Yoga and Meditation difference?

Hi,
can anyone update me on the difference between yoga and meditation...Im planning to go to northern side,probably Rishikesh to rejuvenate myself on mid august...Since Im a student doin medicine,i just wanna learn meditation to make me able concentrate on studies and calm myself...I would be very thankful if anyone can suggest me a good meditation centre with a good meditation course with a minimum fee.thank u

Why not learn meditation in Malaysia? That way you will have a group and a teacher close at hand, rather than thousands of miles away in India.

http://www.wccmmalaysia.org/meditation-groups.html

http://www.sahajmarg.org/asia

http://www.sahajmalaysia.org/main/30...lass-directory

http://www.artofliving.org/my-en

http://www.malaya.dhamma.org/

Are just some options.

As for the difference between mediation and yoga ... Some in the west think that yoga is just physical postures that have nothing to do with meditation. Some people accept that learning yoga is beneficial to sitting for hours (and hours) in meditation.

Meditation is a non-physical activity compared to Yoga. It is done by employing relaxation techniques, controlled breathing and a concentrated thought process. Meditation constitutes "stilling" the mind. Bringing the mind to absolute stillness and focusing on one contemplation or indeed, nothing. Yoga, on the other hand, is a psycho-physical regulation focusing on the physical postures known as "asanas" and breathing exercises such as "pranayama".

Yoga is both a philosophy of life and a system of spiritual practice. The word "yoga" means union between the individual self and Infinite Consciousness. Meditation is the most important practice in the yoga system and is the means by which this merger or union is achieved. So yoga is a system or science that enables an individual to develop physically, mentally and spiritually, and meditation is the practice that makes the mental and spiritual development possible.

Yoga is a set of levels which includes meditation. In fact, all the levels like 'Asana' (third level) and 'Pranayam' (fourth level) are aimed to attain the last level known as 'Samadhi'. It is the purest form of mediation in which the mind becomes thoughtless and one attains the final knowledge!

You can learn to meditate for free. Watch the video.

http://www.onemomentmeditation.com/

Yoga costs more in time and money.

http://in-lotus.blogspot.com

Thank u so much every for enlightening me on this matter...its been very useful....

Yoga asana is also considered as "moving meditation" in some cases, because of the constant awareness on breath and movement etc. (eg. where breath links movements together) no?

Asana is also really helpful to practice before sitting meditation to let out all the stiffness present in your body and mind that may make sitting meditation uncomfortable or difficult. Even a few minutes of asana can help, in my own experience. Yoga asana works hand in hand with meditation - I think practicing both is really beneficial overall.

Also, yoga doesn't have to cost more money - look online for tons of free videos, look at a posture book for anatomical references, go to free classes/sessions in your area if you have any, volunteer in a yoga studio/ashram if possible...and time-wise, both asana and meditation require time as opposed to quick-fixes, but that's the "point", right?