Question by ed g: Any programs for doing yoga and meditating at the same time?
I am an aspiring Buddhist. I would love to do more meditation, but neck and back issues make the pain intolerable for more than a few minutes, so I don’t get a very good meditation. I like yoga, and moving from pose to pose and doing deep stretches is way more tolerable than trying to hold a lotus pose for 1/2 hour. Are there any videos, web sites, etc which demonstrate combining the two in a time tested manner? No exercise gimmick of the week type deals. Thanks!
Best answer:
Answer by Dances with Buddha
When I do asana (yoga poses), I feel I AM combining the two, simply by practicing being completely mindful of what I am doing at the moment (the pose) — not letting my mind wander to thoughts of things in past or future (much easier said than done — which is why its called “practice”).
For me, staying mindful during my asana practice is one main way that asana is different from all other exercise: I could go do a cardio activity, or weights, etc, and let my mind drift to some degree, and I would still reap the same physical benefits from those activities.
However, with asana, if I do not maintain mindfulness, it mostly becomes just a lot of stretching.
Until you develop strong enough core muscles to be comfortable maintaining unsupported seated posture, there is nothing at all “wrong” with meditating in a firm chair with straight back.
You can easily find quite a few websites that support this advice.
Here is a helpful video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vgO6erMHHS0
I always recall the observation that essentially it is the mind that mediates, not the body.
Which is why even someone who is bed-ridden can learn to meditate.
(yes, it may initially be a greater challenge for them, since generally it is more difficult to resist falling asleep when lying down, but many struggle with that issue even when sitting upright).
Namaste’,
dwb