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.
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 ~
Laya Yoga Magic 31 minutes
Much has happened in this little sadhana.
Today is day 29 since the last 1,000 days before the End Time. Day 40 looks a lot more reachable!
Nabhi Kriya has passed the, “Ooh! I really don’t want to do it!” stage. It still takes a while to get in gear. Once I hit the sheepskin, I’ve been able to get started. One started, well ya can’t just stop.
Mornings can be VERY clog nosed. Pushing the breath is the only way to get those membranes to stop leaking. This may be due to the lovely stream of snowstorms we’ve been getting. Making a “power” pranayam is still a goal. At least this kriya won’t let you sleep through it.
So, after testing my navel point last week, had to add 4 more exercises to the end of Nabhi Kriya. I’m developing a decent navel pulse(!) and it is now easily apparent that it is too high from center. I added the Navel Adjustment Kriya, page 7 of the Meditation Manual. Back to KY101!
In fact, I read every page, from the beginning to the Kriyas, to make sure I’m practicing correctly. Awesome lot to learn! Those “little pains”? Stick your hand into your belly under your ribs and push around a little. In me, there are all these tissues that don’t mind stretching, but they’re going to HURT to let you know about it.
Meanwhile, today we achieved 31 minutes in the Laya Yoga meditation. Now THAT is something.
This has been one of the best lessons. In one session, I’ll go from mechanical, repetitive, LOST in thought, to smooth, chin tucked tight, eyes at the 3rd Eye point, chant from the navel. And, that’s only after 3 repetitions!
The biggest for me has been holding that 3rd Eye focus and keeping Chin Lock, and not peeking at the clock!
If I get the chin in, the ribcage rises automatically almost 2 inches. The throat opens up and the chant comes from the navel. That still only holds for a few rounds at a time.
And that 3rd Eye…when focused there, the chin lock can get easier and the whole thing gets real tight. Any time I’m “checking” my posture, voice, whatever, I find my eyes somewhere wandering away from that one point…OVER and OVER. At least they’re closed.
Mind is quite something.
31 minutes of Laya Yoga was “easy”. You WILL get entranced. You don’t want to stop. Very inviting. By now, Mulh Bandh is getting strong. Hard to separate out the 3 chakras at times. Each IS a distinct muscle group.
And where this meditation takes you? I think even a beginning meditator would benefit very rapidly from the correct practice of Laya Yoga. If you’ve not looked around inside your body/mind, you might want to give it a try.
Physically, there is a nice feeling around the navel. Tighter. I don’t know if it is affecting my focus. The muscle groups are lining up. Walking is lovely when on my toes. Sometimes, I’m a bit wired in the morning. Hence, a walk to ground a bit.
Blessings.
~ SAT NAM ~
Flexible Solidity
Good morning,
Both the yoga and the moving meditation are becoming “smoother”. There is a certain fluidity coming into the motions. Also, I’m noticing less crackling in some of the joints. The breath is picking up easier, but it snowed last night and my nostrils were open from the beginning.
If there is anything to learn from the Laya Yoga…neck lock. Neck Lock.
This brings the only hope of carrying that lovely kundalini energy we are praying to cultivate through the yoga. If Neck Lock is strong, but the muscles are relaxed, as they are actually starting to do(!), the pronunciation comes easy and the strength comes from the navel. And the whole body moves together.
Then the mind gets in the way…
The flexibility of the spin with the slowly strengthening Mulh Bandh is really helping align the spine during the deep meditation. In comes a solidity that even allows me to forget the breath for a few moments. Sometimes, I feel like a meditator!
Have a great day.
~ SAT NAM ~
Meditation, Breath and the Ribcage
Interesting today.
Got started about an hour late.
Nabhi Kriya is getting more fluid in movement. The fine tuning, like CLOSING THE EYES (let alone focusing on the 3rd Eye…), checking the clock after 2 minutes KNOWING there’s 13 minutes to go, and the general babble from all joints and muscles actively participating in the kriya. They love to squeak.
The breath is still catching up. I can flow with the physical movements, but I’m not doing a thunderous pranayam for my breathing. Getting easier to match with the movement.
Where IS that 3rd Eye?
I finally stuck my finger into my forehead and physically looked. Ain’t where I been lookin’.
I got the centered part all right. Most of us can cross our eyes. I just need to roll those eyeballs all the way to the limit of upper vision. Just there, is the beginning of the touch of my finger. I think I’ve been looking somewhere in my clogged nostrils most of the time, when not looking at the clock.
Laya Yoga was very tight. I think I’m finally moving from the ‘jerk yoga’ feeling. Mulh Bandh is a fantastic way to find your inside. Pulling smoothly during the chant, instead of a navel ‘pump’ seems to let the lower spine stay aligned.
Meanwhile, Neck Lock is becoming more of a possibility. If I can keep Neck Lock for more than 2-3 rounds a lovely sound comes up from deep inside and out my mouth. As soon as I forget it, the sound comes from my throat and gets ‘mushy’, for lack of a better word. This is something to work on.
During the approximate 15 minutes of silent meditation, toward the last couple of minutes, I took a deep breath and both my diaphragm and upper ribcage opened up. A LOT!
My diaphragm relaxed and the space below wasn’t blocked by food, so air came in.
At the same time, my shoulders and upper ribcage kind of ‘bloomed’ upward.
The shoulders automatically rolled back.
I was naturally forced to take several large, life giving breaths.
This would be nice to maintain. That hanging skeleton image was much easier for those few minutes. Tight topknot!
Now, about 45 minutes later, I can still fill my lungs with a delightful “over-breath”. We live at just under 7000 ft and that air doesn’t always feel like it is feeding the blood. On the other hand, the PRANA is charged at this altitude. A deep breath is nice.
Have a great Sunday.
~ SAT NAM ~
Translator
Give
 |
