Meditation

Meditation is an important part of yoga. In fact, traditionally, the physical yoga practice (or asana) was a purification and preparation for meditation. There are many yoga meditation techniques that one can learn, and we offer a variety of choices: Mindfulness Meditation, Awareness Meditation, Loving Kindness Meditation, Relaxation Meditation (Yoga Nidra) & Mantra Meditation.

Multiple scientific studies are showing the benefits of meditation, on the physical, emotional, and mental levels. To name a few — regular meditators have shown physical changes in the brain, improved the functioning of the nervous system, enhanced creativity and mental process, improved relationships, and a greater state of well-being.

Meditation refers to a broad variety of practices where an individual trains the mind or induces a specific mode of consciousness. It is often used to clear the mind and create internal relaxation and awareness. It includes techniques designed to promote relaxation, build internal energy, develop compassion, love, patience, generosity and forgiveness. It usually involves an internal effort to self-regulate the mind in some way.

Mindfulness Meditation

This meditation uses the breath or sound as a support. 

The support provides a gentle focus point to anchor or steady the mind throughout the practice. As the mind gets distracted during meditation, we simply come back, again and again, to be aware of the breath (or sound). This helps us create new patterns, train the mind to become less distracted, and to regain a sense of distance from our thoughts and emotions—finding greater peace and stillness within.  

Awareness Meditation

This meditation guides students to rest in a place of being. It is a gentle guided meditation that helps us find more spaciousness and relaxation in the mind. By allowing ourselves to stop 'doing' this meditation focuses on the awareness of being, and allows us to become more connected to the true nature of the mind—which is pure, still, creative, and open.

Loving Kindness Meditation

This meditation focuses on gently cultivating loving-kindness towards oneself and others. Loving-kindness meditation helps students to discover more about their minds and their hearts. The intention of this practice is to send well-being and happiness to oneself and the world around us. It is a wonderful way to begin to plant the seeds of love within, that will also impact our way of being in our lives.  

Relaxation Meditation (Yoga Nidra)

This meditation is a practice of conscious relaxation designed to release held tension in our body and mind. The practise of Yoga Nidra guides students into a state of deep relaxation, by progressively relaxing and releasing tension from each part of the body. This helps us to feel more open inside and is a great way to reverse the impact of stress.

Mantra Meditation

This meditation uses a 'mantra' to help steady the mind. A mantra is a sacred syllable or sound that has a powerful vibration. It is a gentle guided meditation using a sacred sound to help us contact the deeper layers of our being. One of the purposes of using a mantra is to feel the subtle vibration, which helps to deepen our practice. The repetition of the mantra throughout the class helps us to disconnect from the thoughts that arise, and find a deep sense of peace within.

Kundalini Mantra Meditation

Enjoy a class of restoration and thoughtful movements to feel your way back into yourself. This Kundalini & Mantra Meditation special class experience is designed to reduce stress and spark creativity. Class will consist of breathing exercises (pranayama), spinal strengthening (kriyas), and deep mantra meditations to facilitate a complete practice. The class will leave you feeling invigorated and sparked with creativity.
 

Meditation & Sharing Circle

Sharing circles are a platform which gives us the possibility to identify our feelings, to express ourselves fully, and to experience the art of sharing and listening. A sacred space where we listen to each other, with our hearts rather than our heads. It is a space of inclusiveness; to feel free to express what you feel without fear of judgment or consequences. It is a space where there is a common understanding that what is shared in the circle, remains in the circle. Every circle will begin and end with a meditation and the rest of the session is meditation in connection. One of the principles is that we stay with the level of sensation, the felt sense of our bodies. When we go into the mind's story we lose connection with our bodies, with what is real at the moment. We learn and start to feel clearly the difference between the truth of what is and what is the interpretation coming from the mind. It is like meditating while connecting, taking down all the walls of apparent separation and discovering true love and oneness. We learn to connect with ourselves and express ourselves in a group without making concessions to what we truly feel and wish to share. Sitting together in a group may bring up old patterns, beliefs and emotions, we learn to allow these instead of resisting. When we truly acknowledge and give space to limiting patterns and emotions they can dissolve, leaving us in a deeply fulfilled state. The field of Presence that will emerge by being together in Truth will be a profound setting for transformation, great clarity and connectedness.