Want more on Meditation? Check our Meditation Board on Pinterest!
Please comment and share what meditation you chose for today! If you have another favorite meditation, please share the link! Always remember, be kind!
Today is also New Years Eve, the last day of the year. 2021 has been a challenging year full of changes, and I am focused on continuing the positive changes with a New Years Themed Guided Meditation today.
Want more on Meditation? Check our Meditation Board on Pinterest!
Please comment and share what meditation you chose for today! If you have another favorite meditation, please share the link! Always remember, be kind!
Happy Tuesday Yogis, it is Upper Limbs Day! We are beginning our special Holiday Yamas practices tomorrow, so today we will have a KISS (keep it super simple) Day! We will keep the Yamas holiday spirit with our meditation practice for Upper Limbs Day today by trying a special loving-kindness guided meditation.
For an aspiring bodhisattva, the essential practice is to cultivate maitri, or loving-kindness. – Pema Chodron
Today’s Daily Yogi Practice is to try a Loving-Kindness Meditation for Upper Limbs Day. Loving-Kindness is a concept from Buddhism called Metta or Maitri and means benevolence, loving-kindness, friendliness, amity, good-will, and active interest in others.. basically many of the positive qualities the Holiday Season represents! I am providing a few recommendations for this style of guided meditation based on how much time you have available to practice.
Want more on Meditation? Check our Meditation Board on Pinterest!
Please comment and let us know which meditation you tried. We are starting a daily meditation challenge for October, so please share any favorite guided meditations or meditation practices!! Always remember, be kind!
We must experience the Truth in a direct, practical and real way. This is only possible in the stillness and silence of the mind; and this is achieved by means of meditation. – Samael Aun Weor
Happy Saturday Yogis! Today we are having a KISS day – try a Meditation Practice of your choice!
I want to report back on my sleep meditation that I have been trying the past year! I have kept up with listening to this every night for the past few months, and I have found when I used this 8-hour sleep meditation I not only fall asleep faster, but I stay asleep better throughout the night. I wonder if the ambient noise puts me back to sleep if I am waking up? Either way, I am very pleased to have found a natural sleep aid for my tool box!
Want more on Meditation? Check our Meditation Board on Pinterest!
Please comment and share what meditation you chose for today! If you have another favorite sleep meditation, please share the link! Always remember, be kind!
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. October 31 / November 1 is the start of the New Year for the Celtic Calendar so today we are combining our Resolutions / Intention Setting & Intro to Ashtanga / 8 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!
We are going to close out our Meditation Month Bonus Challenge with a special type of holiday-themed meditation.
I have mentioned my interest in mythology of all kinds, and my super Irish name (Tarryn) means I am particularly interested in Celtic mythology. Today is Halloween in the West, and this holiday has some traditions that trickled down from the Celtic holiday Samhain. This is one of four seasonal Celtic holidays, half way between the fall equinox and winter solstice. It was traditionally celebrated October 31-November 1 because Celtic days began and ended at sunset, rather than at midnight as they do today. There are many interesting ancient Samhain traditions and rituals, some of which filtered down into Halloween. You can read more here if you are interested. We will focus on one traditional Samhain ritual – Bonfires, and today we will discuss Flame Gazing Meditation, a Dharana practice.
Today’s Daily Yogi Practice is to try a form of Flame Gazing, a DharanaPractice. There are a few different forms of this you can try!
Want more on Meditation? Check our Meditation Board on Pinterest!
Please comment and let me know what you thought of this Dharana exercise! Have you done this meditative flame-gazing before, not knowing this was a meditation practice? Always remember, be kind!
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!
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!
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!
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 Meditative Mandala exercise! If you have another favorite Mandala practice or coloring book, then please share! Always remember, be kind!
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.
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.
Get the Daily Yogi App – Get quick access to today’s practice and daily pop-up reminders!
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!
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.
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!
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!
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.
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!
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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!
We are in the middle of a bonus Daily Meditation Challenge for October. For Svadhyaya Day today, my meditation for the day is a Self-Reflective Guided Meditation. You will want to take notes from this guided meditation in your journal!
Man is made by his belief. As he believes, so he is! – The Bhagavad Gita
Today’s Daily Yogi Practice is to try this self-reflective guided meditation for Svadhyaya Day This is one of the most interesting guided meditations I have tried, so today’s practice is this self-reflective guided meditation that utilizes the very challenges we face with meditation.
