Greek Yoga

This source discusses the basis of mindfulness and the general aspects of mindfulness itself. This source will be used extensively throughout the paper to provide any necessary information regarding mindfullness. This book is the basis for mindfulness and will be used as so.

Based on the evidence, mindfulness could be expanded to be included in teaching individuals not only intrapersonal skills but also the

Twenty-five established rules allowed the doors of comprehension and the ability to personally relate and reflect to the authors’ view-points to open. As each of these rules plays a defining role in understanding the ability to practice civility, each rule is also a key component in assimilating how to improve on your meditation skills; understand what civility and mediation represent, Forni makes a solid statement that intertwines the two: “if anything, these rules may feel like a “longcut,” since civility requires work and dedication. But they do offer a path to serenity and contentment” (M., 2002, p.41). Since civility and mediation share multiple common grounds and house a wide variety of rules, three will be singled out in which I have found, the most beneficial to my own personal growth and understanding.

Effective mindfulness meditation requires training and practice and it has distinct measurable effects on our subjective experiences, our behavior, and our brain

Yoga is a comprehensive system of mind/body techniques that is thousands of years old. Its techniques are designed to improve physical and mental health and well being, and include such practices as physical postures and stretching, breathing exercises (pranayama), focused concentration, meditation, visualization, and chanting (mantra) (Desikachar, 1999; van der Kolk, 2014).

For many people with hectic, stressful lives, relaxation means zoning out in front of the TV at the end of the day or getting some extra sleep at the end of the weekend, but for a certain group of people relaxing does not include this. These people are called yogis; those who achieve relaxation through the art of meditation, breathing, stretching, and finding inner peace. In today’s fast paced society it is hard to find a way to fully relax because people are constantly being forced to push their minds and bodies to the limit, which can result in high levels of stress. Rather than fighting against life’s hardships, people who practice yoga value deep relaxation in order to be free of stress and live each day in peace and harmony

Rooting back to its’ ancient times, meditation has been around for thousands of years, especially in the Eastern part of the world and has spread to the Western countries in early 1970s.

A practice of mindfulness meditation focuses deliberate attention to breathe, feeling or experiencing the body without judgment, and removes the idea of attempting to change any of the thoughts or feelings (Atkinson, 2013). This type of focus allows for more openness, acceptance, compassion and empathy of the self and others (Siegel, 2007).

* How does the ritual seek to change the participants? –Protect them from future sufferings, provides more insight into meditation

In the stories of Thich Nhat Hanh “Easing Suffering through Compassion for All”, it showed how religion tends to help human beings develop a compassion and love for others. When an individual like Thay (Nhat Hanh), is able to connect with oneself, then they have a unique opportunity to connect to one another. It is wonderful when human beings can perceive not only their own suffering but also the suffering of others. In my view, meditation is just one of the processes that can help an individual to reach or find the condition that a person needs to be able to receive the gifts reserved for oneself. “Thay founded the Tiep Hien Order, also known as the Order of Interbeing” (Parachin, p.65). Tiep means, “to be in touch”

Milarepa’s captivating life story depicts a man willing to commit sins on behalf of his mother’s command to one that decides to leave his family, in order to achieve enlightenment. This autobiography allows him to remain to be a beloved yogin because of his drastic and fulfilling spiritual transformation, thus encouraging Tibetans to seek a similar path to nirvana in their lifetime. However, Milarepa proves that one’s journey to liberation and enlightenment has to be earned and fought for spiritually and psychologically.

Cardiovascular disease is a global burden and by changing risk factors such as increasing physical activity and reducing stress by relaxation can lower the incidence of the disease (Hartley, Dyakova, Holmes, Clarke, Lee, Ernst, & Rees, 2014) The study had 800 participants with high risk factors of the cardiovascular disease and were recruited to 11 study trials. After eight months of this ongoing study, Hartley and Colleagues (2014) found that any form of yoga showed reduction in the systolic and diastolic blood pressure, triglycerides, and an increase in high-density lipoprotein. Since patients with the cardiovascular disease are unable to perform rigorous exercises, yoga was concluded to be an ideal choice for them. Participants, who

The benefits of Yoga are endless. It effects the human mind and body in a variety of ways. Roughly 15 million Americans practice yoga, annually there is an expected increase of twenty percent in participants in the United States ("Yoga Statistics"). While Yoga is often thought of as a practice that involves circus like poses and seemingly impossible flexibility; it not. Even bedridden patients can gain benefit from imagining themselves going through the poses and practicing breathing techniques that are appropriate to them (Dickenson 24-25). Yoga is not something that you do at the studio and leave behind. It becomes a way of life; leading to healthier habits, improving psychological health, and encouraging spiritual growth. An article on

In this paper, I will describe my initial thoughts about the practice of mindfulness and my development regarding practicing it. Furthermore, I will explore the idea of being a mindful therapist and how I am hoping to apply this with patients in the future.

This is not a book about how to practise yoga postures but rather an approach as to how to include a search for consciousness in every aspect of yoga. Our yoga journey is the tool for understanding.