Category: Philosophy

April Fools Day 2023 – Stress Awareness Month, Humor Month & Laughter Yoga

by Tarryn Tyler - Daily Yogiposted in Holiday, Intro Info, Philosophy, Self Care

Happy Asana April 1, 2023 – Humor Month & Laughter Yoga

Good Morning Yogis! Happy April and April Fools’ Day! April is Stress Awareness Month and also National Humor Month.

I find challenge-focused months super helpful for my own motivation, so today we are starting another bonus challenge for April – Daily Asanas! You do not have to participate in this or any of our particular monthly challenge themes, we will be continuing our daily Positive Practices drawn from Yoga Philosophy throughout next month. Consider getting the Daily Yogi App for reminders if you are participating – this is a great Tapas tool!

Laughter Yoga

Okay, this is NOT a joke for April Fools’ Day! There is a Yoga Style called Laughter Yoga. This is not an Asana class, but a special practice that incorporates laughing, breathing, clapping, and chanting. I recommend checking out this short video for a quick info and intro session.. her longer videos are even better! I love the quote “Negative thoughts can be neutralized by positive thoughts” from the Yoga Sutras, and Laughter Yoga is a great positivity technique! See more on positivity below.

Bonus Daily Asana Challenge

We are beginning a daily Asana practice challenge for April! For today’s start of Stress Awareness Month, I recommend a relaxing Yin or Restorative class.

I usually practice with the Yoga Studio App rather than streaming services, so I can download my favorite classes and use in areas without WiFi or phone signal. Today I am doing Intermediate Relaxation (30 minutes).

close-up cool shot of swirling van goh painting from immersive exhibition - april fools day laughter Quote: If Laughter cannot solve your problems, it will definitely DISSOLVE your problems; so that you can think clearly what to do about them. - Dr. Madan Kataria
If Laughter cannot solve your problems, it will definitely DISSOLVE your problems; so that you can think clearly what to do about them. – Dr. Madan Kataria

As we begin our bonus daily Asana challenge, I want to discuss an important common concept from Yoga Philosophy – Setting Intentions! If you have attended Yoga classes at a Yoga Studio, you likely have heard your teacher recommend setting an intention for your practice that day. We have talked about keeping Santosha or contentment in Asana practice to avoid injury. I often set Pranayama or Breath as my intention for Asana practice with a mantra of “breathe” or “just breathe”, since in more dynamic classes I forget to maintain my preferred Ocean Breath as the Asana series picks up speed. I also set Ocean as the background music in the Yoga Studio App for an extra reminder. Here is a great article with more on intentions and mantras on and off the Yoga mat.

Today’s Positive Practice suggestion

Today’s Daily Yogi Practice is to set a positive intention for yourself for April, keeping April’s stress reduction theme in mind. This can be big or small:

Part of the reason we set intentions in Asana practice is to have something positive to come back to that we want to focus on. Additionally, we will have this to return to when we meet challenges. I set “just breathe” as my intention for nearly a decade now, and I do truly breathe into difficulties on the mat, and I have improved my breath during Asana practice by keeping this in the back of my mind.

More on the Power of Positive Thinking

The Law of Attraction & Power of Positive Thinking Intro

11 Ways to Boost Positive Thinking

Get the Daily Yogi App – Get quick access to
today’s practice and daily pop-up reminders!

More Positive Practices

Missed yesterday’s post? Read it here!

Related Positive Practices

Share your Practice

Please comment and share how if setting positive intentions is part of your Yoga or Asana practice. Are you taking other steps to improve your mental and emotional wellness this month? Are you going to join us in our daily Asana challenge for April? Always remember, be kind!

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Upper 4 Limbs of Yoga – Dhyana (Full Meditation): Meditation March 2023

by Tarryn Tyler - Daily Yogiposted in 5-8—Upper Limbs of Yoga, 8 Limbs of Yoga, Meditation, Philosophy

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Happy Meditation March 15, 2023 – Dhyana (Full Meditation)

Good Morning Yogis! We are in the middle of a month focused on meditation for March. We typically spend more time practicing the lower limbs, but during meditation months we will take couple days to cover each of the four upper limbs, rather than combining into one.

We already covered Pratyahara or withdrawal of the senses and Dharana or Intense Focus.

Bonus Daily Meditation Challenge

We have a bonus daily meditation challenge for March. Learn about Dharana and try today’s positive practice suggestion or a meditation of your choice!

close-up of center growing striped green leaves - upper limbs of yoga Dhyana full meditation Quote: Meditation is the dissolution of thoughts in eternal awareness or Pure consciousness without objectification, knowing without thinking, merging finitude in infinity. - Voltaire
Meditation is the dissolution of thoughts in eternal awareness or Pure consciousness without objectification, knowing without thinking, merging finitude in infinity. – Voltaire

Dhyana (Full Meditation)

The last three Limbs of Yoga – Dharana, Dhyana, and Samadhi are often referred to as the “innermost quest” and studied together. As we have discussed, the upper limbs build upon all four of the lower limbs, and sequentially upon each other. However, these practices are all meditation focused, and must truly be practiced and understood on your own. Samadhi is basically our goal and will be discussed only occasionally… we are skipping Samadhi this round of through the 8 limbs of Yoga, and jumping right into our meditation month practices tomorrow. Today we will discuss Dhyana and try a Meditation to reach this state.

Dhyana is the 7th Limb of Yoga, and is usually translated as meditation. I prefer to think of Dhyana as full meditation, a bit stronger and more specific than “meditation”. This is typically the goal of meditation, to fully stop our thoughts and have a quiet mind. After withdrawing inside ourselves with Pratyahara and focusing our minds on a single subject with Dharaha, we may reach the level of meditation where our thoughts actually stop. In true Dhyana or true meditation, we typically are not aware of this clear-minded state until we come out of it.

Today’s Positive Practice suggestion

Today’s Daily Yogi Practice is to try a Dhyana-focused Meditation Practice. You can try our breath-focused meditation again, and then allow your mind to quiet. Or, you can try a guided meditation meant to help bring the state of Dhyana.

