Meditation - Preparations and Practice
Category: Yoga
Dates: February 11, 2011 - February 13, 2011
Venue: Samye Ling
Course Leader: Johnny Glover
Price: £63
With the use of traditional yoga practices from the Bihar School of
Yoga this course offers practical support and encourages participants
to develop a regular meditation practice. Participants are welcome to
attend any one or combination of four weekends offered.
The dates for the 4 weekends are as follows:
29-31 Oct 2010
10-12 Dec 2010
7-9 Jan 2011
11-13 Feb 2011
Preparation for Meditation;
Meditation Asanas - preparing for sitting still in
traditional meditation poses. Physically with practices such as
Pawanmuktasana - joint releasing series and hip opening and back
strengthening sequences.
Mentally with Kaya Sthairyam - total steadiness of the body - awareness and acceptance of the physical posture - a preliminary practice to meditation.
Mudras - These are physical and mental attitudes or
gestures - including hand mudras such as jnana mudra, chin mudra,
shoonya mudra and nasagra mudra (used in nadi shodanha), khechari mudra
(used in ajapa japa). Attitudes such as karuna mudra (understanding of
others).
Pranayamas - breathing practices which help to prepare
the body and mind for meditative practices - practices will include
sectional breathing, full yogic breath, anuloma viloma, nadi shodhana
(alternate nostril breathing) and ujjayi pranayama (victorious breath).
Meditation Practices;
Ajapa japa - the spontaneous repetition of mantra (i.e. without forced concentration).
Antar mouna - awareness of the external and internal environment.
Yoga nidra - a form of pratyahara, a withdrawal of the
senses leading to release of physical tension and greater internal
awareness. A practice which induces deep relaxation.
Meditation in Action;
An integral part of each weekend will be Karma Yoga. This is not just
voluntary work , such as household duties, and work in the kitchen or
grounds;
"it is an important aspect of Yoga not to regard work as a chore, but rather as a tool to increase sensitivity and awareness."
Swami Nishchalananda
"Johnny Glover has completed our two year Teacher Training
Course at Mandala Yoga Ashram. He is trained in both the Yogic and
Buddhist traditions and the course he proposes to give in Samye Ling
promises to be an excellent opportunity for those who participate and
who want to go deeper into Yoga."
Swami Nishchalananda
Each weekend begins with supper at 6 pm on the Friday evening and
finishes with lunch which is served at 12.30 pm on the Sunday. Please
bring warm comfortable clothing and a blanket.
Johnny can be contacted through his website at www.jgyoga.co.uk