Yoga BLOG

Meditation between two book covers: Which guides are worth reading? Blocking out external influences, relaxing, finding spiritual peace, and gathering one's mind—meditation encompasses all this and more. But what exactly is meditation about in the yoga tradition? Is it complete contemplation and inner peace? Or is it more about active meditation in the sense of a conscious change of mind? Initially, it's often difficult to develop an individual approach to meditation and overcome obstacles. Even if theoretical knowledge doesn't replace practical practice, yoga books can build helpful bridges. We've explored the wide field of yoga literature and selected three meditation guides suitable for beginners from among many excellent books. For yoga greenhorns: Step-by-step instructions for meditation by Anna Trökes With more than 40 years of yoga experience, Anna Trökes, born in 1952, is one of Germany's most respected yoga teachers and authors. She has been practicing yoga since the early 1970s. From 1977 to 2011, she ran her own yoga school in Berlin. She is a member and instructor of the Professional Association of German Yoga Teachers and active in the European Yoga Union. As an expert in yoga meditation, this area is one of her teaching focuses. She has written numerous yoga books, including the guide "Yoga - Meditation for Beginners," published by Via Nova Verlag in 2011. It is aimed at people who want to familiarize themselves with the basics of meditation as an important component of yoga and the goals of meditation. The book is immensely motivating because it is well structured and suitable for everyday use. It also contains numerous exercises for a wide variety of yoga meditations—from simple breathing exercises to specialized meditations. The all-unifying breath, inner and outer light, and the complementary paths of expansiveness and concentration are presented, as are mudras and yantras. The index on the last pages allows for specific references to individual exercises, making this guide highly practical and facilitating practice. Compact introduction: Meditation classic and long-seller with CD by Jack Kornfield This guide has been a bestseller in the yoga and meditation category since 2007 – and rightly so. Author Jack Kornfield is considered one of the most renowned Western meditation teachers, and in this compact book with integrated CD, he has found a balanced blend of a concise, basic introduction and practical exercises. Through six stages of meditation, the accompanying CD leads to greater serenity and inner clarity in a pleasant, easy-to-learn way. The book and CD are not explicitly aimed at people who practice yoga, but are nevertheless recommended as an introduction for aspiring yogis. Meditation exercises for breathing, body sensations, feelings and thoughts, as well as forgiveness and kindness of heart, are described and practiced. Short meditations: Meditations with breathing exercises, mudras and mantras by Kerstin Leppert Author Kerstin Leppert is a Kundalini yoga teacher and author of several yoga guides. These short meditations were published in 2015 and are aimed primarily at people seeking the most straightforward and practical support for everyday life: short, understandable, and effective. Unlike the other two book recommendations, this one primarily focuses on meditation for mental and physical health problems. Self-healing through meditation is, of course, no substitute for a doctor, but these "purposeful" meditations have a supportive effect. They can override stressful daily routines, promote well-being, and release inner blockages. Following a brief general guide to meditation, the specific meditations follow, each clearly illustrated and concisely but clearly presented. These include meditations for pain, allergies, and anxiety, as well as meditations for professional, personal, and existential crises. The appendix contains recommendations for relaxing music and in-depth reading. Better than any book: Meditation courses with practical meditation instructions As helpful as accompanying meditation literature is, it's no substitute for practical guidance from experienced teachers: Meditation is something that truly needs to be learned. Then it's like riding a bike: once you've internalized meditation techniques, you'll easily find relaxing peace. Image © ponsuwan