New Videos: Very happy to announce the launch of several new YouTube series. Here are the new videos from these series for you to enjoy, learn and benefit from...
Best Kids Meditation Video:
In this video Shivum demonstrates an excellent meditation technique for children and teenagers, which helps develop concentration, mental focus and bestows calmness. Stay tuned for more kids meditation and yoga videos in this new series.
Yoga Pose Challenge Series:
In this series we will challenge ourselves to do yoga poses and exercises to help us live happier, healthier and longer lives. In the first video the challenge is to do
Plank Yoga for 1 Minute. Can you do it?
Astral Travel - A Personal Experience
This video takes you on a journey to another dimension and gives you insights into life, death, time and the Self. (Full text available here -
Astral Travel)
10 Common Meditation Mistakes:
My friend Alex Gjertsen, who has lived as a Buddhist monk shares his insights on common mistakes meditators often make. Meditation bestows upon us the most profound benefits, so let us learn how to make our practice deeper and stronger.
1) For Beginners:
Opt to meditate when you are calm and feel at ease. It’s not a good idea for a novice meditator to practice immediately after a busy day at work, which makes it more difficult to concentrate. If you want to meditate after a stressful day, take a short nap beforehand.
For intermediate and experienced meditators on the other hand, it’s essential to learn as much as possible about the mind. Then, it’s worthwhile to occasionally meditate for example while tired, angry or under stress. This is to familiarize oneself with various mental states.
2) Distractions:
Always keep distractions to a minimum. Again, that makes it easier to concentrate. Common distractions include voices, music and noise. Avoid meditating in rooms that are too warm or too cold. Good air circulation also supports wakefulness. Regarding meals, it’s better to eat after the meditation session. That way you won’t get sleepy digesting the food.
3) Comfort:
Make yourself as comfortable as possible every time you meditate. You can sit on a stool. chair, sofa, the floor or lie down on your back. Use as many pillows and blankets as it takes to be really comfortable. A relaxed body makes for a relaxed mind and the other way around. And don’t worry about the way you look when you meditate; instead, focus on supporting your practice.
Intermediate and advanced meditators benefit from exploring physical discomfort and pain, from time to time. This is for the purpose of becoming familiar with different mental states and our reactions to them. All you have to do is mindfully observe the pain for a few minutes, that’s all. In addition, it’s helpful for meditators to learn to accept a certain degree of physical discomfort.
4) Duration of Meditation:
Don’t push yourself to meditate for hours on end. It’s better to take short breaks and stretch your legs every so often. For those of you who have the time and motivation, practice for a while in the morning, afternoon and evening. If you really want to progress in your practice, opt for quality not quantity.
5) Effort:
Don’t try too hard when you meditate. Relax you body & mind and give relaxed attention to your meditation object. Trying too hard only results in physical and mental tension. To my surprise, a chiropractor once told me that a lot of meditators have tense shoulders.
Relax and let the meditation flow naturally.
6) Meditation Posture:
Many meditators only practice sitting meditation. But there are several advantages to alternating between sitting, standing, walking and lying meditation. For most of us it’s not comfortable to sit down for more than 30-60 minutes at the time. It’s wonderful to stretch the legs every 15-30 minutes. Moreover, walking meditation generates a lot of mental energy that supports concentration.
One of the best places to learn walking meditation is at vipassana centers. Practice makes perfect…
7) Meditation Teachers:
It’s a good idea to have a meditation teacher that can give you support and answer your questions. Once you clearly understand the basics and have a few years of experience, there is no longer any need for a teacher. Make sure you build a solid foundation to stand upon!
8 ) Support:
In order to become a versatile meditator practice alone, in groups, at meditation centers, monasteries, in bed, by the kitchen table, in the forest, in city centers and at your friend’s house. Don’t limit your practice to any one place or setting.
The benefits of meditating alone and in groups are great. Add to that the skill of transcending the distractions, while doing casual walking meditation, in busy city streets.
9) Patience:
Refrain from reacting with anger and irritation whenever you catch yourself thinking during meditation practice. Since anger and irritation lead to physical and mental tension, they should be avoided at any cost.
I suggest you embrace your frustration. Be patient with yourself and do your very best to accept that it’s normal to get caught up in thinking every now and then. Once you realize that you are thinking, gently bring your attention back to your meditation object.
Keep in mind that catching yourself thinking is a sign of mindfulness. So, instead of getting frustrated over it you can actually celebrate those moments.
10) Mindfulness:
Too many meditators separate between meditation and other activities. Once they get up from the meditation cushion, they stop meditating altogether. If you truly want to benefit from your meditation practice, you should strive to be mindful all the time. From the moment you wake up in the morning until you fall asleep at night.
The beauty of continuous mindfulness practice is the soothing and calming mental state. Even better, the peace and joy benefit everyone around you.
Mindfulness connects you with the divine…