Monkey Mind

"Taming my monkey mind is a full-time job."

What is the Monkey Mind?

​Distractions such as social media, rude people, being a caregiver, and information overload create the monkey in our mind.
The monkey mind is an unfocused, distracted, unsettled mind full of mental chatter; jumping from one idea to idea resulting in confusion, weakness, exhaustion, and illness. It depletes our physical, mental, and/or spiritual energies.

How do we calm it?

Meditation is the only way to calm the monkey mind; to calm the “busy” ness of the mind. You can meditate anytime, anywhere. You can do it while you’re walking, while your brushing your teeth; while your drinking your coffee, while your praying, and while you are doing yoga. According to Swami Rama, “We are taught how to move and behave in the external world, but we are never taught how to be still and examine what is within ourselves.” 

DYOGI's Calm the Monkey Mind Sequence

My yoga sequence is designed to help you find instant relaxation and calm. It consists of 5 steps.

Step 1-Cleansing. Cleansing the body physically (emptying the bladder and bowels and blowing the nose are just some examples). Cleansing the mind emotionally by tuning out the external word and preparing to tune within the body. 

Step 2-Opening Meditation by Breathing. Applying the calmness of the East focusing on the breath. Breathing in through the nose. Breathing out through the nose. Don't create any pressure for yourself about how this should be. Ironically, the less you fight with yourself or force yourself to meditate, the more you will relax and reach greater stillness of the mind.
In my classes, I play the singing bowls, which influence the brain-wave frequencies bringing the brain into a Theta brain-wave state. The bowls' vibrations provide a massage for every cell in the body.

Step 3-Asanas (Poses). Through a series of gentle yoga asanas, the body physically relaxes. Yoga uses muscles to place the bones into poses, and then moves the body from pose to pose to bring all body systems into balance: muscles, bones, organs, and even the mind. Calm body. Calm mind.

Step 4-Relaxation (Shavasana). This practice can be done anywhere, in any position, but you may find it easier to concentrate if you lie comfortably on the floor on your back or sit in a chair. I often use visualization practices which strongly develop concentration and improve your memory and creativity. It can take a long time to feel that you’ve really made progress, but when mastered, the images you create in your mind will feel as real and sharp as the ones you see with your eyes. 

Step 5-Closing Meditation. Sitting in lotus pose and returning to the breath allows you to absorb the NOW moment; the calmness of the mind; and the release of the monkey in the mind.