We constantly use our energy for different activities that we do in our daily lives. If we keep on using our energy without replenishing it, we may soon drain out. Here, we are not just talking of the energy on physical level but, the energy on spiritual level as well. Continue reading
Tag Archives: Meditation
Meditation in Motion- Part 3
Dance is another form of meditation in motion. While dancing you invoke the life force that is flowing through you. Dance is method of bringing inner stillness while moving.
Meditation means emptying of mind and entering a void space where our soul surfaces, bringing peace .In dancing we enter this meditative state or trans-state of mind but through rather a different door.
Dances were from days of yore associated with spirituality. They have the ability to take us to trans-state of mind if performed with focus on mental discipline along with physical movements. With practising of steps and movements dancers slowly move towards the fine balancing and grounding techniques. Dancing done with intention of attaining spirituality do lead us to meditative state. Thus, intention setting is very important step before one starts dancing.
•Sufi dance is well recommended dance for meditation. Whirling around takes you to a different plane of consciousness and makes it very easy for you to connect to higher self. Whirling can be associated with spinning of planets around the sun.
•Kathak Yoga is a new technique developed for mediation purpose.
•Qi Gong Fan dance is another form of meditative dance.
•Hoop dance is also now being used for meditative purposes as well.
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Meditation in Motion-Part 2
Yoga is another form of meditation in motion. It is a way of integrating mind ,body and soul.
Sitting and trying to meditate takes a lot time and practice. It is definitely possible and people have achieved it but , with great effort. Yoga is a easy way of focusing your mind first on asanas and slowly shifting attention to breath.
Studies show that regular yoga practice helps us to focus better, feel relaxed, increases our concentration and memory. Our mind is not cluttered with unnecessary thoughts, yoga helps in clearing way for better thinking .
You may notice that when you are tensed or angry or when your mind is very active, your breath is shorter. The essence of yoga is to concentrate on asanas and along with it move your attention and be aware of your breath. All asanas are associated with breathing sequences, each step is associated with a breathing pattern. So in yoga you move from physical asanas to subtle movements of breath and become aware of your breathing pattern. This leads to relaxation.
It is well known that no machine can work with hundred percent efficiency if it is working for twenty four hours round the clock. It needs rest. It needs time to cool down otherwise , it will break down and finish due to wear and tear. Same is the case with our fast paced lives. We need to do a lot. We need to achieve a lot .When we are in the state of activity or hyper-activity our brain waves move very fast. With all this running there is always an inner subtle urge for taking a break from all the activities.
We need to understand the importance of slowing down at times. We need to learn to slow down our brain activity as with that comes relaxation, clarity of thoughts and intuition (i.e. we are able to hear our inner voice clearly).
First, we slow down our physical body movements and then we slow down our breath which leads to slowing down of brain activity and this leads us to a state of bliss.
It is said that when we slow down our brain activity, it is only then we receive cosmic energy. Our thoughts are a blockage to reception of cosmic energy which is very much necessary for our well being.
Meditation in Motion – Part 1
Tai Chi:
Tai chi is a form of martial art that is often referred to as moving meditation. Tai chi helps you to find balance between your mind and body .It works on the belief that focussing mind fully on movements brings mental peace and relaxation, which in turn helps one in reducing stress and anxiety levels. In addition to developing physical discipline, it helps one to focus his energies in constructive ways.
Tai Chi is a very slow form of workout that involves graceful movements along with proper breathing .It is a rhythmic series of movement with one movement leading to another in a very smooth manner.
Tai chi means directing of life force or energy inside our body. Tai chi has following elements:
•Taolu meaning solo hand and weapons routines/forms
•Neigong and qigong meaning breathing, movement and awareness exercises and meditation
•Tuishou meaning response drills
•Sanshou meaning self defence techniques
In China, tai chi is categorized under the Wudang grouping of Chinese martial art which is a form of arts concerned with internal power.
Although you can learn Tai Chi from videos ,etc . but, it is always better to learn Tai Chi under a well trained instructor for full benefits. A proper teacher will teach you all the movements along with proper breathing and also teach you how to focus the energies while exercising. Thus, instructor has a great role in imparting proper technique. Anything you learn is useful only if you do it using the right method and technique.
How to keep children busy during Summer Holidays:
Summer holidays is a nice big break for children from their daily routine life. Children have a lot of time in their hand and they don’t know how to spend their time.This time can be best utilized in enhancing their skills along with giving them relaxation. Here are some activities you can look for keeping children busy during holidays:
•You can make your children join a library where they can get a lot of books to read. This will help to inculcate reading habit in them.
•Children can be introduced to photography. They can be taught and encouraged to take out photographs of animals, birds, flowers, nature etc. This will help to develop their interest in photography and they can become amateur photographers.
•Children can be encouraged to make their own comic book or they can be encouraged to author a novel. This can be an early introduction to the world of writing.
•Children can be encouraged to gain some work experience. For example,they can volunteer working in some library where they can maintaining simple record of books people are taking or they can volunteer working in some mall and deal with customers by introducing customers to products and any offers the mall is offering.
•You can take them to theatres, puppet shows or magic shows if any.
•You can introduce cooking activities for them and their friends, where they can share their recipes and try their hands on cooking. They can be made Chefs.This will help to develop culinary skills in children.
•If your children have a lot of collection of books they can run their own library or you can encourage and make a group of their friends who can run a library together.
•You can encourage your children to organize football or cricket matches.
•You along with your children can go on a long cycling adventure trip.
•You can organize mountaineering trip in a group.
•You can organize painting sessions in a group or individually you can encourage your child to paint his imaginations.
•You can arrange story telling sessions for children.
•You can take your children to amusement parks or water parks.
•You can go on a shopping trip with your children and let them handle the budgeting part.
•You can create a sand pit in your garden and introduce them to the world of sand sculptures.
•You can arrange clay for them and introduce them to clay modeling.
•You can introduce them to your holy scriptures.
• You can introduce them to meditation and yoga.
•You can make them join some classes for learning skills such as swimming, karate etc.
•You can arrange salad decoration or dressing competition for children.
•You can encourage children to display their special skills by arranging an exhibition cum sale event.