Coloured Gemstones for Meditation and Yoga
Stones and Self-Awareness
Which of us hasn’t been sat in bed sending an email at 11pm or checking our Twitter account as soon as we open our eyes? The advance of technology means our brains are rarely still. Meditation and Yoga both offer us something our bodies yearn for in an age of constant connectivity and stimulation, quiet. Quiet for the mind and the body, a time to relax, be at peace with ourselves and increase our self-awareness. Studies have shown meditation to have a beneficial effect on our immune system and blood pressure whilst we know that Yoga has a positive impact on our general health but just where do gemstones fit into this picture?
For those with a belief in crystal energy there is a suggestion that the use of specific gemstone or group of stones can focus meditation, increase the benefits of Yoga practice and be used to drive a desired outcome from both activities. Practitioners speak of a deeper connection with the world around them, improved emotional stability and even physical healing properties. We have explored the impact of gemstones on both Yoga and meditation to give you a deeper understanding of these ancient stones and their uses.
Meditation and Gemstones
The wonderful thing about meditation is it requires no specific religious or spiritual beliefs to be practiced. Similarly, there is no one set way to meditate, you can be sat or lay in a position of your choosing although it’s best to be comfortable with a straight spine to prevent back pain from intruding on your practice. Although there are many methods to enter a meditative state most include closing your eyes, quietening your mind and focusing on calm, regular breathing. Similarly, there are a range of ways to bring gemstones into your meditative practice. You can hold a stone, have one nearby, lay one on your body or place it at eye level. Placing stones at key chakra or energy points is said to increase their effects.
Specific stones are reputed to have particular effects on your meditation practice and we have outlined some of the qualities associated with popular stones for meditation below:
Amethyst – Promotes calmness alongside self-clarity and healing properties.
Aquamarine – Creates a feeling of deep peace and opens up communication to higher planes.
Citrine – Said to help reduce negativity and depression, promoting confidence and success.
Clear Quartz – Used to promote a greater connection to a higher sense of being and increasing spiritual energy levels.
Labradorite – This stone is used for a deep meditation and heightened self-awareness.
Moonstone –A stone associated with bringing emotional balance, it can be used to peer back into past lives.
Prehnite – Associated with vision and dreaming, a good stone for considering and understanding the past.
Rose Quartz – A stone of love and positivity, this is a good stone for meditation beginners. It will promote tolerance and compassion.
Tanzanite – Used for deeper states of meditation and reaching a truly altered state of mind.
How to Choose a Stone for Meditation
Choosing a stone for meditation is a very personal experience. It may be that the shape, texture or feeling of a certain stone promotes a positive feeling in you or you simply feel inextricably drawn to a particular stone. Looking at the suggested properties of particular stones may help you choose a crystal that suits your personal purpose. Of course it may be that a stone is set in a piece of jewellery you love rather than a loose or rough stone and this can simply be worn during meditation.
Simple Gemstone Meditations for Beginners
Meditation is a highly personal journey and finding a style and sequence that works for you is key to achieving a truly relaxed state. As a beginner it can be useful to follow a set programme to start to understand the meditative process and then adapt this sequence to your personal style. It may also be that as someone who practices meditation regularly that you wish to introduce gemstones into your routine and aren’t sure where to start. We’ve outlined a simple gemstone meditation to help you begin to explore the relaxing properties of the stones.
Simple Crystal Meditation
- Sit comfortably on a cushion, the floor or in a chair.
- Place the gemstone of your choice in-between your hands and allow them to rest gently in your lap.
- Close your eyes and take deep steady breaths, then, starting with your toes consciously relax each part of your body until you reach the top of your head.
- Now count backwards from ten to one, when you reach one you should feel grounded and ready to begin your meditation.
- Concentrate on the energy of the crystal flowing through your hands and throughout your body. If you have a specific purpose for your meditation focus on it now and let the energy flow around you.
- Continue until you feel ready to open your eyes and return to the world, ten to twenty minutes should be adequate.
Yoga and Gemstones
At first glance it may be difficult to see the potential connection between Yoga and gemstones but just like meditation Yoga is a discipline of energies and concentration that can be influenced and focused. Yoga has a range of physical health benefits from increased flexibility to weight loss and better balance but it has also had a long historical connection with the spirituality and mental clarity. Yoga practice can be traced back to ancient India and is closely linked to both Hinduism and Buddhism. Ancient and spiritual texts speak of Yoga as a means of reaching a higher state of consciousness and as a method of connecting with higher planes. The special and ancient energies said to flow from gemstones are argued by supporters to benefit this journey of self-advancement. The use of crystals in Yoga can enable an individual to focus their practice on a particular area of their self-development, heal physical and mental conditions and lead to a more positive mind-set or deeper spiritual understanding of the world.
Which are the best Gemstones for Yoga?
The properties of the stones outlined above apply for Yoga as well as meditation practice. So research the benefits of stones for your key area of personal development or simply pick stones that you are drawn to or feel a connection with. Hold different stones in your hand and consider how they make you feel until you find one that is a good fit. Often those that advocate gemstones for Yoga choose a selection of stones to place around their mat or on a shelf or raised surface in front of them, so it’s important to consider the combined effect of stones and whether they have complementary qualities. For example, choosing a stone that encourages deep relaxation alongside one that promotes raised energy levels may create a muddled message!
Beginners Yoga and Gemstone Practice
Beginning to introduce gemstones into your Yoga practice is something that works best at home or in a quiet space to begin with, as part of a private practice rather than in a class or a group. However, wearing a gemstone as part of a piece of jewellery during group practice can be a way to overcome this. One simple way to introduce the influence of crystals is to place them on the body during corpse pose (savasana) especially over specified chakra points to intensify the effects. Otherwise place two to three stones of your choice around your mat and ensure the surrounding environment is quiet and peaceful, dim the lights if possible and play relaxing music. Complete a sequence that you are familiar with and comfortable that you can complete smoothly such as simple sun salutation. If your body is familiar with the poses you create this means you can leave your mind free to wander and be open to the energy vibrations of the stones. Take care to avoid complicated balance poses, falling on the stones and hurting yourself is bound to take the relaxation out of the whole process! Try concentrating on a single stone as you complete the sequence and contemplate its meaning, allowing yourself to be open up to its energy and guidance.
Overtime you will find ways to incorporate gemstones to suit your individual practice in what is a very personal journey to self-acceptance and development. Discuss gemstone practice with your Yoga teacher or guide who is likely to have some great tips and experiences to share on the subject or connect with a good Yoga blog to understand other people’s experience of crystals and Yoga.
Can Gemstones really influence Meditation and Yoga?
This is a question that is hard to answer definitively. For those of us who love and enjoy the benefits of gemstones in our lives then it would be a resounding yes! But there is no strong scientific evidence to explain the energy vibrations of gemstones or to confirm their effects on body and mind. The best way to answer this question is to give gemstone meditation or Yoga a try for yourself, if it helps you to simply focus your thoughts, relax or even open up a whole new spiritual plane then it may be something you wish to incorporate into your everyday life.
At worst gemstones are beautiful objects that give us a psychological focus point to achieve our goals and at best an ancient form of energy that helps us develop physically and spiritually. It’s important to remember that advice given on crystal energy or effects should never be used in favour of sound medical guidance from a professional and that the use of crystals shouldn’t produce harmful or negative effects.
So take some time to pick up a gemstone, see how it makes you feel and it might just help you meditate more peacefully or get more of a kick from your daily Yoga routine.
Natural herbal remedies can also assist with meditation, have a look at this article for more information.
