Hi,
I am very new to yoga, i would like to learn and know something about that. How could i do. Also what is the best way to increase the concentration.
thanks in advance
simple
Dear Simple,
Thanks for your post, and your interest in yoga! We are a fledgling community of yogis, and posts from others who have comments or suggestions about your topic are most welcome!
As a beginner at yoga practice, I would suggest that you explore various teachers and environments until you find something that suits you. Then, you can more deeply investigate what it is that yoga offers you experientially. There are numerous teaching styles and venues in which yoga is presented. You will surely find something which speaks to you.
As for concentration, this is a very curious phenomenon indeed! What does it mean to concentrate? Does is mean that there is no distraction? Or that one is focused despite the distractions?
Have you received instruction about pranayama (yogic breath) and meditation? The practice of being with your breath, with your thoughts, observing their appearance and movement through inner space, is a cultivation of the capacity to focus and concentrate the attention. Easily, the mind is responding, rather than observing. Over time, one is able to maintain awareness, rather than reaction, for a longer period of time.
What are your experiences around concentration and yoga? How would you like to evolve in your yoga practice?
Namaste,
Chandra
Dear Chandra,
Thanks a lot for the reply.
Yes, That is a question, what is meant my concentration? But i could tell what i would like to know like how to focus something with out distraction.
Like and example i could tell, when i am reading a book, focus my mind fully on that with out any distraction.
About Pranayama, i am doing that. But that is not from any instructions from some one. Just read in books and doing. I guess u could help me more on that.
I appreciate your reply and help
thanks
Simple
Dear Simple,
The General Discussion yoga forum is available to all for exploring topics of interest in yoga practice. I would encourage others to join our discussion of concentration. Specific questions about one’s own practice can be addressed to Mukunda in the Q&A. You can learn about him at his web site: http://www.yogatherapycenter.org/index.html . Also noted on the site are teaher’s trained in Structural Yoga and Yoga Therapy, which may be of interest to you as you pursue your developing yoga practice.
In my opinion, learning yoga is very much a process of training the mind and body to focus upon the chosen direction of interest. All of the limbs of Classical Yoga as outlined by Patanjali in the Yoga Sutras aim toward the goal of the capacity to sustain this focus. It is a process of eliminating the blocks, aversions and clingings which distract and confuse the self. It is a process of becoming more your self, and letting go of those tensions, worries, and issues which take you out of the sense of “I am here now”, and into a state of confusion or suffering. I would highly recommend that you find a yoga teacher trained in the Yoga Sutras to provide you with personal instruction. Books are useful to develop interest and deepen your understanding, but actual contact with a teacher and experiencing yoga with their guidance will give you direction in how to proceed.
I am in Japan, and can be contacted by private message email if you would like to post to me for a class. Mukunda’s web site lists his availability, and also several other teachers around the USA. Other sources may be able to recommend a qualified teacher as well.
Please continue your interest in investigation of the mind stuff, and feel free to discuss here again!
Namaste,
Chandra