Journal DaY
Also, this is a good time to make a full journal entry if you have not kept up with this new practice! I have been doing a lot of journaling lately, more frequently than just Svadhyaya Days, since I have had a lot of interesting life events to document and prioritized Svadhyaya practice for myself for 2021… I am using both daily prompt 5-year guided journal and more artsy guided journal, but am happy to have a more free-style writing day today. If you are not sure what to write about, the Self-Reflective Guided Meditation may give some prompts from yourself to explore. Or, you can journal on your reflections on today’s quote from The Bhagavad Gita (available in our free Daily Yogi App). The Bhagavad Gita or God’s Song 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.
Want more Ideas for journal day? Check our Journal prompts board on Pinterest!
Please comment and share your thoughts on today’s guided meditation or quote 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!
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.
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.
Get the Daily Yogi App – Get quick access to today’s practice and daily pop-up reminders!
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!
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 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.
Concentration can be cultivated. One can learn to exercise will power, discipline one’s body and train one’s mind. – Anil Ambani
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!
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!
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 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.
The moment the senses start turning inward, we are tapping into the eternal source of energy. – Gurudev Shankar
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!
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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!
Good Morning Yogis! Today is Upper Limbs Day, and also Innergize Day – focused on self-care, relaxation, and meditation. Today we will revisit Dharana, and then try a Dharana Guided Meditation or other Meditative Practice.
Your calm mind is the ultimate weapon against your challenges. So relax. – Bryant McGill
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 for Upper Limbs and Innergize Day . Perhaps try our traditional breath-focused 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!
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!
Good morning Yogis! Today is Upper Limbs Day to close out our cycle of practices inspired by the 8 Limbs of Yoga. Today is also the International Day of Clean Air so today we will combine getting outside for this environmentally focused holiday with our meditation practice.
Meditation and concentration are the way to a life of serenity. – Baba Ram Dass
Today’s Daily Yogi Practice is to try a moving meditation. I recommend a meditative drive or hike! Check out the US National Parks Pass if you love meditative hikes – this covers US national park entrance fees for a year, and helps support public conservation.
Moving Meditations
Driving is my favorite meditative activity, I definitely have the “monkey mind” so having something big to focus on is very helpful for me, and these meditative drives often result in solutions to problems or my best ideas.
Want more on Meditation? Check our Meditation Board on Pinterest!
Please comment and share what meditation you chose for today! If you have another favorite meditation, please share the link! Always remember, be kind!
Good morning Yogis! We are at the end of our special Upper Limbs week and special bonus daily meditation month, and will close with one final special meditation practice. Next month we will have a new special feature – stay tuned for tomorrow!
The body scan is not for everybody, and it is not always the meditation of choice even for those who love it. But it is extremely useful and good to know about and practice from time to time, whatever your circumstances or condition. – Jon Kabat-Zinn
Today’s Daily Yogi Practice is to try a body scanning meditation. You can try in Shavasana after Asana practice, or on its own. I usually start at my toes, and gradually tighten and relax each body part, then re-scan starting again at my toes.
Good morning Yogis! We are continuing our special Upper Limbs week! We are ending a special bonus daily meditation month with a week of special meditation practices.
Everyone has their own mantra. – Russell Brand
Today’s Daily Yogi Practice is to try a mantra meditation. You can try some OMs, a traditional Sanskrit mantra, or some common English motivational mantras.
Good morning Yogis! We are in the middle of a special Upper Limbs week of meditative practices. Today we will focus on Flame Gazing Meditation, a Dharana practice I particularly enjoy during winter with the wood stove. A candle is usually best for summer, and traditional Trataka is practiced with the flame from a candle or oil lamp.
The most tangible of all visible mysteries – fire. – Leigh Hunt
Today’s Daily Yogi Practice is to try a form of Flame Gazing, a DharanaPractice. There are a few different forms of this you can try!
Want more on Meditation? Check our Meditation Board on Pinterest!
Please comment and let me know what you thought of this Dharana exercise! Have you done this meditative flame-gazing before, not knowing this was a meditation practice? Always remember, be kind!
Good Morning Yogis! We are in the middle of a special Upper Limbs week of meditative practices. Today we will revisit one of my favorite Dharana Meditative Practice – Mandalas!
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!
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!
