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The Relationship Between Meditation And Yoga

It was in the fourth century when the Yoga Sutras were consecrated. A man by the
name of Patanjali is said to be the author of this collection of sutras all leading to the
eventual stillness of the mind. The Yoga Sutras contain eight limbs and are more com-
monly referred to as the Eightfold Path. Fast forward to the present, this collection has
become the very foundation for the development of Hinduism-based meditation and
yoga. How? We’ll discuss more of that in the following sections.

The origins of yoga and meditation

It might surprise you to know that yoga and meditation have the same origins. The Yoga
Sutras, as mentioned above, are known as one of the earliest texts which mention both
yoga and meditation within them. The eight limbs of the Yoga Sutras can also be re-
ferred to as stages. These stages would conclude at the highest and most difficult state
of oneness with the universe. We would list below the components of the Yoga Sutras
along with brief descriptions so you could gain a better understanding of them as a
whole.

The eight limbs of the Yoga Sutras by Patanjali

1. Yamas (Self Control) - The yamas include non-violence, chastity, non-falsehood,

non-stealing and non-greediness. As you can probably guess, the yamas are unethical
conducts that one must avoid in order to reach the highest stage of Yoga Sutra. This is
why Hinduism promotes vegetarianism because all living things to them are sacred and
have divine spiritual energy. Eating pork or chicken can be a violation of this first stage
because even animals are considered sacred for this religion.
2. Niyamas (Deeds) - The niyamas include purity, contentment, perseverance, self-in-
trospection and surrender to an ultimate being. In contrast, these are the virtues that a
person must do in order to reach the highest stage of Yoga Sutra. It is not enough that
you avoid material or worldly things. You must take your practice at a higher level by
practicing these five virtues.

3. Asanas (Poses) - If we consider the modern application of yoga, then we can refer to
the asanas as the true definition of it. The asanas can be defined as a position held for
a duration of time by the individual. The individual must remain motionless, stable and
relaxed whilst holding that specific position. Different types of yoga today have various
poses as well. In the traditional sense though, asanas were meant to prepare the mind
and the body for a deeper kind of concentration.

4. Pranayama (Breath Control) - In relation to both modern yoga and meditation,

pranayama is simply the controlling of one’s breath. If you have read through some of
our previous blog posts, you’d understand that breath control is an essential part of
meditation as well. In ancient Vedic texts, the prana is regarded as the life force of an
individual. Thus, being able to control and restore it can lead to a longer and better
health.

5. Pratyahara (Withdrawal) - The last four limbs of Yoga Sutra are concerned with the
inner self. Starting with pratyahara or simply the withdrawal from the external world into
our inner self. The ability to remove ourselves from the sometimes chaotic and material-
istic world can help us reach the highest stage in the Yoga Sutras.

6. Dharana (Concentration) - The next limb is called dharana or concentration. Once

the individual has developed the capacity to withdraw from the external world, then he
or she can tackle the viscosities of the mind itself. It is very much the foundation of fo-
cused meditation that we know today. The individual must find one object, subject or
thought that he or she wants to focus on in the mind.
7. Dhyana (Absolute Concentration) - The seventh limb is dhyana or absolute con-
centration. To distinguish it from dharana, dhyana is at the higher stage, wherein the in-
dividual has little to no thoughts at all. In a way, it’s almost like the traditional version of
the modern self-transcending meditation.

8. Samadhi (Enlightenment) - The final limb is called samadhi or simply enlighten-

ment. At this point, there is no more self nor thoughts but merely the experience of one-
ness of all things that is. Samadhi is very difficult to achieve without proper practices
that must include all the former stages mentioned above.
As you can see, meditation and yoga came from the
same background

They really are closer than you might have thought. Look closely at the collection of
Yoga Sutras above. You might have noticed that almost all of the first four limbs have
some connections with modern yoga as we know it. The last four limbs have to have
some connections with modern meditation as we know it. In essence though, Patanjali
assimilated these eight limbs in a structured manner. Thus, to attain enlightenment, all
stages must be completed by the individual, from the yamas to the dhyana. Keep in
mind that these concepts were taken from the Vedic era of India, hence it has mainly
Hinduism-related ideals.

Is yoga a part of meditation or is meditation a part of

yoga?

If we look back into the Yoga Sutras above, both meditation and yoga are important for
the achievement of samadhi. But if we look into the modern application of meditation
and yoga, the statements can be debunked. Yoga is not always a part of meditation and
meditation is not always a part of yoga. In fact, some yoga practitioners adapt this prac-
tice merely for fitness and flexibility without engaging on meditation at all. On a side
note, meditation practitioners could also be engaging on meditation without the aim of
improving bodily control or posture.

