Meditation is an important part of any yoga practice, but it can be especially challenging during a hard session. To make it easier, it's best to divide meditation time into two parts. Begin the class with a short-term sitting meditation, then move on to the asanas, and end with another short sitting meditation after savasana. This structure will help your students to notice the change in their mental state throughout their practice.
For those just starting out, there are tools available to help with the process. A meditation DVD for beginners or a brain-sensing headband can be useful. Generally speaking, the easiest way to begin meditating is to focus on your breathing. Concentration is one of the most common approaches to meditation.
This ancient Buddhist tradition involves sitting upright and following the breath, particularly the way it enters and leaves the abdomen, and allowing the mind to “just be”. The goal is to promote a sense of presence and alertness. Yoga instructor and author Jessamyn Stanley has some tips for making simple adjustments to some of the most common yoga poses.
