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.
Laya Yoga in the New Year
Greetings,
It has been a while and life progresses.
On the New Year, we agreed to extend our Laya Yoga practice to 45 minutes. Well, haven’t found your navel yet?
It is very interesting to assess where you think you are at during a meditation.
Chin in? Is there really a 3rd eye point? The eyes can’t seem to lock, when there is so much interesting (?) stuff going on inside. Is that a real diaphragm lock? Or just a little muscle squeeze?
Feel like hanging from the top of your head? Spine straight is one thing, then the shoulders raise, the ribcage lifts and then, Ya Gotta Take a Breath! I find myself chanting and pulling the locks and wondering where my Air is. Only time to grab a breath is just before releasing all the locks for the next “EK” and starting all over again. Those of you who have practiced Laya Yoga, know the rhythm is very “immediate”, since the mantra starts as soon as the previous round is finished and the breath is kind of playing catch-up.
Please see if your meditation is serving. Maybe add to your time by 15 minutes and see if there is a new “interest” in the process.
Pray for the citizens of Egypt!
Wishing you all a lovely weekend.
~ SAT NAM ~
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 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 ~
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