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little_rad
United Kingdom
23 Posts |
 Posted - May 15 2011 : 08:37:41 AM
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Hello :)
I have been meditating on and off for a year or so. I have had trouble maintaining a stable and regular practice for the recommended time, and I become mysteriously "put off" doing Sadhana, so that I don't even do it. Sometimes I will go a week with none and then do it for an hour, which isn't as good as regular daily.
To get round this, I now do 3 minutes pranayama, then 5 mins DM. I manage this twice daily! :)
However, a good friend who has been practicing AYP longer than me suggested that he had heard that DM under 15 mins is ineffectual. Is this true?
Any advice or guidance would be gratefully received.
:)
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woosa
United Kingdom
382 Posts |
Posted - May 16 2011 : 09:23:53 AM
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Hi little rad
I have no idea if it is inneffective, for you, doing an 8 minute practice. You can only know yourself by how you feel during the day.
If you haven't read this already
http://www.aypsite.org/18.html
Maybe you could drop the sbp and do 8 minutes of deep meditation instead?
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jeff
USA
971 Posts |
Posted - May 16 2011 : 11:17:01 AM
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Little Rad,
Any amount of time you put into it is helpful. Consistency helps.
If you find it hard to find the time, try just listening to music for a while. Put together a play list of relaxing music that you enjoy, and try to "just listen" to it. As you, "just listen", you will notice the music actually seems to get louder. For many, it can be an easier way to get started. |
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little_rad
United Kingdom
23 Posts |
Posted - May 16 2011 : 12:45:06 PM
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Cheers for the link Woosa.
I do feel better, clearer, more relaxed during the day when I have done practice.
I have put DM up to 7 mins now, with the 3 mins SBP before. No probs! I will gradually increase over time, hopefully.
Thanx for your input x |
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little_rad
United Kingdom
23 Posts |
Posted - May 16 2011 : 12:50:31 PM
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Hi Jeff. Thanx for your suggestion. I do listen to music in this way quite regularly! It is so enjoyable. :) I like melodic trance, or gregorian chanting. What about you?
I have time for meditation, but simply 'rebel' against doing it. The past 2 weeks or so I have not rebelled. So hopefully this will carry on! |
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jeff
USA
971 Posts |
Posted - May 16 2011 : 2:32:01 PM
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Mostly soft rock and pop for me. Had some limited success with gregorian chanting. I am probably older than you, but try "Sailing" by Christopher Cross some time. I always think of it as sailing on a sea of consciousness.
Also, if you are hearing it get louder, maybe try a little spinal breathing while listening to the music. It gets a lot easier when you feel a little tingling.
Remember you are supposed to enjoy it.  |
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Akasha
421 Posts |
Posted - May 16 2011 : 5:26:40 PM
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Hello litterad & Welcome to AYP,
Less is More , or nearly always.
I woud probably be inclined to say that doing too much would prob. be more likely to be more ineffectual to doing too little at least with respect to DM.You can go over or under time but it should'nt really be such such a big deal i think especially with consistency applied over time.
The steady slow incremental approach is really how yoga works.
It's often said here that how one feels outside of yoga practice is really the litmus test to the effectiveness of any practice because this is true..And obviously no two people are going to respond the same to any given practice based at least on the particular unique matrix of obstrcutions in any given individual and/or their level of devotion and/or peerhaps other factors too.
If we don't (mentally) make a big deal of practicing, then it's usually easier honouring it.It's just something we do now and again.A lifestyle...kind of thing.
Stick with it(DM) and see how you get on.Your routine can always be reviewed and/or modified as we go along.
Enjoy!
P.S When you say you're mysteriously put off by sadhana it's possible you're not totally used to going inwards..i.e your'e still fixated by externals...that is where our attention generally lies outside of practice.I think after about a year ,doing any kind of meditational practice becomes more of an ingrained habit or tendency you want to do because you know the benefits. |
Edited by - Akasha on May 16 2011 5:52:49 PM |
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little_rad
United Kingdom
23 Posts |
Posted - May 28 2011 : 08:39:14 AM
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Hello peeps, :)
Just an update on my Sadhana sitch. Since I posted my issue, I have practiced everyday, morn and eve. It has become a pleasure. I feel like I 'need' it, similar to 'needing' exercise for health and wellbeing. When I wake up, it is the first thing I do. When 6pm rolls up, I feel a 'pull' to do my practice. It's part of daily activity - have a shower, make food, do laundry, bike ride, meditate . . .
I've come to realise that even if I'm dozing off, or drifting into thoughts, it's all good and all counts as practice, as I'm consciously noticing and then repeatedly diverting my attention to the mantra. Learning not to be judgemental about this process.
Thanx for everyone's input and helpful suggestions. It is good to know that such a support network exists. I know only one other person who meditates regularly, and who sees such a thing as 'the norm'.
Cheers
:) |
Edited by - little_rad on May 28 2011 3:20:19 PM |
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faileforever
USA
190 Posts |
Posted - May 28 2011 : 5:43:57 PM
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Thats great to hear little rad Thanks for sharing. |
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Am I self-pacing too much? Need guidance.
