Yoga and meditation are two forms of health training that are very popular in our country. Although these two disciplines are closely related, they still have certain differences.
Are yoga and meditation the same thing? This must be the concern of many people. If you practice yoga, you will find that yoga is a comprehensive system that includes movements, breathing exercises, meditation and lifestyle. In yoga, however, meditation is only a small part. In fact, yoga and meditation are still two independent fitness disciplines with many interesting differences.
Meditation is a discipline that focuses on training the mind
Meditation is a vague term. There are many different types of meditation, with mindfulness meditation being the most popular. However, no matter what type of meditation you pursue, the goal of meditation is to train the mind, increase present awareness, cultivate love, and bring insight into the body.
Meditation is primarily a mental exercise. During the practice, you will spend time focusing on an object, on the breath, on an image or on a mantra.
When you gain focus from this practice, you will feel your mind is at ease, less thinking and less affected by external factors or by emotions and feelings inside. body. In general, meditation is a way to help you clear your thoughts, training yourself to take a complete break when needed.
However, practicing meditation in the wrong way can cause some bad harm to the practitioner. Therefore, to limit the risk, you should consult a professional to achieve the full effect of this type of exercise.
Yoga – The combination of mind and body
If meditation is primarily a mental exercise, yoga is a physical combination. Even if it’s just a gentle yoga class, you can still find yourself sweating, working your muscles, and building your balance. Stretching, increasing flexibility, and building strength are the cornerstones of yoga practices, and these are mostly absent from meditation.
However, yoga is also not purely a physical activity, it still has a connection with the mind and body. Yoga can still provide mental benefits, creating a sense of well-being, relaxation, and awareness of the breath. In general, the ultimate goal of yoga is the union of the body, mind and soul.
Is meditation or yoga better?
Although they have many things in common, yoga and meditation are two completely different disciplines. Therefore, no subject is better than another. You may find yoga appropriate, while others may find meditation more effective.
Yoga and meditation are both disciplines with a long history of development, according to history, there have been many studies that have found the benefits of yoga and meditation for health. Whether you are trying to cope with your unhealthy habits or are looking for ways to improve your health, both yoga and meditation are helpful.
Therefore, the choice of which subject to practice will depend on your goals. At the beginning, if you still can’t choose, you should try both and see which sport brings you peace, ease, comfort and joy.
In addition, choosing to practice meditation or yoga depends on your actual goals. If you want to practice love, mindfulness and clarity, meditation is the right choice. If your body is in pain and you want to overcome it, you should choose to practice yoga.
Yoga and meditation: Which is more difficult?
Both yoga and meditation are disciplines that require long-term practice, effort, and concentration. In the early stages, you may face a lot of difficulties, in yoga your body may lack flexibility, balance or strength while in meditation you find your mind very easily wandering. This is completely normal, if you persevere with practice, after a while, you will overcome these difficulties.
In fact, meditation is easier to practice because you don’t need to prepare anything when you meditate. All you need is a little free time, a quiet space and start exercising.
Meanwhile, practicing yoga will take a little more work since you can’t do it in the office for a few minutes. This does not mean that practicing yoga is more difficult than meditation, but simply that meditation is more accessible and easier to schedule.
In addition, yoga and meditation are just exercises to practice health, not competition, lose and do not have to compete with anyone. Both are just necessary exercises for the body and mind that we have to do every day, like cleaning the house or brushing our teeth.
If you are new to yoga or meditation, you should find a class, or if you don’t have time, you can invite a private yoga teacher to teach you about the technique. To find a professional yoga and meditation teacher, download easyhealthylive.com right away.
Reference source
Meditation vs. Yoga – Differences and Benefits https://shifts.coach/holistic/meditation-vs-yoga/ Accessed date: 31/10/2020
John Alen was born in 1971 and is a doctor in the healthcare and psychology fields with many years of experience. He is currently working at easyhealthylive.com, a leading health and psychology blog. Having studied at Y1 National Medical University named after IM Sechenov, John Alen is using his knowledge and experience to help improve the physical and mental health of people in the United States.
