Many wonder why it is necessary to meditate
after practicing Yoga asanas/ postures. One of the various benefits of practicing yoga asanas/ postures is the fact that it eases ourselves into Yoga meditation techniques effortlessly.
Meditation being one of the main aspects of Yoga, it's crucial that we sit for
meditation after practising Yoga asanas and pranayama; else it is like
preparing our dinner but not eating it! In meditation one delves deep into the
self. There are many kinds of meditations, although in substance they bear
similar methods.
Many scholars believe that yoga dates back
over 5,000 years to the beginning of human civilization. Scholars believe that
yoga grew out of stone age Shamanism, because of the cultural similarities
between Modern Hinduism and Mehrgahr, a neolithic settlement (in what is now
Afghanisthan). In fact, much of Hindu ideas , rituals and symbols of today
appear to have their roots in this shamanistic culture of Mehrgahr.
Early yoga and archaic shamanism had much
in common as both sought to transcend the human condition. The main goal of
shamanism was to cure members of the community and act as religious
practitioners. Archaic yoga was also group oriented, as it attempted to
congregate the cosmic order to daily living. Later, yoga evolved in to a more
inward experience, and yogis focussed on their individual enlightenment and
salvation.