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 Meditative Mandala exercise! If you have another favorite Mandala practice or coloring book, then please share! Always remember, be kind!
Good morning Yogis! We are continuing our special Upper Limbs week! We are in the middle of a special bonus daily meditation month aligning with our 8 Limb Yoga practices, but this week we will cover special meditation practices.
Your future depends on your dreams, so go to sleep. – Mesut Barazany
Today’s Daily Yogi Practice is to try a Bedtime or Sleep Meditation for Upper Limbs Day. I am providing a few recommendations for this style of guided meditation based on your preferences. I find I fall asleep much easier with a sleep meditation, and I find the 6-8 hour meditations help me stay asleep through the night. I recently have been enjoying trying different Hz Solfeggio Frequency sleep music.
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Please comment and let us know which meditation you tried. We are starting a daily meditation challenge for June, so please share any favorite guided meditations or meditation practices!! Always remember, be kind!
Good morning Yogis, it is the start of a special Upper Limbs week! We are in the middle of a special bonus daily meditation month aligning with our 8 Limb Yoga practices, so this final week we will focus on the Upper Limbs and cover special meditation practices.
The day will be what you make it, so rise, like the sun, and burn. – William C. Hannan
Today’s Daily Yogi Practice is to try a Morning Meditation for Upper Limbs Day. I am providing a few recommendations for this style of guided meditation based on how much time you have available to practice. I truly find I have a much better day when I start the morning with a guided meditation!
Want more on Meditation? Check our Meditation Board on Pinterest!
Please comment and let us know which meditation you tried. I switch between different morning meditations each day, so please share any favorite guided meditations or meditation practices!! Always remember, be kind!
Good Morning Yogis! We are in the middle of a daily meditation practice challenge for June, and the end of a brief series on the Upper Limbs of Yoga.
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 must truly be attained on your own. We started a series on each of the upper limbs, and covered Pratyahara, Dharana, and Dhyana. The last three limbs – Dharana, Dhyana, and Samadhi are often referred to as the “innermost quest” and studied together.
Samadhi is the 8th and final Limb of Yoga, and is literally translated as “integration”. Many consider Samadhi to be enlightenment. This is typically the final goal of meditation in some Eastern religions and philosophies – enlightenment. I consider Samadhi to be not only the final Limb of Yoga, but a synonym for Yoga. Samadhi is “integration” and yoga is “union” so I feel these are two words for the same goal. As we have discussed, this is a journey.
Want more on Meditation? Check our Meditation Board on Pinterest!
Please comment and let us know which meditation you tried, and what you thought of this study of the Upper Limbs of Yoga! If you have another favorite guided meditation, please share the link! Always remember, be kind!
Good Morning Yogis! We are in the middle of a bonus Daily Meditation Challenge for June. Additionally, we are in the middle of a quick series of daily practices inspired by the Upper Limbs. 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 occasionally! Today we will discuss Dhyana and try a Meditation to reach this state. Check out our deep dive on Dhyana.
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.
Get the Daily Yogi App – Get quick access to today’s practice and daily pop-up reminders!
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!
Good Morning Yogis! We are in the middle of a bonus Daily Meditation Challenge for June. Additionally, we are in the middle of a quick series of daily practices inspired by the first three Upper Limbs. 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.
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!
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!
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 bonus Daily Meditation Challenge for June. 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.
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!
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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!
Good morning Yogis! Today is World Environment Day, National Trails Day, AND National Prairie Day. So, we are taking a quick break from our cycle of practices inspired by the 8 Limbs of Yoga to focus on practices for our special Meditation Month and getting outside for these environmentally focused holidays.
Action does not get one to the destination, action IS the destination. – Brian S. Woods
Today’s Daily Yogi Practice is to try a moving meditation. I recommend a meditative drive or hike! Check out the US National Parks Pass if you love meditative hikes – this covers US national park entrance fees for a year, and helps support public conservation.
Moving Meditations
Driving is my favorite meditative activity, I definitely have the “monkey mind” so having something big to focus on is very helpful for me, and these meditative drives often result in solutions to problems or my best ideas.
If people sat outside and looked at the stars each night, I’d bet they’d live a lot differently… when you look into infinity, you’ll realize that there are more important things than what people do all day. – Calvin & Hobbes
Happy Saturday Yogis! Today we are having a KISS day – try a Meditation Practice of your choice!
