Change Your Mind To Change Your Life Through Yoga

We spend much of our day thinking-escaping into daydreams, worrying about the past, and never fully living in the present. We may think that we are planning, solving problems, or creating new ideas, but most often the mind is merely talking to itself. It is a way of escaping the responsibility of dealing with everyday problems.nnThis visualization exercise will show you how much of your day is taken up with unimportant thinking and help you to detach from the useless thoughts. Dozens of thoughts can occur in only 5 minutes, and learning to quiet them can take years of regular practice. Practice the art of patience simultaneously with the art of detachment.nnAs you quiet the mind, you will be able to go beneath this mental clutter and make contact with your subconscious. This is where your state of inner calm exists and where all your motivational, inspirational, and intuitive thoughts lie. You then can get in touch with the limitless ability and intelligence of your mind and body. You will begin to see how they can work together to create perfect health and well-being. The onus and the responsibility are on you; there can be no more blaming others for the shape you are in physically, mentally, or emotionally. You must create the right conditions for healing to occur within your body and mind. You can take control of your eating and exercise program for life by realizing that you are far more than the unimportant and negative thoughts that appear to be controlling your life.nBenefitsnnPromotes calmness and overall well-beingnFocusnnAs you relax, do not try to stop your thoughts; let them come and go. Tell yourself that they are not important right now. Do not criticize yourself or become frustrated if your mind seems to be continually busy.nChair Positionnn 1. Take a pen and pencil, and have a watch or clock nearby.n 2. Sit on the floor in Cross­Legged Position, with your spine straight.( If this position is not comfortable, sit on a folded towel to tilt your hips forward and take the pressure off your knees. Alternatively, sit with your legs stretched out in front, leaning against a wall if necessary, or sit in a chair.) Soften your shoulder blades and the muscles around your mouth. Let the tip of your tongue rest gently against the roof of your mouth right behind your teeth to help your jaw and mouth to relax.n 3. Take several breaths, begin to become aware of your breath. Observe your breath settling into its normal breathing pattern.n 4. Notice the thoughts coming into your consciousness. Write down each and every thought that comes into your mind for 5 minutes.n 5. Look back over your list and ask yourself the following questions:nn * How many of these thoughts have to do with planning, solving problems, or creating new ideas?n * How many of these thoughts are just conversations with myself; criticisms or comments about others, or fears about the past or future?nnRelaxed Posenn 1. Lie on the floor on your back with your arms at your sides, palms facing up, and feet flopped apart.n 2. Return your attention to your breathing. On the inhalation, let your abdomen balloon out a little and be very soft. On the exhalation, consciously pull your abdomen back in. Let the inhalation be soft and expansive, whereas the exhalation is firm and contracting. Continue breathing like this for 20 breaths, then rest briefly in your normal breathing pattern. (This is one round.)n 3. Practice attention to your breathing this way for 1 more round, then relax and lie quietly, allowing your mind to settle.n 4. Repeat the following statements to yourself 3 times:n 5. Be as still as a statue as you observe your breathing. Listen in the silence of the meditation to what your body and mind are telling you.n 6. Lie in the silence for approximately 15 minutes.n 7. When you are ready, gently bring yourself back to the present by increasing the depth of your breathing, then stretching your arms overhead a few times.n