Charlotte Bell: Workshop on Yoga for Meditators - Tuesday, June 19 at 6PM

Siddhartha could wait, he could think, and he could fast.  These three simple tasks were the keys to freedom for Herman Hesse’s protagonist in his 1922 novel Siddhartha.   At the climax of this novel, Siddhartha sat under a tree for 49 days contemplating the decisions he made in life.  While a noble attempt at redemption, a reader has to wonder what types of pains the body must experience after being in a sedentary position for so long.  For author Charlotte Bell, yoga provides a blueprint for realizing a tolerable connection between body and mind during those long meditations.   “One of the things that surprised me when I sat down during my first meditation was that I expected my mind to be jumping around, but I failed to anticipate the amount of physical pain I would experience from being in a sedentary position for so long.” 

In her new book, Yoga for Meditators Bell uses techniques practiced in the Iyengar style of yoga to aid in the process of long meditations.  Because of its slow pace, attention to detail, and use of props, Iyengar yoga can be especially good for those recovering from an injury.   Charlotte Bell will introduce these ideas in a workshop and book signing at the Wilkinson Public Library on Tuesday, June 19 at 6:00 p.m. 

Charlotte Bell started practicing yoga in 1982.  Four years later, she started training with an instructor who combined Iyengar yoga with insight meditation.  Since then, Bell has taught this combination of yoga and meditation in Utah for the past 20 years.  Her first book, Mindful Yoga, Mindful Life, brought together the teachings of Patanjali and the Buddha through personal stories that demystified the yoga philosophy.  “People think yoga is a weird mystical thing, but it is really a practical exercise that anyone can embrace,” explains Bell. 

Her latest book was the result of a request by her publisher to create an instructional short book that explains how to orientate the body in the most efficient way during meditation.  “This really is a more practical than philosophical book,” says Bell.

When she comes to the Wilkinson Public Library, attendees should be prepared to practice some of the techniques in Bell’s book.  “I will bring my spinal model and show people some sitting meditations and how the spine needs to be oriented for people to sit comfortably.”  She will even introduce some advanced poses that are not in the book because they require a facilitator to be in the room.  “My hope is that people will discover ways to make their meditation practices easier and more accessible,” says Bell.   This workshop and book signing is open to anyone with an interest in meditation or yoga.  Regardless of skill level or knowledge of meditation, anyone is encouraged to attend and learn form this seasoned veteran of meditation and yoga.  After all, you never know when you might find yourself sitting under a tree contemplating your life’s decisions.