Remember this is a practice, and a difficult one.. so be patient with yourself on this journey! I am working on Dhyana.. I usually can focus on one thing with Dharana, but my mind wanders fairly quickly when I try to quiet it for full meditation.

Dhyana Guided Meditation

Our Breath-Focused Meditation – first focus on breath, then allow your mind to quiet.

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Want more on Meditation? Check out our Upper Limbs & Meditation Guide!

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today’s practice and daily pop-up reminders!

More Positive Practices

Missed yesterday’s post? Read it here!

Related Positive Practices

Share your Practice

Please comment and let me know which you tried, and what you thought of this Dhyana exercise! If you have another favorite guided meditation, please share the link! Always remember, be kind!

              

Upper 4 Limbs of Yoga – Dharana (Intense Focus): Meditation March 2023

by Tarryn Tyler - Daily Yogiposted in 5-8—Upper Limbs of Yoga, 8 Limbs of Yoga, Meditation, Philosophy

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Happy Meditation March 14, 2023 – Dharana (Intense Focus)

Good Morning Yogis! We are in the middle of a month focused on meditation for March. We typically spend more time practicing the lower limbs, but during meditation months we will take couple days to cover each of the four upper limbs, rather than combining into one. We covered Pratyahara or withdrawal of the sense yesterday. As we have discussed, the upper limbs build upon all four of the lower limbs, and then sequentially upon each other. These practices are all meditation focused and therefore must truly be attained on your own. Today we will revisit Dharana, and then try a Dharana Guided Meditation or other Meditative Practice.

close-up cool perspective of dark green glass reflective art - upper limbs of yoga dharana meditation intense focus Quote: Wisdom comes with the ability to be still. Just look and listen. No more is needed. - Eckhart Tolle
Wisdom comes with the ability to be still. Just look and listen. No more is needed. – Eckhart Tolle

Bonus Daily Meditation Challenge

We have a bonus daily meditation challenge for March. Try any of our Dharana practices today!

Dharana (Intense Focus)

Nearly all meditation practices you think of are types of Dharana.

Dharana is the 6th Limb of Yoga, and is usually translated as concentration. This comes from the Sanskrit root “dhri” meaning to hold, carry, or maintain. I prefer to think of Dharana as intense focus, a bit stronger than “concentration”. This is typically the second step for meditation – after letting the outside world slip away, we then direct our focus inward. Most of the meditative practices we think of are therefore Dharana practices – see our full list!

Today’s Positive Practice suggestion

Today’s Daily Yogi Practice is to try a Dharana-focused Meditation Practice. Perhaps try our breath-focused meditation again to prepare for tomorrow’s next level of meditation. Perhaps focus on your breath or body in Shavasana / Corpse Pose after an Asana practice, another meditative practice from our list, try a guided meditation below, or any other method of your own.. whatever feels right to you. We will cover mandalas and flame gazing later!

Dharana or Intense Focus Meditative Practices

Remember this is a practice, and a difficult one.. so be patient with yourself on this journey!

Morning Motivational Meditation (10 minutes)

Evening Sleep/Relaxation Meditation (50 minutes)

Full Night Sleep Meditation (8 hours)

Grounding Meditation (9 minutes)

Body Scanning Guided Meditation (15 minutes)

Loving Kindness Guided Meditation (15 minutes)

Self-Reflective Guided Meditation (15 minutes)

Positive Affirmation Guided Meditation (12 minutes)

Celestial Visualization Guided Meditation (7 minutes)

Manifest Meditations (Power of Attraction) (10 minutes) 

Want more on Meditation? Check out our Upper Limbs & Meditation Guide!

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Check out our Top 5 Yoga Mats and Equipment for Newbies!

You may want to try a block, couch pillow, blanket, or bolster in order to help yourself find a comfortable seat for meditation.

Top 5 Yoga Equipment for Newbies

Top 5 Yoga Mats


Disclosure: I only recommend products I would use myself, and all opinions expressed here are our own. This page contains affiliate links that at no additional cost to you, may earn me a small commission. Read full privacy policy here.

More Positive Practices

Missed yesterday’s post? Read it here!

Related Positive Practices

Share your Practice

Please comment and let me know which you tried, and what you thought of this Dharana exercise! If you have another favorite, then please share the link! Always remember, be kind!

              

Upper 4 Limbs of Yoga – Pratyahara (Withdrawal of Senses): Meditation March 2023

by Tarryn Tyler - Daily Yogiposted in 5-8—Upper Limbs of Yoga, Meditation, Philosophy

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Happy Meditation March 13, 2023 – Pratyahara (Withdrawal of Senses)

Good Morning Yogis! We have completed our daily positive practices and meditations inspired by the first four Limbs of Yoga, and are back to the Upper Limbs. We are also in the middle of a month focused on meditation for March. We typically spend more time practicing the lower limbs, but during meditation months we will take couple days to cover each of the four upper limbs, rather than combining into one meditation day.

close-up cool perspective of colorful green fragmented reflections of van goh painting from immersive exhibition- upper limbs of yoga pratyahara withdrawal of senses go within peace within Quote: The first half of life is devoted to forming a healthy ego, the second half is going inward and letting go of it. - Carl Jung
The first half of life is devoted to forming a healthy ego, the second half is going inward and letting go of it. – Carl Jung

Bonus Daily Meditation Challenge

We have a bonus daily meditation challenge for March. Today I recommend trying this Pratyahara Guided Meditation perfect for Shavasana after your Asana practice.

Pratyahara (Withdrawal of Senses)

As we have discussed, the upper limbs build upon all four of the previous limbs, and sequentially upon each other. These practices are all meditation focused and therefore must truly be attained on your own. We will take the next few days in our Meditation-focused month for daily practices inspired by the first three Upper Limbs. Today we will revisit the 5th Limb of Yoga – Pratyahara and try a Pratyahara Guided Meditation.

