Archive for July, 2008

By Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500

The following is a meditation story and an experiment for pet owners. The common practice is to leave pets aside while meditating. It has been my observation that most pets tend to approach us calmly, while we are meditating. If a young puppy is in this house, this may not always be so, but mature dogs develop a good sense about when humans need space.

In the case of domestic cats, it has been my experience that they were attracted, like magnets, to the human who is practicing meditation. If this disturbs you, by all means close the door to the room you are meditating in, but do not be surprised if your cat lightly scratches or cries on the other side of the door. Sometimes, dogs react in a similar manner.

At one time, we had five cats in our house – three lived upstairs and two lived downstairs. Cats can sometimes be very territorial in regard to their floor or space. Unlike dogs, cats do not usually have a pack leader or a collective social network. Some cats prefer their own company, but usually acknowledge the humans who feed them.

Although I practice meditation in many places, I usually meditate on the living room floor in the morning, at night, or both. There are no doors to the living room, so the cats have free access. Since the beginning of practicing meditation on the floor, the cats sit on the floor within arms reach.

When we had five cats, it was not uncommon for them to declare a truce and park themselves next to the meditating human. Interestingly, they would begin to purr in unison.

For cats, purring is their sign of pure contentment. After the meditation session was over, everything gradually went back to normal and their territorial boundaries resumed. It seems that our meditation practice affects everything around us for the best.

© Copyright 2008 – Paul Jerard / Aura Publications

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FREE CONTENT: If you are a Yoga Teacher, Yoga studio, blogger, e-zine, or website publisher, and are in need of quality content, please feel free to use my blog entries (articles) – Please be sure to reprint each article, as is, including the resource box above. Namaste, Paul
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By Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500

If you participate in a meditation group, or a Yoga class, there is always a desire to practice at home. Sometimes, meditation groups meet for a session and slowly disband. Now, you have decided to continue where your group left off.

On the other hand, you may be a complete beginner and perhaps you have read, or heard, about the many benefits of meditation; but where do you start and what are some valuable tips? Which form of meditation would be best to start with? Whether you have practiced before, or not, the following tips are designed to help you develop a steady meditation practice at home.

Make a Personal Meditation Appointment

Making a sincere appointment with yourself, and putting it in writing, is the first step. In this way, you can form a regular time to begin and end your daily practice. Most people find it easier to meditate in the early morning or late at night. When your house becomes quiet, this is the best time to meditate.

Whether you choose morning or night is not important. If you are an early riser, morning is a logical choice. However, if you have difficulty getting up in the morning, meditating at night will work best for you. You may be told that morning is the optimum time for meditation, but if you are currently having trouble getting to work on time, why would you choose to shorten your sleep cycle?

Here is a sound reason for rising early: Once you form a habit of waking early, within a day, or two, you will begin to go to bed earlier. Your sleep cycle will naturally default to the same amount of sleep. This is much similar to how your body adjusts when traveling through time zones.

Yet, some people resist waking up earlier, as if it were “the plague.” If you fall into this category, there is no need to cause inner turmoil, just make an appointment to meditate at night.

© Copyright 2008 – Paul Jerard / Aura Publications

——————————————–
Meditation Teacher Course
FREE Yoga Report. FREE Yoga Newsletter. FREE Yoga Videos.
Free Podcasts. Bonus: Free Yoga e-Book, “Yoga in Practice.”
——————————————–
On-Site Training: http://www.aurawellnesscenter.com
——————————————–
FREE CONTENT: If you are a Yoga Teacher, Yoga studio, blogger, e-zine, or website publisher, and are in need of quality content, please feel free to use my blog entries (articles) – Please be sure to reprint each article, as is, including the resource box above. Namaste, Paul
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