Yoga and Meditation: What is the Difference?

As our Western society becomes flooded with advertisements for yoga and meditation, it might be a good idea to be informed of what each of them is all about. Especially if you are a novice to both of these practices, understanding their similarities and differences is what can set them apart and help you focus on a practice that works best for you.

In this article, we will explore not only what each of these practices shares in common with each other, but also how they differ. By the end of this article, you will practically be a pro at understanding what the worlds of yoga and meditation are about.

What is Yoga?

To begin, let’s start with the basics. Yoga is a physical training of the body, mind, and soul which combines mindfulness of the breath and body through movement. These movements are called asanas and focus on moving stuck energy and tension out of the body and creating a sense of peace and relaxation on a physical, emotional and spiritual level. Although yoga uses both breathing practices along with a flow of physical movements and postures, the practice of yoga is more focused on the body.

Through the practice of stretching and elongating the body, yogis are able to adjust any improper posture and increase flexibility. These provide benefits beyond the physical body and extend to the emotional body by releasing stress, emotional build-up, and improving your overall well-being.

What is Meditation?

Meditation falls under the lines as more of mental training. Although, meditation also results in relaxation and lowered stress levels it does this by focusing the mind instead of moving and stretching the body. Rather than sweating and moving through asanas, meditation serves as a way to get to know yourself while also introducing mindfulness to your every day “mind chatter.” Through breathing exercises and bringing stillness to the mind, meditation has proven to provide many brain-boosting abilities.

This practice introduces a plethora of brain-enhancing advancements such as increased self-control, empathy, decreased stress, increased awareness around emotions and emotional patterns, boosted concentration levels, and can even boost gray matter density.

What are the Differences Between Yoga and Meditation?

Now, these two practices do share some uncanny resemblances: the mindfulness of the breath as it moves in and out of your lungs; the connection made between mind, body, and soul; the stress relief and relaxation provided; and the overall emotional benefits received from practicing either. However, they do also share their differences.

For starters, a major difference is the physical aspect of yoga. While yoga thrives on its movements being paired with awareness, meditation thrives on the stillness of the body and the awareness of what we normally choose to ignore.

Another difference is the focal point of awareness for both yoga and meditation. Yoga provides a focal point of here and now- the present moment. As you move from pose to pose it is important to be present with your body and to listen to any concerns it may have for poses that seem too difficult or advanced. With meditation, the focal point includes the present moment but also goes deeper into an awareness around mind chatter, clearing away uncomfortable thoughts, emotions, and sensations, and noticing deeper aspects of who we are.

The last difference we will cover is the difficulty levels of the two. Meditation is a practice that anyone can do. Setting aside five minutes a day for mindful breathing and awareness around thought patterns will leave you feeling renewed and replenished. Although there is a wide variety of meditation styles and techniques, the most basic forms are rather straight to the point and don’t require a large amount of knowledge beforehand.

Yoga, on the other hand, can still prove to have its simplicity. A lot of classes offer a spectrum of skill levels to follow, but also has a highly advanced side to it. The more advanced yogis can attest that successfully completing an unassisted handstand takes not only a great deal of dedication but also a fine knowledge for the practice that yoga is.

Yoga and meditation are very much synergistic and complementary to each other, and having a decent amount of knowledge and experience of both practices is bound to boost your life with lowered cortisol levels as well as provide a deeper resource for relaxation. With signs on every other block offering yoga classes, there will no longer be a need to wonder what it entails or how it may differ from a meditation practice. You now have the knowledge to decide for yourself which practice will benefit you and your lifestyle the most.