Pratyahara is the 5th Limb of Yoga, and is usually translated as withdrawal of the senses. “Prati” means against or away, and “Ahara” means food or anything we take into ourselves. So, this literally means to stop taking things into ourselves. This is typically the first step for meditation – letting the outside world slip away, and going inside. The point is not about isolating yourself from outside distractions, it is about withdrawing into yourself, and then allowing outside distractions to fade away.

Today’s Positive Practice suggestion

Today’s Daily Yogi Practice is to try a Pratyahara-focused Meditation Practice. You can try this with Shavasana / corpse pose after an Asana practice, with a guided meditation, or on your own.. whatever feels right to you! Remember this is a practice, and a difficult one.. so be patient with yourself on this journey!

Pratyahara Guided Meditation

Want more on Meditation? Check out our Upper Limbs & Meditation Guide!

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More Positive Practices

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Share your Practice

Please comment and let me know which you tried, and what you thought of this Pratyahara Meditation! If you have another favorite, then please share the link! Always remember, be kind!

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February Expect Success & March Nutrition Month 2023 – Intentions and Yoga Philosophy

by Tarryn Tyler - Daily Yogiposted in Holiday, Intro Info, Meditation, Philosophy

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Happy February 28, 2023 – Intentions and Yoga Philosophy

Good Morning Yogis! Today is the last day of February. We are beginning a meditation-focused March. You do not have to participate in this or any of our particular monthly challenge themes, we will be continuing our daily Positive Practices drawn from Yoga Philosophy throughout next month. Consider getting the Daily Yogi App for reminders if you are participating – this is a great Tapas tool!

February Expect Success & March Nutrition Month 2023

February is International Expect Success Month and March is National Nutrition Month. Before we get into our Eight Limbed meditation practices, I wanted to take a day to pause and reflect on our intentions and the year so far, and these two monthly focuses.

cool shot looking at orange pink and blue sunset over darkened mountain range - meditation, upper limbs of yoga positivity Quote: The game of life is a game of boomerangs. Our thoughts, deeds and words return to us sooner or later with astounding accuracy. - Florence Scovel Shinn
The game of life is a game of boomerangs. Our thoughts, deeds and words return to us sooner or later with astounding accuracy. – Florence Scovel Shinn

March’s National Nutrition Month is focused on what we put into our bodies physically. I believe February’s International Expect Success Month is about what we are putting into our bodies mentally. From National Today – ‘Researchers have discovered that sadness and pessimism are linked. In reality, depressed individuals are often pessimistic in the beginning. A fundamental aspect of battling depression is to transform the outlook on the world from pessimism to optimism.
In other words, if you can learn to ‘expect success’ every morning, you can gradually improve your productivity at work, form meaningful relationships with others, and improve the overall quality of your life.’

As we begin our bonus daily meditation challenge, I want to discuss an important common concept from Yoga Philosophy – Setting Intentions! If you have attended Yoga classes at a Yoga Studio, you likely have heard your teacher recommend setting an intention for your practice that day. We have talked about keeping Santosha (Contentment) in Asana practice to avoid injury. I often set Pranayama (Breath) as my intention for Asana practice with a mantra of “breathe” or “just breathe”, since in more dynamic classes I forget to maintain my preferred Ocean Breath as the Asana series picks up speed. Here is a great article with more on intentions and mantras on and off the Yoga mat.

Today’s Positive Practice suggestion

Today’s Daily Yogi Practice is to set a positive intention for yourself for March, keeping these mental and emotional wellness themes in mind. This can be big or small:

Part of the reason we set intentions in Asana practice is to have something positive to come back to that we want to focus on. Additionally, we will have this to return to when we meet challenges. I set “just breathe” as my intention for nearly a decade now, and I do truly breathe into difficulties on the mat, and I have improved my breath during Asana practice by keeping this in the back of my mind. There is much to be said for the power of positive thinking.

Although I do believe in the power of positive thinking and believe this helps with emotional wellness, I will discuss my own views on this a bit later this month. Here is more info if you do not want to wait!

More on the Power of Positive Thinking

The Law of Attraction & Power of Positive Thinking Intro

11 Ways to Boost Positive Thinking

The Old School of Positive Thinking – Earl Nightengale

The Old School of Positive Thinking – Florence Scovel Schinn

Tomorrow we start the first day of our Daily Meditation Challenge for March! Some of my favorite guided meditations are Manifest Meditations, which harness the powers of positive thinking, visualization, and the law of attraction. Today my meditation practice is one of my favorite 10 Minute Manifest Meditations.

Want more on Meditation? Check out our Upper Limbs & Meditation Guide!

More Positive Practices

Missed yesterday’s post? Read it here!

Get the Daily Yogi App – Get quick access to
today’s practice and daily pop-up reminders!

Share your Practice

Please comment and share how if setting positive intentions is part of your Yoga or Asana practice. Are you taking other steps to improve your mental and emotional wellness this month? Are you going to join us in our daily meditation challenge for the month? Always remember, be kind!

              

Svadhyaya (Self-Study) – February 2023

by Tarryn Tyler - Daily Yogiposted in 2-Niyamas, N4-Svadhyaya, Philosophy

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Happy February 2, 2023 – Svadhyaya (Self-Study)

Good Morning Yogis! We are continuing on with weaving practice of each of the Niyamas into our day. Last time we practiced the fourth of the Niyamas – Svadhyaya / self-study by beginning a journal if we had not kept one. Today we will focus on the other Svadhyaya practice of studying sacred texts.

I am selecting one quote today from one of Yoga’s Sacred Texts – the Bhagavad Gita or God’s Song. The Gita is a section from the Indian Sacred Epic the Mahabharata. It is the most widely known of these Sacred Texts, and is widely read among modern day thinkers. Oppenheimer quoted the Gita after creating the nuclear bomb, and it is highly regarded by Henry David Thoreau, Carl Jung, Ralph Waldo Emerson, and other great minds. Perhaps some bonus Svadhyaya / self-study by reading more of the Gita! Or, if you practice a religion, perhaps read a meaningful section of your traditional sacred texts.

