The Kundalini Yoga Experience
“The kundalini experience does not mean you have gone into a deep breathless trance and are beyond this world…It integrates you more fully with reality and gives you a broader vision and sensitivity so that you can act more efficiently.” –Yogi Bhajan, Ph.D.
If we could only recommend one book about the art and science of Kundalini Yoga, it would be “Kundalini Yoga the Flow of Eternal Power,” by Shakti Parwha Kaur Khalsa. Her simple “back to basics” approach is well referenced and loaded with resources.
The book is comprehensive, easy to follow and well organized. Instructions range from beginners to more advanced levels. It covers Mantra, the breath, women’s teachings, and deep insights about the relationship to a Spiritual Teacher.
Shakti Parwha Kaur was Yogi Bhajan’s first student and taught the Saturday morning beginners yoga class for decades. A Master of the Path in her own right, her insights are priceless.
I had the pleasure of working directly under her in an office setting. Her clarity and devotion caused me to hold great respect for her.
This book is her first of three, and was written in 1998. It’s not just another yoga manual! It’s a wonderful guide for life, loaded with pictures, charts, recipes and practical instructions.
Got Energy?
We’re excited to review a Kundalini Yoga flipchart made by Gurutej. The easy to use flipbook includes Breath of Fire, Sitali Breath, Thymus Thump, plus 13 other life enhancing and stress reduction programs.
The exercises take no more than three minutes and can re-charge your day and improve your mental focus. Many of these exercises can be done in a work environment when necessary.
The above picture shows Breath of Fire. This Kundalini Yoga exercise is excellent for rejuvenating and energizing. The basic breath is combined with many other exercises in the science of Kundalini Yoga.
Spinal Flex, which can be done seated at a desk, takes one to two minutes to relieve lower back tension and enhance the flow of spinal fluid to the brain.
Gurutej has been a life-long student of Yogi Bhajan and Kundalini Yoga. Her intuitive insight give her a unique advantage. She has presented what we all need, the key to having more energy. You can contact this senior level instructor at The Energy Gurus or call 310.734.6776.
We would also suggest following a gluten free vegetarian diet for more energy and getting some great Vitamin D from the Sun.
Yogi Tea
Back in the early 1980′s, I worked at the Golden Temple Restaurant. These were vegetarian restaurants sponsored by Yogi Bhajan.
My first job in the morning was to make eight gallons of fresh Yogi Tea. My husband had taken Yogi Bhajan’s Ayurvedic recipe and counted out the spices for the larger batches. Over the years I’ve adjusted the spices for different size pots. We like our chai spicy, so we use extra peppercorns and ginger.
Place one gallon of water on the stove to boil. Add 2 cloves and 1 teaspoon peppercorns. Let the water come to a boil. Meanwhile, grate 5 ounces of fresh ginger. Crumble two 3-inch sticks of soft Mexican cinnamon. Crush and open 1 teaspoon of cardamom pods. Add this mixture to the pan once the water begins to boil.
Turn the pot down and simmer for one hour. After an hour, we shut off the heat and add one tablespoon of fine quality black tea and one teaspoon of jasmine flowers. Cover and let steep for four minutes.
Strain the mixture to remove the spices and tea. You now have nearly a gallon of the best chai tea! Add milk or soy milk and sweeten if desired.
Enjoy a tea that cleanses and energizes the body!
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Many have asked where to get the Yogi Tea spices!
Well, here.
~ SAT NAM ~
Autumn Update Nabhi Kriya
Well, I guess I missed posting in August. It was hot, even in the mornings. I know I was practicing…seem to have entered dreamtime for a while.
I understand why so many martial arts studios give you a 3 – 4 month trial. If you’re good, you’ll get your yellow belt. If you’re committed, you’ll get into it and move into another realm of learning. If not, this is about the time you’ll drop away.
Seems to be true for many committed activities. Walking, running, exercise and workouts at the gym, after about 3 months, all seem to either go by the way or get energized for the long haul. Let us pray we can keep up.
Nabhi Kriya has become somewhat “rote”. Leg lifts start on their own and I can be half asleep through the first few minutes. I still crack a sweat somewhere in the middle of the double leg lifts. Sometimes, I even get energized to deepen and expand my breath. Clogged nostrils in the morning, seems to come with the territory. The fun is that my “mind” is getting a little quieter during these times.
Physically, I’ve lost weight (commentable!) and have a feeling of tightness at the belly. THAT is unusual. Only time I ever felt that was after the Marine Physical Fitness Tests Sit-Ups of high school, when all it did was hurt for 3 days.
Too bad all these physical fitness experts haven’t discovered Kundalini Yoga. For example, did you know that we have different kinds of sweat? Some you wash off after yoga/exercise, some you massage back in. Do some research. The Teachings are being published online, as we speak.
Oh, I’m suppposed to be relating about Nabhi Kriya….
I’ve found that those little things, like the ankle twisting as the legs extend, middle of the back on the right gets a twinge, right side muscles bigger than left side makes for tighter joints and clicking. The list goes on. My, how we want to relate to our Subtle Body!
So, I guess we don’t re-adjust to “normalcy” as fast as a good chiropractic crack, but this slow and steady is definitely working….There are days I actually feel POSITIVE and my body keeps up. Others, I can sleep 12 hours…only time is involved with that one, and there are a few other things to do in the day.
Dear Ones, I hope you are enjoying my little yoga biography. May you be inspired, too.
Blessings
~ SAT NAM ~
Depth of Diaphragm Lock
Greetings on this midsummer day,
Something changed this morning.
At the end of the Laya Yoga meditation, I’ve been doing 3 deep breaths with Mulhbandh on the held inhale and Mahabandh on the held exhale.
This time, all 3 exhales, the diaphragm lock got “deeper”. When I pulled in and up, there was a little point where the lock got so tight, the entire belly area got pulled in at least another 1/2 inch, almost like a true vacuum. I’m more impressed by the phenomenon of the depth of motion than trying to evaluate if anything else is going on. This all lasts only for those 3 breaths.
Though…
Pulling the navel on the first repetition and then the 3 diaphragm locks has finally started to work itself into a decent rhythm. The motion is smoother. We were falling asleep(!) about 20 minutes into the meditation. This doesn’t “pressurize” the system like many of the breath techniques and fading away is easy towards the end. On the other hand, the last few days have been much more responsive to staying awake and keeping steady during the rounds.
There is another side to this, too. A deep relaxation after the meditation can go deep enough to sleep for an hour. (So, energy IS moved!) Fortunately, this is usually early enough to not affect the rest of the day. We HAVE been able to get up and going, once the body rebalances. We’ve also gone as short as 10 minutes before getting into the rest of the day.
If you are jumping up, right after your yoga and meditation, you are not doing your nervous system a favor.
Please be complete in your yoga. The deep relaxation is as important as your intention to practice in the first place.
Wishing you a great Summer day.
Blessings.
~ SAT NAM ~
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