Laya Yoga – Round 2 Update
Greetings as we head into the ‘Monsoons’ of Southern California.
A month ago, frost in the morning. Now, we’re already into the Summer “Monsoon” weather, and, yes, though Southern California, 6700+ ft altitude is colder than Southwest Canada.
Weather aside, Laya Yoga, done correctly, is a brand new learning process. At times, I find myself tensing every muscle in the body. Seems to come off and on with “attention”. The 2 root chakras don’t ‘feel’ like they are being involved, though by the end of a round, on the release, they let go too.
So, the action is simple: pull the navel on ‘EK’. Hold it in and pull up and in on Udhiyana Bandh when pronouncing the ‘A’. Let it all go on “HE GURU” (hay guroo). You’ll want to sit very still for a few rounds until you get it.
It is not the same as a simple tug on the navel from the inside. All of a sudden, your arms want to bend, your fingers curl, and you find yourself not coordinating with any motion whatsoever. Your eyes are rolling around inside their sockets and the only thing apparently ‘steady’ is the pronunciation. I’ve been rescued more than a few times by my wife stressing the pronunciation as I start to drift asleep.
The navel pump is working differently than previously. 3 pumps of the navel kept me going. Now, one “pull and hold” and 3 inward pumps of the diaphragm are kind of spiraling the energy around the navel and I find myself lost in the moment. Doesn’t feel like I’m ‘forcing’ the action, which is a relief.
I’m trying to say, the action is different enough that it will take some time to coordinate. In that space, I have noticed that when I pull Udhiyana Bandh, the ribcage rises automatically and feels very comfortable. This is a very good thing, as a slumped ribcage is very easy to fall into. A full breath doesn’t seem to be part of the mix. I seem to be grasping a full breath only about 3-4 times during the rounds. Truly, the breath does take care of itself.
The actual pronunciation is very smooth and rhythmic. I’m constantly surprised by how smoothly the chanting goes, while inside, everything is churning around the spine. The mind is lost in yesterday and I wonder if we’ll even make it to 31 minutes.
This is something to lock onto. It is hard to hear oneself chanting when so involved in the Inner Drama. My prayer is that this clears in time. All we need to do is embrace the mantra. How hard can that really be? Well, 106 days is a beginning.
We’ve been watching many DVD’s about the Gods and Goddesses of India. (YES! They have subtitles!) It seems that generations ago, it was not unusual for a devotee to practice a sadhana for several thousand years to achieve a boon. Bless the Kaliyuga! It only takes 1000 days! As we enter the Aquarian Age of Light, the gift of 40 day technology is a real eye opener. We CAN change in 40 days! We can TRANSFORM in 40 days! It is just a matter of applying the action in a simple, direct manner…and then doing it again the next day.
If you haven’t tried a personal sadhana, find that little time during the day for yourself and settle in for a 40 day bout. There are myriads of meditations and kriyas. Pick one or two and see where it leads you. We are promised Infinity. Let’s find out!
God Bless.
~ SAT NAM ~
Laya Yoga, Like Starting Over
Having achieved 90 days since starting, I reviewed all the details I could find on Laya Yoga. The manual I had used for my original intent had incomplete information on the physical process.
I went back to the Sadhana Manual and found a complete explanation of the process of Laya Yoga. I have been applying mulhbandh on the “A” sound during the cycle, with focus on pulling the navel in.
Actually, the navel is pulled in on “Ek” and Uddhiyana Bandh is applied on each “A”. WOW!
There is no time for a breath, since the cycle starts so soon. This causes a much more strict breath rhythm than previously.
All of a sudden, all locks are involved, since the only release is during the sound of the “-…Hay Guru” and that is very short. Mulhbandh should become very interesting and automatic.
Let’s see how this progresses.
Have a happy Independence Day.
~ SAT NAM ~
Happy Solstice!
Wishing All a Happy Summer Solstice 2010.
May your prayers and projections be profitable, joyful, and complete.
If you get the chance on this day, meditate on the spiral at Ram Das Puri. Heal the Earth.
BLESSINGS
~ SAT NAM ~
Second 40 Days
My!
That actually went quick. Cold weather moves things right along.
So, I think Nabhi Kriya is good.
I don’t have a 6 pack.
I have lost weight…!
My digestion is awesome! I don’t find myself wanting to eat very late, because of rising so early. So, by the time I’m into the WC in the morning, everything is ready to leave the system. This is most unusual for this body.
I keep wanting to hold my navel in. I think this will become natural as time goes on.
Those muscles are learning a lot. Having a tendency to push my stomach out is probably from those questionable “Badge of Authority” days of earlier life, when a Man “needed” to display his “wealth”. Well, we jokingly called it, “Survival Food Storage”. Shoot! I can even do Plow Pose without choking on my “Badge”.
About the statement, “Kundalini Yoga, the Yoga of Awareness”…
2 weeks ago, I discovered, through the lovely messenger, pain, that I’ve been clenching my teeth during much of the yoga and meditation. I thought I was squeezing my jaws together. More like pushing my lower teeth forward into the backs of the uppers. My right jaw joint started to hurt like a fever. Hence, the discovery that even during chanting, the jaw can be clenched too. Stick the tongue in there and relax the jaw. How easily we mask our pains, eh?
