When most people think of yoga, they think of physical exercise, but there’s another important aspect: meditation. Two types of yogasanas, or yoga positions, exist: One is good for health and the other for meditation. A number of yoga positions help increase concentration through meditation. The positions are called the rabbit, knowledge, lotus, and ideation.

Meditation has several benefits. First, meditation techniques can help people breathe more deeply, which results in more mental awareness. People have the habit of shallow breathing. By breathing deeply, one takes in oxygen, which purifies blood.

Acharya Advayananda Avadhuta (Dada) became a yoga-meditation teacher in 1984 and practiced it himself since 1972. Meditation helped him with his classes to develop focus and memory. He reduced his sleeping hours from eight to six hours of restful sleep. He still does meditation every day for health, calmness, peace, and a better memory.
“I get good health, peaceful mind, and cosmic love through meditation,” Dada said. “I get good physical and mental energy by deep relaxation breath techniques. I had recurring illness of fever for six months. Vegetarian diet, yoga positions, deep relaxation techniques, and meditation cured my fever, reduced stress and fear of failing my exams.”

Second, meditation can help students achieve more effective study. In the classroom, sometimes a student’s body is there but his mind isn’t. Or, a student gets tired after studying too much. This effects a student’s ability to study and his grade.

Susan Bhattarai, a nepalese nursing student at El Centro College has been meditating for the last three years. Meditation improved his Grade Point Average (GPA) from 2.00 to 3.65. He recommends that everyone participate in meditation to create positive energy.