Differentiating meditation and yoga based on various

characteristics

Let’s set it straight, meditation and yoga are not one and the same. They are different
limbs, or concepts if you may, that have the same origins. Sure, the purpose for doing
these practices was the same if we refer to the Yoga Sutras. But in the modern times,
these practices have adapted to the new world era. This is why it’s important to distin-
guish their differences so one can choose which practice is more suitable for him or her.

1. Purpose

• Meditation - The primary purpose for doing meditative practices is to gain aware-
ness and control of one’s mind. There are various types of meditation but they all
come down to one intention, being aware of one’s thoughts, gaining intense focus
and eventually being able to control how thoughts appear or disappear in the
mind. The meditator could have the end intention of achieving enlightenment or
not.

• Yoga - The primary purpose for doing yogic practices is to maintain stability in a
set of varying postures. Yoga brings about bodily stability, emotional control and a
whole lot of health benefits. In the modern world, there is a Westernized approach
to yoga wherein the end intention is to gain flexibility and strength. So depending
on the type of yoga practiced, the purposes can vary.

2. Activity

• Meditation - We can think of meditation as an exercise for the brain. It is similar to

completing puzzles or crosswords. Only instead of the mind being taught to think,
the mind is being taught to stay still. Thus, meditation is a mental type of activity,
which can help in strengthening cognitive function and reducing brain cell aging. In
fact, there’s a collection of studies indicating that meditation can help increase
telomere length which is an indicator of stress exposure to individuals.

• Yoga - On the other hand, yoga is a physical type of activity. It requires one to en-
gage in various positions and holding them for a duration of time. As the practi-
tioner engages in yoga more, various benefits such as flexibility and strength can
 be gained. Yoga therefore has positive effects on the muscles, bones and joints
which are all physically found.

3. Benefits

• Meditation - In relation to the number above, we go on to the benefits of both

practices. Meditation has long been proven to be effective for improving mental
health. You only need to look at our previous blog posts to find relevant studies
with regards to this characteristic. In a nutshell, meditation increases gray matter,
increases alpha plus theta wave patterns and activates areas of the brain related
to cognition, emotion or memory. It has also been proven that mindful meditation
can reduce cortisol levels in the body.

• Yoga - The benefits of yoga are mainly physical though there are some mental
benefits as well. Since yoga requires one to engage in a variety of positions, this
helps in the circulation of blood. With continued practice, the muscles and joints
loosen up relieving pain from conditions like arthritis and back pain. There are also
studies proving that yoga can effectively increase the vital capacity of the lung and
improve cardiovascular functioning. With regards to the mental effects of yoga, it
has been proven to be effective for reducing symptoms associated with depres-
sion and anxiety.

4. Difficulty

• Meditation - It is easier to get into meditation as it doesn’t require any equipment

or experience at all. That being said, maintaining focus and removing all outward
stimuli can be a daunting task at first. But with consistency, you would be able to
channel your inner guru and master meditation even within just a few weeks or
months of practice. Meditation is also easy to do, you can practice it any where, at
any time, without people even noticing it.
 • Yoga - There are over a hundred poses that one can do in yoga. Some require lit-
tle experience but many require assistance or at least some experience. In the be-
ginning, the practitioner might find it hard to keep up with the poses, especially in a
class full of experienced yogis. It is also a must to invest in a mat and some
stretchable clothing if you want to be comfortable while doing the poses. In com-
parison, yoga might be more difficult to get into because not all people are flexible
enough in the beginning. You would also need an ample space where you can en-
gage in the poses or perhaps enroll in a class where someone can guide you.

5. Resources

• Meditation - There are many websites and online resources for doing meditation,
like ours. You can even find guided meditations on platforms like YouTube or video
sharing websites. Many of them are free but if you are truly serious about your
meditative practice, it’s also okay to invest in paid materials. But even without the
financial aspect, you can get into the meditative practice very easily just by search-
ing for resources locally or online.

• Yoga - There are also many websites and online resources for doing yoga. Some
channels on YouTube provide for free guided videos for basic and even advanced
postures in different types of yoga. But if you want to be serious about your yogic
practice, it’s best to enroll in a local class as the experienced teacher can help you
in more advanced poses. Further, this can help in the avoidance of accidents as
compared to doing complicated poses on your own.
It is possible to incorporate both meditation and yoga in
one’s life

Meditation can help in nurturing the health of your mind. On the other hand, yoga can
help in nurturing the health of your physical body. By doing both, you are engaging in a
holistic approach to your well being. Whether or not you practice Hinduism or Bud-
dhism, the end stage of samadhi is an additional reason for engaging in both practices.
The relationship between meditation and yoga can be traced back thousands of years
ago. And though they have parted ways these days, at least in the Westernized version,
it’s not bad to use them together to gain the most health benefits for your mind and
body.

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