The Bhagavad Gita is available in our free app!

Groundhog Day

Today is also Groundhog Day in the US and Canada. This is a very amusing holiday, where we make weather predictions about spring’s return by pulling a rodent out of the ground. My absolute favorite part about this holiday is the comedy movie, Groundhog Day about a reporter covering this quirky holiday.

Today’s Positive Practice suggestion

Today’s Daily Yogi Practice is to reflect on the quotes from the Gita. Or, feel free to reflect on readings or quotes from your own religion’s sacred texts.

Want more Svadhyaya practices? Check out our Svadhyaya Guide!

Today’s Quote from the Gita

close-up colorful abstract multicolor art sculpture - svadhyaya self-study learning Quote: Feelings of heat and cold, pleasure and pain, are caused by the contact of the senses with their objects. They come and they go, never lasting long. You must accept them. - The Bhagavad Gita
Feelings of heat and cold, pleasure and pain, are caused by the contact of the senses with their objects. They come and they go, never lasting long. You must accept them. – The Bhagavad Gita

Journal Day

Also, this is a good time to make another journal entry if you have not kept up with this new practice! I have been prioritizing Svadhyaya this year with a daily 5-year guided journal (see below in my recommendations), but I am pleased to be reminded to keep up with longer writing on Svadhyaya days. If you are not sure what to write about, perhaps journal about your thoughts on any quotes from any sacred texts, or your Yogi journey so far.

Need a Journal? Check out my recommended blank and guided journals!


Disclosure: I only recommend products I would use myself, and all opinions expressed here are our own. This page contains affiliate links that at no additional cost to you, may earn me a small commission. Read full privacy policy here.

Share your Practice

Please comment and share your thoughts on the above quotes, or your own readings if you would like. Have you kept up with your journal, or are you making another entry with me for Svadhyaya Day? Always remember, be kind!

More Positive Practices

Missed yesterday’s post? Read it here!

              

January 2023 30 Day Challenge: Intro Weekend – Resolutions and Intentions: New Year 2023

by Tarryn Tyler - Daily Yogiposted in Holiday, Intro Info, Philosophy

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Happy January 1, 2023 – 30 Day Yoga Challenge Intro Weekend – Resolutions and Intentions

Good Morning Yogis! Welcome to January and 2023! Also, welcome to our 30 Day Intro Challenge! We are starting another 30 Day Intro Challenge for January. This year January’s start lines up perfectly with our Saturday intro weekend for Resolutions / Intention Setting, so we will be a couple of days off between the day of month vs our challenge posts which start with Day 0 Intro Weekends. We will set our New Year’s Resolutions today, and tomorrow we will start our 8 Limbs Practices. New Yogis – please focus on learning about the 8 Limbs for now!

New Yogi 30 Day Challenge Posts

New & Intro Challenge Yogis – Please navigate to our intro weekend posts below!

00 Birthday/New Year Resolution
0 Ashtanga – The 8 Limbs of Yoga (must read!)

cool perspective looking at bright moon in cloudy sky through dark room - new year resolutions setting intentions self improvement Quote: What the new years brings to you will depend a great deal on what you bring to the new year. - Vern McLellan
What the new years brings to you will depend a great deal on what you bring to the new year. – Vern McLellan

Today’s Positive Practice suggestion

Today’s Daily Yogi Practice is to set our New Year’s Resolutions for 2023. Our daily practices will stay synced up with our 30 Day Challenge Group throughout January.

If this is not your first month of Daily Yogi, consider setting an intention for yourself for this month, or keeping another daily Yoga practice (ie Asanas, Pranayama, or Meditation) that is meaningful to you!

Daily Yogi’s Resolutions for 2023

I am really trying to keep my Hydration habit for the year, which was most successful in 2022 than ever before. I am working at sticking to my morning and evening self-care routines, and have a new wonderful app/tool called Fabulous. I have practiced Ekadashi fasting for the past year, and plan to maintain this practice – although I am not Hindu, I wanted to incorporate regular fasting into my spiritual practice and decided the lunar schedule of Ekadashi was the best practice for me. I also am doing a pretty intense detox for January 2023, and will be vegan and caffeine free for the first month of the year.

I also like to prioritize certain practices from the 8 Limbs of Yoga more often than our typical 13-30 day rotation. For 2023, I am prioritizing Svadhyaya (self-study) with maintaining my daily journal habit. I also want to maintain my focus on Aparigraha and gratitude to maintain positivity, and Santosha (contentment) with mindfulness and living in the present moment. These are the same three Yamas and Niyamas I focused on in 2022, and I enjoyed these practices. This year I am also making sure to include Sun Salutations in my daily morning routine.

In 2021 I prioritized Svadhyaya (self-study) with increasing the frequency of my journaling habit, Satya (truthfulness) particularly with myself and things that no longer serve me, and Santosha (contentment) with mindfulness. In 2020 I prioritized Ahimsa (non-harming) and Meditation. Or, perhaps consider the Karma Yoga path of Ghandi with prioritizing Ahimsa (non-harming) and Satya (truthfulness). Or, review the 8 Limbs of Yoga and select a few that you would like to practice more frequently than every 10-20 days with our Daily Yogi practices.

This is a great time to journal, so you can review your intentions throughout the year!

Next INTRO CHALLENGE May 2023

Days
Hours
Minutes
Seconds

Share your Practice

Please comment if you would like to share your intentions or your own personal bonus daily yoga practice for this month. Always remember, be kind!

More Positive Practices

Missed yesterday’s post? Read it here!

