Yoga and Meditation: An Introduction

This introduction was contributed by Mamta, an information technology professional with many years of experience in the industry, who has studied and practiced yoga for over two decades.

What is yoga?

Yoga is a way of life — an integrated system of education for the body, mind, and inner spirit. The art of right living was perfected and practiced in India thousands of years ago, but since yoga deals with universal truths, its teachings are as valid today as they were in ancient times. Yoga is a practical aid, not a religion, and its techniques may be practiced by people of all religions as well as atheists alike. Yoga is union with all.

The three bodies

Most of us might question whether the body has a soul. But the yogi would say: definitely. Yoga teaches that we are not just one body but three — the physical body we can see and touch, the subtle body of mind and energy that animates it, and the causal body, the deepest layer where our sense of self and our connection to the infinite reside. The practices of yoga work on all three at once: asana steadies the physical, pranayama (breathwork) steadies the subtle, and meditation opens the causal.

What does yoga teach about balance?

Mamta, who practices daily, puts it this way: yoga teaches us to bring the body, mind, and soul into a perfect balance. The moment the body and mind reach a balanced state, the mind is already in a meditative state, and the inward path to bliss begins. In this meditative state, you move to a higher realm where you can unfold the infinite potential within you.

How does meditation fit in?

Meditation is not a separate activity bolted onto yoga — it is yoga's natural destination. The physical postures prepare the body to sit still; the breathing practices calm the restless mind; and then meditation begins: the practice of turning attention inward and resting in awareness itself. Even a few minutes a day, practiced consistently, can change how you meet the rest of your life.

You do not need special equipment, a particular belief, or athletic ability to begin. You need only a quiet corner, a few minutes, and the willingness to sit with yourself. The rest unfolds from there.