Meditation courses for beginners.
Many concentration and meditation techniques have been developed in Satyananda Yoga from the ancient scriptures. The practices of pratyahara (to quieten the mind), dharana (concentration), dhyana (meditation) and laya yoga techniques, derived from the Upanishads, the Tantras and other traditions, have also been classified, taught and published. All techniques have different levels and stages of practice. These sessions are theme based.
Following are descriptions of some of the core meditation techniques of the Satyananda System of Yoga. It is advised to attend all the sessions regularly as they are done in sequence. Each meditation practice is done at three levels moving the student progressively through the stages of each practice.
1st year
Kaya Sthairyam 1month -> 1st year
Duration: 4 sessions of 90min.
Stillness of the body and mind. When the body becomes steady and still, the mind follows suit.
Antar Mouna 2months -> 1st year
Duration: 8 sessions of 90min.
Deals with the activities of the conscious mind, where one is aware of thoughts and mental activity. The technique involves observing, transforming and finally gaining control of the thought processes. It is designed to bring one to a state of inner silence. Through antar mouna, one learns to deepen one’s awareness and to remove deep rooted tensions, painful memories, fears and phobias from the mind. The practice enhances memory and decision making, and re-shapes the personality. One learns to accept and be-friend the mind. Antar Mouna follows on from Kaya Sthairyam.
Trataka 1month -> 1st year
Duration: 4 sessions of 60min.
Involves gazing at one point, generally a candle flame to induce relaxation and concentration of the mind.
Trataka follows on from Antar Mouna.
Ajapa Japa 2months -> 1st year
Duration: 8 sessions of 90min.
An effective method of meditation and a complete sadhana in itself. This practice combines pranayama and continuous mantra repetition. The mantra used may be one’s personal mantra given by a guru or the universal breath mantra So Ham. Gradually one starts to explore the more subtle regions of the psychic body.
Ajapa Japa follows on from Tratak.
Antar Darshan 2months -> 1st year
Duration: 8 sessions of 90min.
Antar means inner, and darshan means to have the vision of the inner being. It is a pratyahara technique of intensifying self-awareness and becoming aware of how we are emotionally interacting with others as a result of what is happening at a deeper level than the conscious awareness. Antar darshan follows on from antar mouna.
2nd Year
After following the techniques mentioned above for one year, then in the second year one can be taught more advanced stages of the above and some new techniques, such as Chidakasha Dharana and Nature Meditations.
Chidakasha Dharana:
Duration: 10 sessions of 90min
A practice of dharana to focus the internalized senses on chidakash (the space of consciousness). It improves perception of inner mental and psychic phenomena.
Nature Meditations:
Duration: 4 sessions of 60min.
Nature meditations help us to become aware of the innate intelligence of nature. These meditations enable us to bring our lives into a more natural rhythm.