So, I appear to be sleeping between 4-6 hr a night. Oh, I must caution, if you plan on a strenuous sadhana like this, you will find yourself sleeping at some odd times as your energy starts to shift. Some mornings feel like a complete nervous system blow out. I find myself crashed for up to 2 hours. This may be due to the convenience of some weekends…
Still, this is something else to add to the mix. Your nervous system will not rebuild in just 40 days. It will get a good start!
Lovely Laya Yoga.
Very interesting as the motion smooths and “mellows”. Yes…it will turn from mechanical and shrill and pumped wrong and eyes no where near the 3rd eye point and that neck lock just not responding…to…well, the shrillness gets under control.
The rhythm is much better. Even the action is smoother. The navel pull is still to the rear center. I can’t always tell if the other 2 chakras are keeping in line. The navel movement is really good to get that mind back to center.
Another little “key” for a moving meditation such as this one is to keep the fingers straight and the palms turned out. As soon as the palms lock in this “ideal” position, the elbows tend to straighten and are easier to lock. This helps bring that ribcage back up so it floats, instead of hangs. The movement tightens to more of a navel grind than a “big”grind. Feels really CORRECT. Um, that seems to last about 4 rounds.
Focus is still totally quantifiable. Easiest way to see if I’m focused is to see if my eyes are looking at the 3rd Eye or gazing over that vast Viewscreen just below, conversing with what/whomever is available. Nothing new here, though there is a definite distinction that certain thoughts come from “below” and when focused on the 3rd Eye for that scant moment of presence, the thoughts tend to be more “evaluative” of the meditative process than the recitation of the volumes of drama that come from that “below”.
No matter what, 31 minutes shows up and there is the matter of 3 breaths with Mulhbandh and Mahabandh.
That FIRST inhale and hold! We both tend to forget. Then, the held out exhale and Mahabandh. Seconds are eternity or sheer essence. Then we do it 2 more times. The quiet meditation right after is becoming very sweet (on weekends).
We’re off for a good Indian Meal. Need to give our new-found abdominals some nourishment!
Blessings.
~ SAT NAM ~
40 Days!
Greetings,
I’ve just impressed myself. Haven’t done a 40 day sadhana in decades. This morning is “960 Days Until the End Time”. Cool, huh?
Nabhi Kriya is getting much smoother. I can be relatively stunned and tired in the morning and somehow, those legs start lifting. Sometimes takes up to 8 minutes to clear the nostrils. I think this is a combination of a late Spring and adding more yogurt to the diet. Well, could be.
Nonetheless, MOST of the leg muscles and joints are comfortable with the routine. At this point I can see how I want to be lazy; not breathing very strongly, letting my attention follow my loose eyeballs, glancing at the clock again and again. 40 days, and still not trusting how long 10 minutes really is. It is actually funny to look over at the clock and realize 17 second have gone by. Keep that Infinite Mind occupied!
Which gets funnier when practicing Laya Yoga. Oh! What a way to get the morning going!
I have not had one morning without at least a chuckle during the Laya Yoga meditation. Invariably, I find the chant and the movement getting totally lost. A few mornings ago, my wife said I was doing spinal flexes instead of a circle. I remember that one, as I was actually falling asleep! Lots of times, I’m just not there and find myself chanting from my nostrils or my eyes have left their perch at the 3rd Eye and wandered into Inattention Land…quite a big place! I’m so glad I’m not taking that part seriously. Overall, I see an improvement…from the Inside.
So, cruising right along in Laya Yoga…
Pulling the navel is a better routine. I’ve found the “sweet spot” in the rotation where pulling the navel affects the muscles evenly. Sometimes, during a round, when all focus is splattered, I’ll find my navel pump occurring in a diagonal part of the rotation. This can affect into the ribcage and certain vertebrae. Maybe a little ‘twinge’. It does not feel good to pursue that. This is something to be very aware of.
Here is one of the most interesting experiences I have ever had, and it is REPEATABLE.
At the end of the meditation time, the standard has been to do 3 breaths to end the rounds.
On the inhale, hold in and apply Neck Lock and Mulh Bandh. On the exhale, hold out and apply Maha Bandh.
Repeat 2 more times.
If Maha Bandh is performed correctly on the exhale, just at that point when you know you want to inhale, a unique phenomena comes up. Immediately, the mind wants to pursue it. And then the breath comes in and it can only be pursued on the next held out breath, at that last moment and, seemingly, for only that last moment. It is enticing, even!
All I can say is, WITH PROPER PREPARATION, try it!
Well, I can say a little more. When the breath is held OUT, all of the body’s survival systems come screaming into high gear. The Immune System comes on line in the biggest way it can.
What’s happening?
Fairly simple. What you are experiencing at this moment is: I’m DYING!
The funny part is, you know you’re just holding your breath out, but a lot of things are going on in a very short amount of time. My understanding is those who perfect the Held Out Breath can overcome many internal diseases because the Immune System comes in gear so strong. The glandular system starts to balance and over time the body becomes purified and strengthened. Stories came out of that early Tucson Drug Rehab Program verifying Yoga Therapy. I hope someone publishes…
Well, dear Ones, thanks for riding with me. My intention is to pursue the Nabhi Kriya and Laya Yoga. I am curious where the next 50 days can lead.
Blessings.
~ Sat Nam ~
Translator
Give
 |