              

December 2022 Holidays – Brahmacharya (Moderation): Day 4

by Tarryn Tyler - Daily Yogiposted in 1-Yamas, Holiday, Philosophy, Y4-Brahmacharya

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Happy December 23, 2022 – Brahmacharya (Moderation)

Good Morning Yogis! We are in the middle of our special Holiday Yamas Practices! December is the holiday season for many worldwide nations, cultures, and religions, so this ties in with most other holiday seasons our Yogis may celebrate. I will continue my nerdy research through the month and tie in our practices with world holidays if they tie in with our daily practices… please contact me if you have any requests or suggestions!

cool shot of purple and blue sunset over darkened pine trees in epic alpine valley - brahmacharya moderation middle path Quote: The secret of success is learning how to use pain and pleasure instead of having pain and pleasure use you. If you don’t, life controls you. - Tony Robbins
The secret of success is learning how to use pain and pleasure instead of having pain and pleasure use you. If you don’t, life controls you. – Tony Robbins

Holiday Yamas Practice Schedule

We are on our sixteenth day of Holiday Yamas Practices! After counting down the first 5 Yamas with 5 days of Ahimsa (non-harming), 4 days of Satya (truthfulness), and 3 days of Asteya (non-stealing), we are now having a full week of Brahmacharya for the week of Christmas in the United States.. a time that I will enjoy the focus on moderation!

Holiday Season – 12/23

Today is the fourth day of a full week of Brahmacharya (moderation) practices. Today we will examine another translation of Brahmacharya as celibacy. I do not completely agree with this, I generally prefer to follow the middle path as we have discussed. In fact, I believe this middle path concept (and the emphasis in Buddhism on meditation) is the primary difference between Yoga and Buddhist philosophy. I myself consider this an evolution in the philosophy, and generally adhere to the middle path rather than any form of abstinence… I am the type of person where avoidance frequently leads to over-indulgence! I personally consider celibacy a goal or path only for monks, similar to perfect adherence to Ahimsa / non-harming which can be difficult or impossible in some professions (especially medical professionals). Some Yogis consider celibacy to be an extremely important practice on the path to enlightenment and I will admit my preferred translation of “Godlike” does tie in with this. Either way, Brahmacharya practice is typically related to the channeling and appropriate use of all forms of personal energy, which I do my best to practice. So, perhaps try a day of or set yourself up for a period of celibacy if you are interested in this practice – but remember this practice is not for everyone, and consider first non-harming with your partner if you are in a relationship! Or, you can focus on the practice of controlling and proper use of our own personal energy in its various forms.

In addition to moderating sexual energy, we should consider our mental and physical energy usage as well. A number of our past Brahmacharya practice days relate to moderation of food, which is an important practice in regulating desire for myself as a foodie… and the Buddha’s realization surrounding the middle path arose from considerations surrounding his aescetic’s diet. We frequently waste time and mental energy reading social media, or ruminating on negative thoughts, experiences, or fears. Most of us are prone to either lethargy or over-exertion physically. I am personally constantly trying to strike a better balance between work and personal time, and many of us are so busy with our day-to-day lives we do not have time during the day for even 5-10 minutes of self-care.. this constant business is not an ideal use of energy, and many of us experience burnout. I find mindfulness to be one of the easiest ways to practice Brahmacharya, both being present in the moment, and examining both our reasons for and our feelings with our actions or inactions.

Today’s Positive Practice suggestion

Today’s Daily Yogi Practice is to examine Brahmacharya / moderation and the middle path in our lives with our own energy. We are in the middle of a full week of holiday Brahmacharya focused moderation practices. Although some Yogis translate Brahmacharya as celibacy and focus on redirecting this energy, we will examine proper use of various kinds of personal energy. I recommend practicing mindfulness with your actions and desires today, and evaluating whether you are using your mental and physical energy appropriately. Or, perhaps set yourself up for a period of celibacy if you are interested in this practice and it is compatible with your life.

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𝘍𝘰𝘳 𝘢 𝘮𝘢𝘯 𝘵𝘰 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘲𝘶𝘦𝘳 𝘩𝘪𝘮𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘧 𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘪𝘳𝘴𝘵 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘯𝘰𝘣𝘭𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘷𝘪𝘤𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘴. - 𝘗𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘰⁣ 𝘐𝘧 𝘰𝘯𝘦’𝘴 𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘴𝘪𝘮𝘱𝘭𝘦, 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘩𝘢𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘦. 𝘚𝘪𝘮𝘱𝘭𝘪𝘤𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘪𝘴 𝘦𝘹𝘵𝘳𝘦𝘮𝘦𝘭𝘺 𝘪𝘮𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴. 𝘏𝘢𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢 𝘧𝘦𝘸 𝘥𝘦𝘴𝘪𝘳𝘦𝘴, 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘴𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘴𝘧𝘪𝘦𝘥 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦, 𝘪𝘴 𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘷𝘪𝘵𝘢𝘭: 𝘴𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘴𝘧𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘦𝘯𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩 𝘧𝘰𝘰𝘥, 𝘤𝘭𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘰 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘵𝘦𝘤𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘧 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘦𝘭𝘦𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘴. 𝘈𝘯𝘥 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺, 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘢𝘯 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘦 𝘥𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘪𝘯 𝘢𝘣𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘰𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘧𝘢𝘶𝘭𝘵𝘺 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘥 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘪𝘯 𝘤𝘶𝘭𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘱𝘧𝘶𝘭 𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘴 𝘪𝘯 𝘮𝘦𝘥𝘪𝘵𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯. - 𝘋𝘢𝘭𝘢𝘪 𝘓𝘢𝘮𝘢⁣ 𝘋𝘰𝘯’𝘵 𝘭𝘦𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘧𝘦𝘤𝘵 𝘣𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘮𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘨𝘰𝘰𝘥. 𝘓𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘢𝘳. 𝘈𝘤𝘵𝘶𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘦𝘯 𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘶𝘵𝘦𝘴 𝘤𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘰𝘧𝘧 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘴𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘧 𝘪𝘴 𝘣𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯 𝘧𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘴𝘪𝘻𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢 𝘸𝘦𝘦𝘬𝘦𝘯𝘥 𝘤𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘢𝘴𝘦𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵. - 𝘎𝘳𝘦𝘵𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘙𝘶𝘣𝘪𝘯⁣ 𝘉𝘦𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘵𝘵𝘢𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘥 𝘪𝘴 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘴 𝘶𝘴 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘴𝘦𝘦𝘪𝘯𝘨, 𝘪𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘤𝘭𝘰𝘶𝘥𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘮𝘪𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘶𝘭𝘰𝘶𝘴 𝘢𝘸𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴. - 𝘎𝘦𝘰𝘧𝘧𝘳𝘦𝘺 𝘚𝘩𝘶𝘨𝘦𝘯 𝘈𝘳𝘯𝘰𝘭𝘥⁣ 𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘯𝘰 𝘞𝘪𝘍𝘪 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘵, 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘐 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘮𝘪𝘴𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶’𝘭𝘭 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘥 𝘢 𝘣𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘯𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯, - 𝘜𝘯𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸𝘯⁣ 𝘉𝘢𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘥, 𝘪𝘵’𝘴 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘦. - 𝘑𝘢𝘯𝘢 𝘒𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘥⁣ 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘥 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘢𝘮𝘢𝘻𝘪𝘯𝘨, 𝘪𝘴 𝘨𝘪𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘶𝘱 𝘰𝘯 𝘣𝘦𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘧𝘦𝘤𝘵 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘣𝘦𝘨𝘪𝘯𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘬 𝘰𝘯 𝘣𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘧. - 𝘈𝘯𝘯𝘢 𝘘𝘶𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘭𝘦𝘯⁣ 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘸𝘦 𝘱𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘦 𝘯𝘰𝘯𝘷𝘪𝘰𝘭𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘥𝘴, 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘱𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘦𝘧𝘶𝘭 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘣𝘦 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘪𝘯𝘯𝘦𝘳 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘵𝘦. - 𝘈𝘮𝘪𝘵 𝘙𝘢𝘺⁣ Today we are revisiting National Hydration Day. This is one of my New Years Resolutions I want to revisit. Today track how much water you drink, and evaluate whether you need to drink more or less each day. ⁣

