cyclic meditation - stillness in action

At an Ayurveda Centre, Kerala, India. 2014

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​Cyclic Meditation (see previous post) offers a beautiful symbiosis of stillness and action and brings you perfectly into the present moment. Using alternating stimulation and relaxation it allows the body and mind to go deeper into silence by incorporating simple yoga postures as well as sound and visual stimulation.

Yoga karmasu kausalam
Bhagavad Gita
Yoga is skill in action

With continuous practice, the mind settles and the calmness that ensues during the sessions percolates serenely into you daily actions and routines. Mundane chores begin to lose mundanity and the mind focuses on every movement with awareness. This is what mindfulness is. Awareness and wakefulness in the present moment.

Cyclic Meditation has been shown to reduce basal metabolic rate three times more than 8 hours of restful sleep. This has profound implications on the body’s stress hormones and resilience to disease. Over time, you feel more alert, and your sleep requirement also reduces along with desires for unwholesome foods. As the sympathetic nervous system calms down its heightened fight or flight response to hectic lifestyles, the body starts to realign itself to a more balanced nervous and hormonal system and you gain better autonomic control.

A better diet equates to improved digestion; a lower metabolic rate means less unnecessary energy expenditure; satisfying sleep means more time to be awake and achieve  your goals; more movement means farewell to sedentary lifestyles and better energy flow through the body. The more you practice the better for your mental and physical health and wellbeing.

It is well documented that relaxation periods allow us to become more productive in our daily work. Whether this be a hobby like painting or reading, the time ‘away’ from daily work is essential to maintaining a meaningful and balanced approach to living. Cyclic Meditation offers this in a 35 minute practice which can be shortened or extended to your requirement.

The Cyclic Meditation technique is developed by SVYASA University’s Dr Nagendra and Dr Nagrathna in the late 1970’s and has been used successfully for thousands of people who attend the university and its courses for stress reduction and holistic care. It is inspired by a verse found in the commentary of the Mandukya Upanishad:

Laye sambodhayet cittam viksiptam samayet punah
Sakasayam vijaniyat samapraptam na calayet.
Man. Karika-II.44

Stimulate and awaken the sleeping mind, calm down the distractions and agitations.
Recognise the innate stagnations and blocks.
Upon reaching the state of perfect equilibrium, stay steadfast without disturbing it again.

Workshop events will be listed on website or leave your details and we will send you more information.

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