Benefits of Yoga and Meditations

As such most yoga today is done with physicalcalm, sitting postures to achieve a meditative state that
outcomes in mind. This is called passive as it involvescan help us in our active life.
withdrawing ourselves in calm, sitting postures to 
achieve a meditative state that can help us in ourThe aim of all passive meditation techniques is to still
active life. Yoga is ultimately concerned withthe mind from wavering and distracting thoughts and
development of the total human personality.gradually make it one pointed.
The many practices of yoga are designed to help the 
body and mind meet every situation that arises in lifePassive Meditation Techniques though of many kinds,
from moment to moment.essentially have the same modus operandi:
  
The purpose of Yoga and Meditation asanas is toStage 1: Introversion: Involves seating postures and
keep the body healthy and supple enough to sitawareness on an object. This has the effect of
comfortably and practice pranayamas (breathing) andcalming the mind and making it receptive to see what's
meditation practices that calm and still the mind.inside.
  
Yoga often begins with the body because mostStage 2: Introversion leads to the free flow of
people can identify with the body very easily. Most ofthoughts, visions, complexes, memories etc. from the
our awareness, in fact, revolves around physicallower mind. Our passions, fears, doubts and desires
conditions and desires. As such most yoga today isarise and we are now in a position to observe these
done with physical outcomes in mind. People tend toand remove the undesirable content from our minds
identify with the body in the initial stages of yoga andforever.
work with the body using asanas, pranayamas and 
other Hatha Yoga practices.Stage 3: Having observed the lower mind, we are now
 in a position to explore the subconscious realms. It is
There are two types of meditation active and passive.here that real meditation begins. Our limitless
 storehouse of energy and knowledge starts
Active meditation relates to activities of everyday lifemanifesting itself.
such as walking, working, eating etc. 
This in fact is the aim of Yoga, to experience aStage 4: Self realization: As these stages are
meditative state in everyday life which has the effecttranscended, supreme bliss is attained.
of increasing performance manifold as the work is 
done with more efficiency and energy.The practices of yoga gradually evolve from the body
 to the mind and eventually to the spiritual realms,
To achieve active meditation, passive meditation isdeveloping awareness of different aspects of life and
required which involves taking time out to be seatedutilizing yoga to harmonies various dimensions of life.
and perform Meditation Techniques or practices. ThisYoga is ultimately concerned with development of the
is called passive as it involves withdrawing ourselves intotal human personality.