Learn to Meditate to Improve Your Yoga and Relax

Yoga has become very popular as a way to tone and strengthen the body, as well as calming the mind. While it may not be as popular in some cities, here in Studio City, where I teach guided meditation for relaxation, there are 6 yoga studios within a mile of Angel City Yoga where I have my weekly meditations. It appears, at least anecdotally, that yoga may be the most popular personal fitness method.

Both yoga and meditation are considered mind-body techniques. Mind-body techniques were studied by the National Institute of Health and there is a lot of positive information in the study related to improving healing and immune system function, better cognitive functioning, heart attack prevention, deep relaxation and stress relief, and many other benefits. They are complementary because being able to focus the mind helps to improve yoga and physical relaxation and breath work improve meditation. There is even a form of yoga known as the yoga of meditation.

Some of the benefits of yoga are related to brain wave states similar to the alpha brain wave state that people achieve while in meditation. When a person is concentrating on yoga postures or on the guide's voice in meditation, he or she goes into the alpha state. The alpha state means that brain waves slow down from the normal 20 beats per second in the beta state, the normal state during full consciousness, to around 10 beats per second.

Since the mind becomes focused during yoga practice or meditation, worries and cares are forgotten and the body responds by relaxing. In the relaxed state, the immune system functions better, the heart rate slows, and cells may begin the rebuilding and rejuvenation process. In our stress filled world, with an environment that has more toxins every day, proper immune system functioning and strength are both of maximum importance to many people. That probably accounts for the new interest and why so many people are practicing yoga and also want to learn how to meditate.

While there are many ways to strengthen the body and improve the mind, one of the positive attributes of both yoga and meditation, not always found in other methods, is that they may be learned by anyone. It isn't hard to learn to meditate and there is no way to fail. Each person who meditates reaches his or her own personal level. It is the same with yoga. Unlike trying to run a mile in 6 minutes, or being able to lift 200 pounds, the goals in yoga and meditation are simply to progress at your own pace and to enjoy the experience.

Wil Langford, R. Hy., offers his guided meditations for relaxation and exploring the self. He teaches meditation and offers classes at Angel City Yoga in Studio City, California, where you can learn to meditate. Wil is also available for private lessons, guided meditation, and workshops. Wil has helped his clients to use meditation for many purposes such as, relaxation, better health, better sleep, stress relief, financial attunement, finding their life's purpose, and personal and spiritual growth. You can learn more at http://9best.info

You may also purchase his guided meditation MP3's for your own use. You may download them or play them instantly online. He offers a free report, based on the National Institute of Health report on Mind-Body Techniques where you can learn the benefits of yoga and meditation.

He is an expert on the subject of human consciousness and the author of Parts Consciousness Therapy, a guide to the self as explained in his book, "Your Loved Ones, Your Self; Finding and Raising the Family Within" at http://yourlovedonesyourself.com