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Please comment and share how your Brahmacharya practice went today. How did it make you feel? Always remember, be kind!

              

Upper 4 Limbs of Yoga: October 2022 – Meditative Practices: Mandalas

by Tarryn Tyler - Daily Yogiposted in 5-8—Upper Limbs of Yoga, Meditation, Philosophy

Good morning Yogis! We are in the middle of a bonus Daily Meditation Challenge for October’s Emotional Wellness Month. Additionally, today is Upper Limbs Day. Today we will try a new Dharana Meditative Practice – Mandalas!

Also, welcome to our 30 Day Intro Challenge! We are starting another 30 Day Intro Challenge for November. Typically we start our intro weekends with Resolutions / Intention Settings. If you have been with us since January and our last Challenge, please consider revisiting your intentions and resolutions for the year, since we are at the 3/4 point of 2021.

New & Intro Challenge Yogis – Please navigate to our intro weekend posts below!

00 Birthday/New Year Resolution
0 Ashtanga – The 8 Limbs of Yoga (must read!)

blue and yellow colorful celestial mandala
red and yellow colorful mandala
green and purple colorful floral mandala
rainbow colorful mandala

Dharana is the 6th Limb of Yoga, and is usually translated as concentration. I prefer to think of Dharana as intense focus, a bit stronger than “concentration”. This is typically the second step for meditation – after letting the outside world slip away, we then direct our focus inward. Please see our deep dive of Dharana for more info. Most of the meditative practices we think of are therefore Dharana practices – see our full list!

Today’s Daily Yogi Practice is to try a Dharana Mandala Meditative Practice! Please see blank Mandalas below, or consider one of my recommended Mandala coloring books… I am excited now years later I have the opportunity to share some of my favorite Mandala colorings! I prefer colored pencils or crayons for Mandala coloring books, because unfortunately my coloring sharpies bleed through the pages.

Or, if coloring is not your thing, try out a Mandala Kaleidoscope Meditation! I am not a huge fan of the new-agey music (unless using a special HZ), and prefer muting and listening to a meaningful song or album. You may also want to look into Tibetan Sand Mandalas!

Blank Mandalas

Check out my favorite Mandala Coloring books and supplies


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Please comment and let me know which you tried, and what you thought of this Meditative Mandala exercise! If you have another favorite Mandala practice or coloring book, then please share! Always remember, be kind!

              

October 2022: 7th Limb of Yoga – Dhyana (Full Meditation)

by Tarryn Tyler - Daily Yogiposted in 5-8—Upper Limbs of Yoga, 8 Limbs of Yoga, Meditation, Philosophy

Good Morning Yogis! We are in the middle of a month focused on meditation for October. We typically spend more time practicing the lower limbs, but during meditation months we will take couple days to cover each of the four upper limbs, rather than combining into one.

We already covered Pratyahara or withdrawal of the senses and Dharana or Intense Focus. The last three Limbs of Yoga – Dharana, Dhyana, and Samadhi are often referred to as the “innermost quest” and studied together. As we have discussed, the upper limbs build upon all four of the lower limbs, and sequentially upon each other. However, these practices are all meditation focused, and must truly be practiced and understood on your own. Samadhi is basically our goal and will be discussed only occasionally… we are skipping Samadhi this round of through the 8 limbs of Yoga, and jumping right into our meditation month tomorrow. Today we will discuss Dhyana and try a Meditation to reach this state. Check out our deep dive on Dhyana.

cool shot decordova sculpture garden outdoor artwork blue and black twisted modern art under bright blue partly cloudy sky - upper limbs of yoga Dhyana full meditation Quote: To understand the immeasurable, the mind must be extraordinarily quiet, still. - Jiddu Krishnamurti
To understand the immeasurable, the mind must be extraordinarily quiet, still. – Jiddu Krishnamurti

Dhyana is the 7th Limb of Yoga, and is usually translated as meditation. I prefer to think of Dhyana as full meditation, a bit stronger and more specific than “meditation”. This is typically the goal of meditation, to fully stop our thoughts and have a quiet mind. After withdrawing inside ourselves with Pratyahara and focusing our minds on a single subject with Dharaha, we may reach the level of meditation where our thoughts actually stop. In true Dhyana or true meditation, we typically are not aware of this clear-minded state until we come out of it.

