Yoga and Meditation

The purpose of meditation is for personal transformation: becoming a more conscious, peaceful and empowered human being. It is the experience of watching the functioning of the mind in a calm manner to gain insight into your own behavior.  At Jane’s House Studio in Saint Charles, we offer different types and styles of yoga and meditation classes, including pranayama and kriya.  

Yoga is a system of lifestyle practices and guidelines, organized into eight “limbs.” Limbs 6-8 are known as the Inner Limbs. They focus on practices of the mind that fall under the larger umbrella of meditation. The classes we offer that are considered meditative include Breath and Meditation, Mantra Chanting, and Movement and Meditation. 

Pranayama is limb 4, best translated as yogic breathing practices. Pranayama is typically introduced in a posture practice, where breath is matched to movement, serving as a precursor to meditation.  Pranayama goes further than awareness of breath, utilizing specific techniques and rhythms to bring on physical, mental, and emotional benefits. It calms the mind, improves focus, and increases energy. 

Pranayama is an active meditation, transforming emotional states through mindful breathing techniques. It is a powerful tool for enhancing inner peace and wellbeing by transforming negative emotions, encouraging balance and harmony. 

Kriya refers to specific, stand-alone practices falling under the larger umbrella of pranayama. It helps the practitioner draw the life force up and down the spine with awareness, enhancing the ability to concentrate and live a more conscious and fulfilling life. Kriya yoga encompasses the actions taken which contribute to realization of one’s innate wholeness. 

There are typically two approaches to meditation: instrumental and insight practices. Instrumental meditation supports concentration. A sacred object of attention (a bell or mantra as sound, candle gazing as sight, etc.) is used to assist in holding awareness on a single point over a sustained period of time. The flow of attention and thoughts are continually directed and redirected to the sacred object. This supports training the mind as a muscle and sense organ of perception. Instrumental meditation supports awareness: self-awareness, contemplation, and mindfulness.

Insight is about staying with the breath and observing how awareness travels. Attention is placed on becoming more aware of being aware, rather than focusing on the content of the mind. Insight involves witnessing mental content, including thoughts, emotions, images, and sensations. Witnessing cultivates residing in the present moment. 

Insight meditation, known as Vipassana meditation, is a practice of self-observation by focusing on the inner self in a non-judgmental way. Insight meditation involves using meditation to gain new understanding, insight, and wisdom. Insight practice involves the deep exploration of the nature of subjective experience, helping to deconstruct the problems created from misperception and misunderstanding. The practitioner can come to understand themselves and their lives more deeply, see life and the world more realistically, and make wiser choices in the future. 

We invite you to practice with us at Jane’s House Studio. We offer meditation classes, yoga, and massage therapy, with a wide range of classes from yoga for beginners to yoga teacher training in Saint Charles, Missouri.