Yoga without meditation is incomplete, says Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
It's a known fact that the practice of yoga and meditation has deep roots in India, dating back thousands of years. However, we are also aware of how it has taken over the world. But while yoga has exploded in popularity, often seen through the lens of fitness and flexibility, its deeper essence, according to spiritual leader Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, is becoming diluted.advertisementAhead of the 11th International Yoga Day, he reflects on how yoga is more than just movement; it's a gateway to inner calm, and without meditation, it's incomplete.'Many people think it's just physical fitness and stretching. But yoga is never complete without meditation. So if you do proper yoga and add meditation to it, you've got it,' the Art of Living Foundation founder told Sneha Mordani in an exclusive interview with India Today.
He credits the growing global awareness of yoga, in part, to India's leadership.'This is the 11th International Yoga Day, and our honourable Prime Minister has taken this step and made sure that he himself sat and did the yoga. Since then, it has inspired a lot of people to join. It has become a mainstream narrative, not just in India, but all over the world.'advertisementSri Sri Ravi Shankar also emphasised how meditation isn't about forcing the mind to shut off—it's about conscious relaxation.'Meditation is not an exercise to focus or control your mind. Most people think meditation is concentration, and so they try to control the mind. But concentration is a byproduct of meditation,' he explains.He acknowledges the hesitation many feel when they begin.'A lot of people think they can't meditate, they say they can't sit still or that their mind is too full of thoughts. But that's natural. Meditation doesn't mean having a clean slate in your mind. That's a myth.'As for where to start? Breath is the bridge, he says.'You can't directly deal with the mind - it's abstract. But the breath is something in between. When you're happy, you breathe differently. When agitated, you breathe differently. So start with breathing, alternate nostril breathing, Bhastrika, and then sit and relax. Meditation will take care of your state of mind and even strengthen you physiologically.'The science, he points out, backs this up.'There are hundreds of studies that show how meditation reduces anxiety, lowers cortisol levels, and eases stress. That's why I've made over 300 guided meditations, these tools are accessible to everyone now, through apps and teachers," he says.Must Watch
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