Want more on Meditation? Check our Meditation Board on Pinterest!
Please comment and share what meditation you chose for today! If you have another favorite meditation, please share the link! Always remember, be kind!
Good Morning Yogis, it is Upper Limbs Day! We just finished a series covering Asanas for each of the first three Limbs of Yoga, so today we will have a KISS (keep it super simple) Day!
The thing about meditation is you become more and more you. – David Lynch
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 Minute)!
Want more on Meditation? Check our Meditation Board on Pinterest!
Please comment and let us know which meditation you tried. Always remember, be kind!
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 Minute)!
Want more on Meditation? Check our Meditation Board on Pinterest!
Please comment and share what meditation you chose for today! If you have another favorite meditation, please share the link! Always remember, be kind!
Good Morning Yogis! We are at the end of our bonus Daily Meditation Challenge for March and a quick series of daily practices inspired by the Upper Limbs. 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 occasionally, but unfortunately beyond at least my daily practices! Today we will discuss Dhyana and try a Meditation to reach this state. Check out our deep dive on Dhyana.
Dhyana is the continuous flow of thought toward that object. – Yoga Sutras of Patanjali
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.
Get the Daily Yogi App – Get quick access to today’s practice and daily pop-up reminders!
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!
Good Morning Yogis! We are nearing the end of a bonus Daily Meditation Challenge for March. Additionally, we are in the middle of a quick series of daily practices inspired by the first three Upper Limbs. 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.
Dharana locks consciousness on a single place, object, or idea. – Yoga Sutras of Patanjali
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!
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!
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 nearing the end of our bonus Daily Meditation Challenge for March. We typically spend more time practicing the lower limbs, so we will take couple days to cover the upper limbs, rather than combining into one.
When the consciousness goes within by uncoupling from external objects, the senses also do so – this is Pratyahara. This results in the ultimate mastery over the senses. – Yoga Sutras of Patanjali
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!
Get today’s Daily Yogi Positive Practice in your inbox Register for our email list!
Get easy access to the rest of the meditations in this series in your inbox
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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!
Good Morning Yogis! We are in the middle of a daily meditation practice challenge for March.
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 must truly be attained on your own. We started a series on each of the upper limbs, and covered Pratyahara, Dharana, and Dhyana. The last three limbs – Dharana, Dhyana, and Samadhi are often referred to as the “innermost quest” and studied together.
Samadhi is the 8th and final Limb of Yoga, and is literally translated as “integration”. Many consider Samadhi to be enlightenment. This is typically the final goal of meditation in some Eastern religions and philosophies – enlightenment. I consider Samadhi to be not only the final Limb of Yoga, but a synonym for Yoga. Samadhi is “integration” and yoga is “union” so I feel these are two words for the same goal. As we have discussed, this is a journey.
Want more on Meditation? Check our Meditation Board on Pinterest!
Please comment and let us know which meditation you tried, and what you thought of this study of the upper limbs or yoga! If you have another favorite guided meditation, please share the link! Always remember, be kind!
Good Morning Yogis! We are in the middle of a bonus Daily Meditation Challenge for March. Additionally, we are in the middle of a quick series of daily practices inspired by the Upper Limbs. 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 occasionally! Today we will discuss Dhyana and try a Meditation to reach this state. Check out our deep dive on Dhyana.
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.
Get the Daily Yogi App – Get quick access to today’s practice and daily pop-up reminders!
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!
Good Morning Yogis! We are in the middle of a bonus Daily Meditation Challenge for March. Additionally, we are in the middle of a quick series of daily practices inspired by the first three Upper Limbs. 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.
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!
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!
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 bonus Daily Meditation Challenge for March. We typically spend more time practicing the lower limbs, so we will take couple days to cover each of the four upper limbs, rather than combining into one.
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!
Get today’s Daily Yogi Positive Practice in your inbox Register for our email list!
Get easy access to the rest of the meditations in this series in your inbox
Processing…
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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!
We are in the middle of a bonus Daily Meditation Challenge for March. For Svadhyaya Day today, my meditation for the day is a Self-Reflective Guided Meditation. You will want to take notes from this guided meditation in your journal!
Man is made by his belief. As he believes, so he is. – The Bhagavad Gita
Today’s Daily Yogi Practice is to try this self-reflective guided meditation for Svadhyaya Day This is one of the most interesting guided meditations I have tried, so today’s practice is this self-reflective guided meditation that utilizes the very challenges we face with meditation.
