Meditators! Light your Fire!

There as many ways to meditate as there are potential meditators. Well, maybe not. But there are many ways to meditate. Through the next few weeks in Sunday Afternoon Weekly Regeneration Yoga, I’ll be exploring a few of these methods at the end of our asana sessions. For you cool cats who can’t make Sundays: try this at home.

Candle gazing is a popular way to center the mind and support meditation. I like to use the small tea light candles in a glass votive. Find a comfortable sitting pose, whether that is in a chair sitting up tall or on the floor in Sukhasana, with a blanket or bolster under the hips to support ease. Place the lit candle on a coffee table, the seat of a chair or a big stack of books (many of these stacks are available throughout our house). As you relax your breath center your gaze or Drishti in the center of the flame. Keep the breath relaxed, focus your attention on the movement and each time a thought rises let the breath push it through the mind. When your eyes water or tire, simply close the eyes and visualize the flame. Try this practice for a few minutes at first working up to more time as you are able to relax and focus the mind. After you sit for a few moments, blow out the candle and lie down in savasana for a few minutes, resting the body and mind. Enjoy!

For more information and a introductory guide to meditation, it’s uses and methods see this Yoga Journal article.