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 ~
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 ~
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 ~
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