Can anyone here actually pull of a 30min+ meditation session?

[Pooks]

I've been trying to meditate the last week.. but cant keep my mind shut off much at all.. it ends up being just a nap session.

[Mizfit]

I can't even nap.. hahah

so noo

[zimmy]

i tried it for a while. In yoga they do this whole visualize an energy ball bullshit...yah coudln't do it.

[Carlos_E]

Yoga is for girls.

[abcde]

Yoga is for girls.

Not true! Yoga is a discipline for anyone and everyone. Meditation, yoga, and the quest for spiritual enlightenment is for anyone who wants to change their life.

To pooks: yoga poses were originally designed to help the ancient wisemen to be able to stay in their mediation for long periods of time (without the distraction of shifting around because they were uncomfortable sitting).

Try starting with short time sessions, then build up - like training for a marathon, its one step at a time. Second, it's been said that when praying to God (or higher power/ultimate reality/inner light), the communication is usually going from us to God. But when meditating, we open up for the response, and listen to what God has to say. Good luck, like any discipline it takes practice, and consistency.

[ascendant]

Not true! Yoga is a discipline for anyone and everyone. Meditation, yoga, and the quest for spiritual enlightenment is for anyone who wants to change their life.

To the first poster who found it difficult to meditate for a certain period of time...try starting with short time sessions, then build up - like training for a marathon, its one step at a time. Second, remember that when praying to God/higher power/ultimate reality, the communication is usually going from us to God. But when meditating, try opening up for the response, and listen to what God has to say. Good luck, like any discipline it takes practice, and consistency.

good stuff. one thing i'd like to add as well for the difficulty in the prolonged duration meditation is to focus on your breathing. breathe in nice and slow and deep. if you mind still wanders, count the in-breath and out-breath. i know some people give you numbers to count to, but i find personally to just breathe whatever numbers you're comfortable with. i usually do a very slow 5 count in and a 5 count out.

it does take serious mental discipline to keep the mind clear of thought, but focusing on just one thing (breathing) is the first step. bring your focus to one, then to none. however, you'll find that once you can learn to completely clear your mind of thought while remaining completely conscious, you have much greater control over yourself and it's very empowering as well as enlightening. you begin to learn to direct your thoughts rather than have them direct you. hard to explain until you experience it for yourself, but keep it up bro and you'll get there.

[zimmy]

I was trying to take it for the flexibility. I actually thought it was gonna be the kind with poses... but it turned out to be dahn yoga which is a spirtual based one. I have 17 more classes with them that i pre-paid and the lady won't give me my money back

[zimmy]

Yoga is for girls.

it's only been recently that girls were even allowed to practice yoga

[NCNPC29]

good stuff. one thing i'd like to add as well for the difficulty in the prolonged duration meditation is to focus on your breathing. breathe in nice and slow and deep. if you mind still wanders, count the in-breath and out-breath. i know some people give you numbers to count to, but i find personally to just breathe whatever numbers you're comfortable with. i usually do a very slow 5 count in and a 5 count out.

it does take serious mental discipline to keep the mind clear of thought, but focusing on just one thing (breathing) is the first step. bring your focus to one, then to none. however, you'll find that once you can learn to completely clear your mind of thought while remaining completely conscious, you have much greater control over yourself and it's very empowering as well as enlightening. you begin to learn to direct your thoughts rather than have them direct you. hard to explain until you experience it for yourself, but keep it up bro and you'll get there.

Sounds interesting. Never tried it myself. I've had ADD all my life so my mind wonders like crazy! Good points though, maybe I'll give it a try. Sounds like a good stress reliever.

[Mizfit]

yoga is not for girls.. i'm a chick and i won't do it

[Carlos_E]

yoga is not for girls.. i'm a chick and i won't do it

[Carlos_E]

Yoga won't get you big. That's all i gotta say.

[Tock]

I've been trying to meditate the last week.. but cant keep my mind shut off much at all.. it ends up being just a nap session.

I learned TM (Transcendental Meditation) years ago. It's quite remarkable . . .

Pretty much, all you do is sit in a chair with your arms in your lap (an upright chair, like a dinette chair without arms), make sure you won't be disturbed by a phone or anything, close your eyes, and repeat a "mantra" (pretty much, any one or two syllable word that has no meaning--pick any two letters of the alphabet, like "L" and "F") over and over and over again until you zone out. If your mind wanders and starts thinking about other things, just go back to your mantra, over and over again.
When you're ready to stop meditating, return to the "real" world gently and slowly. Don't just jump up and go . . . start by wiggling your fingers and toes, then your ankles and wrists, knees and elbows, shoulders, then slowly open your eyes. The "exit" process should take about 3 minutes.

You can acheive some extremely deep states of relaxation, which I understand is beneficial for workout recovery. The TM people recommend two 20 minutes sessions a day. They also have a whole religious movement based on this meditation stuff, which strikes me as kinda weird . . .

But, ya, try this simple TM method, and I think you'll be pleased.

-Tock

[stayinstacked]

yoga is not for girls.. i'm a chick and i won't do it

Stayinstacked has strong feelings towards yoga as well, peep the new gym shirt

[boxingbean]

i used to train with a tai chi dude, he was sooo old and asian haha....we would run to a mtn top and smoke a doobie and just sit and meditate....calming, but dont achieve nothing

[abcde]

Stayinstacked has strong feelings towards yoga as well, peep the new gym shirt

To each, their own...that's what makes the world go round!

[abcde]

it's only been recently that girls were even allowed to practice yoga

This is true, and historically, yoga was taught to only individuals (certain class of society). So consequently, westerners were not allowed to study yoga until just very recently.

To Carlos E: No yoga won't get you big, but there are many famous, pro athletes (wrestlers, baseball, basketball and BIG football players, included) that have discovered (and practice) yoga to enhance their performance, but they don't go around bragging about it - that's not the yogic way.

[zimmy]

it doens't help with size...but in martial arts, it helps with core strength / flexibility.

[abcde]

it doens't help with size...but in martial arts, it helps with core strength / flexibility.

Yes, helps with that and balance and coordination, too. Not to mention the mental (focus, concentration) benefits, like ascendant already mentioned. And don't forget the spiritual aspects, as well.

[abcde]

I learned TM (Transcendental Meditation) years ago. It's quite remarkable . . .

They also have a whole religious movement based on this meditation stuff, which strikes me as kinda weird . . .

But, ya, try this simple TM method, and I think you'll be pleased.

-Tock

I too am constantly trying to figure out the science vs religion parts to yoga and meditation. The science stuff I am sold on - like the physical benefits that can be measured by doing meditation (lowered blood pressure, beta waves, etc) . But some of the other stuff that cannot be scientifically proven, I don't know....

[Oki-Des]

As you get older, putting yourself in situations where you can shut everyone else out becomes easier and easier. I can see married people being better at yoga as well! I think it is why my dad bought 10 acres of country land one mile away from my moms house. It gave him something to mow every week!

[Mizfit]

i though tape was what married people used to keep each others mouths shut?

[Oki-Des]

i though tape was what married people used to keep each others mouths shut?

Tape would work!
HAHA

[USfighterFC]

it doens't help with size...but in martial arts, it helps with core strength / flexibility.

Put me in a ring with your yoga instructor.

[anaBROLIC]

Stayinstacked has strong feelings towards yoga as well, peep the new gym shirt