What is the difference between yoga and meditation?

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Many people hear the words yoga and think this is some trendy exercise routine for well fit women in tight outfits. But this is not what this practice is all about. Anyone can do it no matter what gender, race, religion, age, and you don’t even have to be some fit person.

There is so much more to yoga than just holding poses. In fact, these postures are only one branch of yoga which consists of a total of 8 limbs. So, when one asks what is the difference between yoga and meditation?

The answer is they are one in the same. Meditation is merely one of the limbs of yoga. The core practices of yoga, such as the asanas (poses), was designed to prepare your body and mind for meditation.

Yoga isn’t just about being flexible, it’s a way of living.

Is Yoga and Meditation the Same

Not very many people fully comprehend the power of yoga and are confused about how meditation goes with this ancient practice. But you must look as yoga as just the trunk of a tree which has 8 branches.

These branches that make up yoga are:

1. Yama-creed or code of conduct
2. Niyama-observances
3. Asana-postures
4. Pranayama-breath control
5. Pratyahara-withdrawal of the senses
6. Dharana-concentration
7. Dhyana-meditation
8. Samadhi-pure contemplation (enlightenment)

Yoga was founded thousands and thousands of years ago, and just like religion has drifted away from its original intent, which is spiritual growth and a deeper connection with the divine.

Too many of you are sleep walking through life like zombies. Your head is down staring at your phone while not noticing all the beauty around you. It’s time to wake up.  Stop letting others influence your way of thinking and start question your purpose.  We have been told what to think and how to act. But is this how life should be?

It’s time to take your life back and break free from the limitation of your mind and establish your own beliefs and this comes from deep inside your being. When you learn as a modern-day yogi and establish your own core values you will have a positive impact on your life and this planet.

The Importance of Yoga and Meditation

With today’s society there seems to be a sense of urgency for everything. This causes more stress to stimulate your nervous system by the over dosage of neural toxins. Therefore, the reason there are so many unexplained autoimmune diseases along with an increase of panic attacks, and anxiety.

You can’t even drive to work without being in a state of defensiveness because so many people are in a hurry to get to their jobs which is sucking the life out of them. I can see someone being in a rush to get home from work, but why such a rush to get to work is beyond me.

Every time you put yourself into a situation which puts you in a state of stress you increase your risk of long-term disease. Now stress in small amounts is ok and we all need it to grow, but when you allow this to become a subconscious habit, it starts getting out of hand.

There are so many things in life most of us were never taught, and psychology is one of them. Because success is 90% psychology and the remaining is your actions. When you better understand how the mind works you can better understand how to make the necessary changes in consciousness in to obtain what your heart truly desires.

A quick summary of how the mind works can be explained as if you are a captain and your body is your ship. Well, let’s just say your ship is a little off course, and you as a captain have been a little distracted on what your objective is.

The importance of yoga and meditation is to take back control of your ship (your subconscious mind) and get it back on course. Yoga will help you find your path, change your perceptions, renew your mind, gain clarity, and strengthen your focus.

Yoga and Meditation Benefits

If you truly want to live a better life all around, then it begins by establishing your vision. Because what you focus on I where your energy will be flowing, and where your energy is flowing is what will be drawn back into your life.

This may not happen right away. Many people are wandering aimlessly through life because they have no sense of direction. When you learn how to go within yourself through deep meditation you will create a spark in your lost soul giving you a new sense of direction.

Meditation is the key to happiness and the rest of yoga is merely the prep work for this ancient practice. You can’t have an unhealthy body and mind while trying to tap into your inner being. You got to do the groundwork.

You got to train not just your body, but you got to work on your mind and your limited beliefs. Once you have a vision or intention you can establish a course of action. You are the master of your fate and through the discipline of yoga you will train your body, mind, and your lost soul to obey you as their master.

But this isn’t just like being a drill sergeant where you command your inner being to give you the keys to the kingdom. It’s more like a marriage where you got to be more loving to yourself.

Plus, you got to learn how to become more mindful throughout the day.

When you start practicing the asanas and meditation you will start shedding layers of your stress and purifying your nervous system as well as other key areas of you body. Through repetition this will slowly awaken your true inner self fueling you with passion and sense of purpose.

That is up to you to find…

Plus, what I have noticed is my immune system has been boosted where I am hardly ever sick, and when you have kids in the school system, it is like petri dish full of germs in our house. I used to just look at their drippy nose and I would get sick.

But now it has been over two school seasons and I haven’t got sick. The other benefits are I have more energy, I am more creative, more intuitive, I sleep better, I am more passionate, and just all around happier.  I have been able to overcome panic attacks, anxiety, and a pinched sciatic nerve.

Yoga Isn’t Just an Exercise, It’s a Way of Living

Being a modern-day yogi isn’t just about living in isolation and meditating all day long. We live in the real world where shit happens. There is no getting away from it, but this will make you stronger. We grow through what we go through.

Part of yoga is being mindful of this resistance and learn how to turn it off. Plus, you need to release this negative energy from your body, mind, and soul at least once a day by practicing yoga asanas and meditation.

Make sure you do not let other people cloud our mind with limiting beliefs. We were created in the image of the Divine and there is endless potential in each and every one of you.

So being a modern-day yogi means you must stand guard at the gates of your subconscious mind and keep the negativity out. Fuel your mind with positivity and start studying the spiritual laws of the universe. This is another limb of yoga which is Niyama (observances).

We highly recommend you reading the book Autobiography of a Yogi by Paramahansa Yogananda. This book was one of Steve Jobs favorites. It will open your mind up to endless possibilities.

Yoga is about bettering yourself so you can help make this planet a better place. It is import you realize you must give away what you truly want. If you want more love, then give it away. If you want more peace than be more peaceful. If you want the world to be a better place than it begins by you changing yourself and this is this is yoga.

Yoga isn’t just an exercise, it’s a way of living.

“It is spiritual poverty, not material lack, that lies at the core of all human suffering.” Paramahansa Yogananda