you can gather, say, athletics, a fight or something.. but do not
push yourself is the mantra. Your flexibility will increase naturally.
but gradually. Try to keep each of your movement like a poetry. Streamlined, do not worry about weight issues, you do not have to wreak your nerves or sweat to the floor. Yoga is not for mediocre benefits like that, but one can be assured that all the wordly goals are attainable once the mind seasons with atleast 2 months of yoga.
4. most important: Do the asanas with proper breathing.. It is best to learn to from a teacher.
General Instructions: It is advised to have a regular place of meditation daily. A private setup with good amount of air and natural light might be best.
Good luck, stay blissful.
