Meditation and Om

Yoga and meditation have long been lauded to have excellent benefits for the mind and body. Many discover meditation and it's calming benefits from yoga. I'm am a big fan of yoga, it helps keep your body fit and limber. After a class, I always feel infinitely more relaxed. Adding a few minutes of quiet meditation to your daily routine can help to reduce stress levels.

For five minutes at the beginning and end of a yoga class, we spend those few minutes in a meditation pose, where we simply focus on breathing and mindfulness. Mindfulness is simply focusing on the present and being aware of life and experiences around you now, in the present. One technique used for deeper meditation is the chanting of "Om." It helps give your mind something to focus on while relaxing your mind and body. The Om symbol is common throughout many Eastern religions such as Buddhism, Hinduism, and Sikhism, all of which encourage meditation. It is sometimes spelled as 'Aum', which is a little more like the pronunciation used when chanting for meditation. It is most important to inhale deeply and exhale fully when you meditate. My yoga instructor likes to tell the class that even if you only sit and breathe deeply, you're doing yoga!