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In addition to physical exercises, the yoga tradition offers practices for the mind and heart which are effective tools for enhancing mental and emotional well-being. With regular practice, these tools can help you to:
- think more clearly
- work more effectively
- remain calm under pressure
- sleep more soundly
The basic practices are designed to bring about deep relaxation, an alert and focused yet calm state of mind, and feelings of deep peace and contentment. They include:
- breathing techniques
- relaxation exercises
- simple movements that are both calming and energizing
More advanced practices include:
Mindfulness: Our minds are often caught up in a web of emotional reactions which drain our energy and create stress. Through the practice of mindfulness, you can learn to observe your reactions in a calm, accepting way. This can bring about renewed energy, helping you to respond more effectively to whatever it is you're dealing with.
Heart-centering: People tend to think it's not possible to simply choose to be happy, or calm, or contented. However, the yoga tradition has many practices by which you can choose to create positive feelings such as peace, gratitude, and joy. As you become skillful at heart-centering, you may be surprised at how quickly you can shift from a tense state of mind to a more calm and harmonious one.
Cognitive-behavioral Skills: Extensive scientific research shows that the simple act of replacing negative thoughts and beliefs with positive, constructive ones has a powerful effect on many physical and psychological difficulties. Cognitive-behavioral skills, which are designed to help you do that, become even more effective when they're combined with mindfulness and heart-centering.
Millions of people are stressed out and would like to feel both calmer and more energetic. Many have heard that practices from the yoga tradition – like deep breathing and relaxation – can be effective tools for achieving these ends. However, they're afraid that their bodies are too tense, their minds too unfocused, or their schedules too full to be able to learn or benefit from them.
In our work, we use a variety of modalities – including live music, movement, and rhythm games – to make it easier (and more enjoyable!) to learn to relax your body, focus your mind, and elicit positive feelings of calm and contentment.
Copyright 2008 Don Salmon and Jan Maslow
What are Yoga Practices for the Mind and Heart?
