A month ago, I attended all day Bikam yoga class+seminar by Mary Jarvis, one of the top Bikram instructors in the world. At the end of the day the class was over and she went into meditation. I was waiting for her to come out because I wanted to talk to her. I had to wait for long time. She sat meditating for 15 minutes or longer and was perfectly still.
I have no idea whether she was in "Ideal" meditation mode. As far me, I can say, it would be impossible to even just sit still for more than 2 minutes, never mid the thoughts.
In Bikram yoga, we are supposed to practice meditation while in postures and while not in postures. This seems doable for me since the postures last for up to a minute and in between postures it is short 5 sec to 20 seconds. We never close our eyes. The idea is not shut of external stimuli but to "meditate" in spite of the stimuli.
My current definition of "meditation" is (a) be aware of what is happening around you and within you, (b) totally relax the body, (c) be aware of your "ego" and contemplate whether that ego is really you.
In my mind, this "ego" is the troublesome thing. If I reach a stage when the "ego" is absent or near-absent I consider my self meditating. I am not there yet.
Jessica who owns the Bikram studio and is an outstanding yogini herself keeps saying "where is the yoga in that?" This phrase it appears originated by Mary Jarvis and I heard she is writing a book with title.
This phrase is the key in my mind. Keep asking yourself that question. Never mind how well you are able to perform yoga postures, until you have conquered the ego, there is no yoga in that. To be very simple, if you are thinking about how well or even how badly you did the posture, whether you did better or worse than the person next to you, there is no yoga in that.
The next best thing to completely overcoming "ego" is being just be aware of it.
I have no idea whether she was in "Ideal" meditation mode. As far me, I can say, it would be impossible to even just sit still for more than 2 minutes, never mid the thoughts.
In Bikram yoga, we are supposed to practice meditation while in postures and while not in postures. This seems doable for me since the postures last for up to a minute and in between postures it is short 5 sec to 20 seconds. We never close our eyes. The idea is not shut of external stimuli but to "meditate" in spite of the stimuli.
My current definition of "meditation" is (a) be aware of what is happening around you and within you, (b) totally relax the body, (c) be aware of your "ego" and contemplate whether that ego is really you.
In my mind, this "ego" is the troublesome thing. If I reach a stage when the "ego" is absent or near-absent I consider my self meditating. I am not there yet.
Jessica who owns the Bikram studio and is an outstanding yogini herself keeps saying "where is the yoga in that?" This phrase it appears originated by Mary Jarvis and I heard she is writing a book with title.
This phrase is the key in my mind. Keep asking yourself that question. Never mind how well you are able to perform yoga postures, until you have conquered the ego, there is no yoga in that. To be very simple, if you are thinking about how well or even how badly you did the posture, whether you did better or worse than the person next to you, there is no yoga in that.
The next best thing to completely overcoming "ego" is being just be aware of it.
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