Today’s Daily Yogi Practice is to try a Dhyana-focused Meditation Practice. You can try our breath-focused meditation again, and then allow your mind to quiet. Or, you can try a guided meditation meant to help bring the state of Dhyana.

Remember this is a practice, and a difficult one.. so be patient with yourself on this journey! I am working on Dhyana.. I usually can focus on one thing with Dharana, but my mind wanders fairly quickly when I try to quiet it for full meditation.

Dhyana Guided Meditation

Our Breath-Focused Meditation – first focus on breath, then allow your mind to quiet.

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Please comment and let me know which you tried, and what you thought of this Dhyana exercise! If you have another favorite guided meditation, please share the link! Always remember, be kind!

              

October 2022: 6th Limb of Yoga – Dharana (Intense Focus): Guided Meditation & Meditative Practices

by Tarryn Tyler - Daily Yogiposted in 5-8—Upper Limbs of Yoga, 8 Limbs of Yoga, Meditation, Philosophy

Good Morning Yogis! We are in the middle of a month focused on meditation for October. We typically spend more time practicing the lower limbs, but during meditation months we will take couple days to cover each of the four upper limbs, rather than combining into one. We covered Pratyahara or withdrawal of the sense yesterday. As we have discussed, the upper limbs build upon all four of the lower limbs, and then sequentially upon each other. These practices are all meditation focused and therefore must truly be attained on your own. Today we will revisit Dharana, and then try a Dharana Guided Meditation or other Meditative Practice.

cool shot of alpine town in mountain valley under partly cloudy sky with snow on mountain tops - upper limbs of yoga dharana meditation intense focus Quote: We are not born focusing. It’s an acquired skill that requires initial effort and constant upgrading. - Robert Genn
We are not born focusing. It’s an acquired skill that requires initial effort and constant upgrading. – Robert Genn

Nearly all meditation practices you think of are types of Dharana.

Dharana is the 6th Limb of Yoga, and is usually translated as concentration. This comes from the Sanskrit root “dhri” meaning to hold, carry, or maintain. I prefer to think of Dharana as intense focus, a bit stronger than “concentration”. This is typically the second step for meditation – after letting the outside world slip away, we then direct our focus inward. Please see our deep dive of Dharana for more. Most of the meditative practices we think of are therefore Dharana practices – see our full list!

Today’s Daily Yogi Practice is to try a Dharana-focused Meditation Practice. Perhaps try our breath-focused meditation again to prepare for tomorrow’s next level of meditation. Perhaps focus on your breath or body in Shavasana / Corpse Pose after an Asana practice, another meditative practice from our list, try a guided meditation below, or any other method of your own.. whatever feels right to you. We will cover mandalas and flame gazing later!

Dharana or Intense Focus Meditative Practices

Remember this is a practice, and a difficult one.. so be patient with yourself on this journey!

Morning Motivational Meditation (10 minutes)

Evening Sleep/Relaxation Meditation (50 minutes)

Full Night Sleep Meditation (8 hours)

Grounding Meditation (9 minutes)

Body Scanning Guided Meditation (15 minutes)

Loving Kindness Guided Meditation (15 minutes)

Self-Reflective Guided Meditation (15 minutes)

Positive Affirmation Guided Meditation (12 minutes)

Celestial Visualization Guided Meditation (7 minutes)

Manifest Meditations (Power of Attraction) (10 minutes) 

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Check out our Top 5 Yoga Mats and Equipment for Newbies!

You may want to try a block, couch pillow, blanket, or bolster in order to help yourself find a comfortable seat for meditation.

Top 5 Yoga Equipment for Newbies

Top 5 Yoga Mats


Disclosure: I only recommend products I would use myself, and all opinions expressed here are our own. This page contains affiliate links that at no additional cost to you, may earn me a small commission. Read full privacy policy here.

Please comment and let me know which you tried, and what you thought of this Dharana exercise! If you have another favorite, then please share the link! Always remember, be kind!

              

October 2022: 5th Limb of Yoga – Pratyahara (Withdrawal of Senses): Guided Meditation

by Tarryn Tyler - Daily Yogiposted in 5-8—Upper Limbs of Yoga, Meditation, Philosophy

Good Morning Yogis! We have completed our daily positive practices and meditations inspired by the first four Limbs of Yoga, and are back to the Upper Limbs. We are also in the middle of a month focused on meditation for October. We typically spend more time practicing the lower limbs, but during meditation months we will take couple days to cover each of the four upper limbs, rather than combining into one meditation day.

cool shot of alpine dirt road with fresh snowfall in the mountains with darkened green pine trees and sunlit clouds under the moon - upper limbs of yoga pratyahara withdrawal of senses go within peace within Quote: Peace is a sacred space within, it is the temple of our internal landscape. We are free to visit it, whenever we seek sanctuary. Underneath the chaos of everyday living, peace is patiently awaiting our discovery... go within. - Jaeda DeWalt
Peace is a sacred space within, it is the temple of our internal landscape. We are free to visit it, whenever we seek sanctuary. Underneath the chaos of everyday living, peace is patiently awaiting our discovery… go within. – Jaeda DeWalt

As we have discussed, the upper limbs build upon all four of the previous limbs, and sequentially upon each other. These practices are all meditation focused and therefore must truly be attained on your own. We will take the next few days in our Meditation-focused month for daily practices inspired by the first three Upper Limbs. Today we will revisit the 5th Limb of Yoga – Pratyahara and try a Pratyahara Guided Meditation.

Pratyahara is the 5th Limb of Yoga, and is usually translated as withdrawal of the senses. “Prati” means against or away, and “Ahara” means food or anything we take into ourselves. So, this literally means to stop taking things into ourselves. This is typically the first step for meditation – letting the outside world slip away, and going inside. The point is not about isolating yourself from outside distractions, it is about withdrawing into yourself, and then allowing outside distractions to fade away. Please see our detailed discussion on Pratyahara for more.

