Flow of thought and yoga meditation
Continuos flow of thought or awareness on one subject is meditation: Swami Sivananada.
Meditation is an integral part of Hatha yoga. Meditation is a practice of mindfulness. It is to take time out to relax within to be a better person.
Meditation improves concentration, increase energy level and productivity, help heal the ailments, and expand spirituality. Meditation helps relax within while taking few moments to understand ourselves as well as others. Meditation allows the person to take care of the daily disturbances quietly and peacefully.
Ultimate goal of meditation is to experience the divine nature or power within which everyone has it as Swami Vivekananda said ?Every soul is potentially divine?. Mahatma Gandhi said ?What one not do for the body, the temple of the soul?. Swami Sivananda said ?You are a moving temple of God. What you do is an offering to God?. Holding on to these precious quotes we can always be conscious of what we do and take few moments to correct ourselves and feel better in the process.
What I like most in Swami Sivananda’s meditation teachings is that he greatly emphasized .Mistakes should be our best teachers. Mistakes should help us to grow and evolve and it is not to feel guilty and suffer?.
There are many way you can practice meditation. Meditation can be practiced in your favorite asanas, or in a comfortable sitting position such as sukhasana, ardha padmasana or padmasana. You can also practice meditation sitting in a chair, while taking a walk, or basically any time.
Practicing meditation in the asanas help the chakras(energy centers or spiritual centers) to relax. In return, we start thinking positively and spiritually. Further, in the pranayama, all the pranic channels are purified and assists us to experience peace within.
Patanjali gave so much importance for practicing pranayama prior to meditation. When the prana level is increased, we naturally think powerfully and spiritually. As a matter of fact, meditation naturally unfolds in the pranayama practice.
Counting breath meditation helps improve concentration. Deep breathing and Alternate nostril breathing(Nadi Shuddi) meditation increase and balance the energy. They are highly beneficial to balance and strengthen the emotions. They are also proven to prevent and heal hypertension, allergy, asthma, heart ailments, nervousness, and anxiety. It is one of the best methods for strengthening immune system.
Vipasana meditation and Mantra chanting meditation helps purify and emotions and expand spirituality.
Simple breath meditation is the simplest form of meditation and can be practiced often. It is the base for all other forms of meditation.
Practice
Sit in your comfortable position. Close your eyes. Feel your breath flow in and out through the nostrils. If your mind wanders do not get disturbed. Simply take few moments to understand the situation. When you analyze the issue with an open mind, you tend to get suitable or appropriate answers to your concerned thoughts as generally, unsolved and suppressed matters come on our way in the meditation.
You can also practice this to improve concentration, relieve anxiety, control upcoming anger, to appreciate what you have, and most importantly to be grateful to God for his guidance.
To conclude, meditation makes the practitioner feeling wonderful within and helping to see the same in others. It is to respect your soul and others as well.