Beyond Scientific Mechanisms: Subjective Perceptions with Viniyoga Meditation
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health June 1, 2019 C. Heeter, Marcel M. Allbritton, Chase Bossart
Self-reports from meditation participants reveal how three distinct Viniyoga meditations, each using a different aspect of the ocean as a meditation object, can contribute to health and well-being. Yoga philosophy and anatomy models help explain participants' experiences and benefits. Four personal factors influence meditation outcomes: current life circumstances, the state of one's mind-body-breath system, reactions to meditation instructions, and prior experience with the meditation object. The authors, grounded in Viniyoga and yoga therapy, discuss why and for whom each meditation may be beneficial.