Today’s Daily Yogi Practice is to try a Pratyahara-focused Meditation Practice. You can try this with Shavasana / corpse pose after an Asana practice, with a guided meditation, or on your own.. whatever feels right to you! Remember this is a practice, and a difficult one.. so be patient with yourself on this journey!

Pratyahara Guided Meditation

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Please comment and let me know which you tried, and what you thought of this Pratyahara Meditation! If you have another favorite, then please share the link! Always remember, be kind!

              

October 2022: Emotional Wellness Month – Intentions and Yoga Philosophy

by Tarryn Tyler - Daily Yogiposted in Holiday, Intro Info, Meditation, Philosophy

Good Morning Yogis! Happy October! October is National Emotional Wellness Month. I find challenge-focused months super helpful for my own motivation, so today we are starting another challenge for October – Daily Meditation! You do not have to participate in this or any of our particular monthly challenge themes, we will be continuing our daily Positive Practices drawn from Yoga Philosophy throughout next month. Consider getting the Daily Yogi App for reminders if you are participating – this is a great Tapas tool!

close-up tangled maze bush branches and green leaves growing around cast iron planter around one single central small bright red flower - intentions yoga reality power of positive thinking Quote: Your world is a living expression of how you are using and have used your mind. - Earl Nightingale
Your world is a living expression of how you are using and have used your mind. – Earl Nightingale

As we begin Emotional Wellness Month and our bonus daily meditation challenge, I want to discuss an important common concept from Yoga Philosophy – Setting Intentions! If you have attended Yoga classes at a Yoga Studio, you likely have heard your teacher recommend setting an intention for your practice that day. We have talked about keeping Santosha / contentment in Asana practice to avoid injury. I often set Pranayama / Breath as my intention for Asana practice with a mantra of “breathe” or “just breathe”, since in more dynamic classes I forget to maintain my preferred Ocean Breath as the Asana series picks up speed. Here is a great article with more on intentions and mantras on and off the Yoga mat.

Today’s Daily Yogi Practice is to set a positive intention for yourself for October, keeping October’s mental and emotional wellness theme in mind. This can be big or small:

Part of the reason we set intentions in Asana practice is to have something positive to come back to that we want to focus on. Additionally, we will have this to return to when we meet challenges. I set “just breathe” as my intention for nearly a decade now, and I do truly breathe into difficulties on the mat, and I have improved my breath during Asana practice by keeping this in the back of my mind. There is much to be said for the power of positive thinking.

Although I do believe in the power of positive thinking and believe this helps with emotional wellness, I will discuss my own views on this a bit later this month. Here is more info if you do not want to wait!

More on the Power of Positive Thinking

The Law of Attraction & Power of Positive Thinking Intro

11 Ways to Boost Positive Thinking

The Old School of Positive Thinking – Earl Nightengale

The Old School of Positive Thinking – Florence Scovel Schinn

Today is the first day of our Daily Meditation Challenge for October! Some of my favorite guided meditations are Manifest Meditations, which harness the powers of positive thinking, visualization, and the law of attraction. Today my meditation practice is one of my favorite 10 Minute Manifest Meditations.

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Please comment and share how if setting positive intentions is part of your Yoga or Asana practice. Are you taking other steps to improve your mental and emotional wellness this month? Are you going to join us in our daily meditation challenge for October? Always remember, be kind!

              

September 2022: Upper 4 Limbs of Yoga – Dhyana (Full Meditation)

by Tarryn Tyler - Daily Yogiposted in 5-8—Upper Limbs of Yoga, 8 Limbs of Yoga, Meditation, Philosophy

Good Morning Yogis! We are ending a September Asana-focused month of practices, and moving on to a month focused on meditation for October. We typically spend more time practicing the lower limbs, but during meditation months we will take couple days to cover each of the four upper limbs, rather than combining into one. We already covered Pratyahara or withdrawal of the senses and Dharana or Intense Focus. The last three Limbs of Yoga – Dharana, Dhyana, and Samadhi are often referred to as the “innermost quest” and studied together. As we have discussed, the upper limbs build upon all four of the lower limbs, and sequentially upon each other. However, these practices are all meditation focused, and must truly be practiced and understood on your own. Samadhi is basically our goal and will be discussed only occasionally… we are skipping Samadhi this round of through the 8 limbs of Yoga, and jumping right into our meditation month tomorrow. Today we will discuss Dhyana and try a Meditation to reach this state. Check out our deep dive on Dhyana.

cool shot of sunlit garden with awning of sunlit leaves and yellow flowers over gray floral-lined pavement - upper limbs of yoga Dhyana full meditation Quote: Meditation is bringing the mind home. - Sogyal Rinpoche
Meditation is bringing the mind home. – Sogyal Rinpoche

Dhyana is the 7th Limb of Yoga, and is usually translated as meditation. I prefer to think of Dhyana as full meditation, a bit stronger and more specific than “meditation”. This is typically the goal of meditation, to fully stop our thoughts and have a quiet mind. After withdrawing inside ourselves with Pratyahara and focusing our minds on a single subject with Dharaha, we may reach the level of meditation where our thoughts actually stop. In true Dhyana or true meditation, we typically are not aware of this clear-minded state until we come out of it.

Today’s Daily Yogi Practice is to try a Dhyana-focused Meditation Practice. You can try our breath-focused meditation again, and then allow your mind to quiet. Or, you can try a guided meditation meant to help bring the state of Dhyana.

Remember this is a practice, and a difficult one.. so be patient with yourself on this journey! I am working on Dhyana.. I usually can focus on one thing with Dharana, but my mind wanders fairly quickly when I try to quiet it for full meditation.

Dhyana Guided Meditation

Our Breath-Focused Meditation – first focus on breath, then allow your mind to quiet.

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Please comment and let me know which you tried, and what you thought of this Dhyana exercise! If you have another favorite guided meditation, please share the link! Always remember, be kind!