Spiritual benefits of looking at candles
The spiritual benefits of candle gazing practice include bringing harmony and inner peace to your life.
Candle gazing is also a centuries-old yogic practice known as trataka, which is one of the most important, beneficial and simple methods of focusing the mind and involves gazing at a fixed point or usually a candle flame. is. The word trataka means “to look” in Sanskrit, and this practice is believed to bring energy to one’s third eye (sixth) chakra. The benefits of gazing at a candle include improving vision, memory, concentration, restful sleep, and willpower.
Because staring at a candle encourages you to focus only on the flame facing you (preferably in a dark room), it keeps other things from coming to mind and is a great way to practice concentration.
Physical benefits of looking at candles
In addition to improving general eye health, Trataka is beneficial for those suffering from glaucoma, myopia, and diabetes.
On top of all that, gazing at candles improves sleep and energizes the body, so you feel better physically and can be more productive throughout the day. Candle gazing is especially effective when combined with yoga practice.
How to practice looking at candles
To get the most out of your trataka practice, it is best to practice looking at the candle at least once a week, but preferably daily, after completing the physical yoga practice and yoga breathing exercises.
Staring at a candle in a dark, quiet room where no one will disturb you is very helpful.
Follow these steps for your workout:
- Sit comfortably on the floor on a yoga mat or blanket, straight and cross-legged.
- Place the candle at least half to one meter away from you.
- The eyes and the candle should be in the same line so that it can be looked at directly without raising or lowering the head.
- Choose a candle that is non-toxic and odorless when burning.
- Focus on the floor or base of the candle for the first 30 seconds.
- Then focus intensely on the flame itself for 1-2 minutes. Avoid blinking if possible.
- Then close your eyes and still keep the image of the candle flame in your mind.
- And finally, spend time focusing inwardly.
In order not to tire your eyes, do not stare at the candle for more than 10 minutes, this is enough time to benefit from its benefits.
While this practice is safe for almost everyone, people with epilepsy are advised to choose something steady to look at, rather than a flickering candle flame. If you suffer from headaches or migraines, you should avoid staring at the candle altogether as it may aggravate the headache. And last but not least, if you struggle with insomnia, start a candle gazing practice at least an hour before bed.