Journal DaY
Also, this is a good time to make a full journal entry if you have not kept up with this new practice! I do not typically make a personal reflective journal entry every day, but I am pleased to be reminded to keep up with this on Svadhyaya days. If you are not sure what to write about, the Self-Reflective Guided Meditation may give some prompts from yourself to explore. Or, you can journal on your reflections on today’s quote from The Bhagavad Gita (available in our free Daily Yogi App). The Bhagavad Gita or God’s Song 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.
Want more Ideas for journal day? Check our Journal prompts board on Pinterest!
Please comment and share your thoughts on today’s guided meditation or quote 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!
Good morning Yogis! We are wrapping up our special Upper Limbs week! Next month we will have a special bonus daily meditation month aligning with our 8 Limb Yoga practices, but this week we will cover special meditation practices.
One conscious breath in and out is meditation. – Eckhart Tolle
Today’s Daily Yogi Practice is to try the traditional Breath-Focused Meditation Practice. This traditional meditation method is supposed to bring you to Samadhi – from Dharana and into Dhyana. Meditation (particularly on my own with breathing and not a guided meditation or Dharana practice) has always been difficult for me personally, with my “monkey mind” but these methods below have worked for me!
Start sitting in a comfortable cross-legged position. Try to find a quiet, comfortable space. Relax and focus on your breath. Allow your belly to expand on each inhale, and contract to empty your lungs fully on each exhale. (Check our Pranayama section for more detail on diaphragmatic breathing).
Notice any outside distractions such as wind or noises from the street, and try to allow them to fade into the background as you calmly turn your focus inwards. Notice any inside distractions coming from your mind, as our inner world/voice is typically used to running wild on auto-pilot. Calmly allow these passing thoughts to fade, and turn your attention back to your breath.
Start working towards calming your mind. Focus on counting to 10 with your breath. Inhale 1, exhale 2, inhale 3, exhale 4, and continue to 10. If you notice your thoughts wandering, gently let them go, turn your attention back to your breath, and begin again with 1 on your next inhale.
Or, if you prefer more than numbers for your focus, try thinking to yourself “inhale peace and relaxation” each inhale, and “exhale stress and tension” each exhale. Many Yogis enjoy guided meditations to help focus.
Want more on Meditation? Check our Meditation Board on Pinterest!
Please comment and let me know what you thought of this meditation exercise! If you meditate, how long do you typically meditate for and how frequently? Do you have another meditation technique or guided meditation you particularly enjoy? Always remember, be kind!
Good morning Yogis! We are continuing our special Upper Limbs week! Next month we will have a special bonus daily meditation month aligning with our 8 Limb Yoga practices, but this week we will cover special meditation practices.
Your body is always talking to you, and symptoms are your body’s language. – Brianna Diorio
Today’s Daily Yogi Practice is to try a body scanning meditation. You can try in Shavasana after Asana practice, or on its own. I usually start at my toes, and gradually tighten and relax each body part, then re-scan starting again at my toes.
Good morning Yogis! We are continuing our special Upper Limbs week! Next month we will have a special bonus daily meditation month aligning with our 8 Limb Yoga practices, but this week we will cover special meditation practices.
A mantra is nothing more than a collection of words strung together to create a positive effect. – Robin S. Sharma
Today’s Daily Yogi Practice is to try a mantra meditation. You can try some OMs, a traditional Sanskrit mantra, or some common English motivational mantras.
Good morning Yogis! We are in the middle of a special Upper Limbs week of meditative practices. Today we will focus on Flame Gazing Meditation, a Dharana practice I particularly enjoy during winter with the wood stove.
The mind is not a vessel to be filled but a fire to be kindled. – Plutarch
Today’s Daily Yogi Practice is to try a form of Flame Gazing, a DharanaPractice. There are a few different forms of this you can try!
Want more on Meditation? Check our Meditation Board on Pinterest!
Please comment and let me know what you thought of this Dharana exercise! Have you done this meditative flame-gazing before, not knowing this was a meditation practice? Always remember, be kind!
Good Morning Yogis! We are in the middle of a special Upper Limbs week of meditative practices. Today we will revisit one of my favorite Dharana Meditative Practice – Mandalas!
