Kundalini Yoga is Creating FIRE in My Belly!
Recently I have been introduced to the world of Kundalini Yoga - WOW!
I have been doing Hatha yoga for several years now and I have certainly learned to love the many benefits I've gained from this form of yoga which I still do. Kundalini yoga is quite a bit different and has a very scientific approach in how it effects the body, mind and soul. The kriyas and meditations can be profoundly life changing within a very short time and these can be as short as 11 minutes or up to 2 hours daily of a daily practice. It is up to you and if you are attending a class you can expect it to be around 1.5 hours.
Kundalini Yoga is the ancient science of breath, angles, mudra, mantra and meditation which enables us to heal, strengthen and relax, and which puts us in tune with the energy field of the Universe. It is important to understand that Kundalini Yoga is not just another self-improvement technique. In fact, Kundalini Yoga is not a practice of self-improvement at all. It is a practice of self-acceptance, which is a very different thing.
I find many of the Kriyas and meditations very challenging especially when holding my arms in certain positions for up to 11 minutes. Learning how to breathe the breath of fire was a bit of a challenge too! Imagine taking in a deep breathe in and out and then in again and stopping at the 3/4 mark and then breathing in and out only through the nose using your belly centre to force the breath in and out and sustaining this for as long as 3 minutes or more. Sometimes while doing this both arms can be at shoulder height and you may be twisting at the waist. Lots to think about for sure!
All kriyas are just a little different and in each one there are several areas you will need to be aware of while practicing. For example you will learn mudras ( finger and thumb placements ) how to do the breath of fire, how to sit, specific chants, where to focus your thoughts and eyes and in addition to that the positioning of your arms and neck to invoke and activate things like our thyroid, immune systems. Each kriya is designed to create changes in the internal body and you begin to feel these changes almost immediately. One really great benefit is the immediate detox that starts when doing the breath of fire as it stirs up the pot and things begin shifting and moving about. It is not uncommon to experience a mild headache while doing the yoga practice but not to worry these are not long lasting but a good indicator of the shifts that are taking place.
As most of us know healing work and spiritual growth can be very intense and sometimes it's damn right ugly and miserable. The hard part is 'the work' and for most of us we really don't like doing 'the work' Here is the good news!!! Kundalini yoga imprints on the cell memory to release old patterns while you are doing the yoga!! That said, you might still feel some of the really intense emotions during and for sometime afterward your yoga session but what I find quite unique is the intensity of the emotions pass quite quickly and immediately you begin to feel open and aware accompanied with a sense of calm. The work is done in the yoga and although it can be both intense and challenging it's really fun, invigorating and worth the efforts!
Each kriya and meditation practiced will give you a specific result. Some are meant for very specific health issues while others will invoke improved relationships, great abundance and prosperity. All of them will bring you enlightenment. You can choose what it is you wish to work on. There are far too many for me to list all of these in detail. Search on the website and you will find many wonderful sites that are informative and detailed and some that teach beginner Kundalini Yoga for free. Many sites offer DVD’s and book you can order to learn with as well.
I feel like I have found new vitality in this practice and I am happier, more grounded and the more I do the practice more I want to do it. That is because the SA TA NA MA practice I do daily invokes me to want to do more. ( the work is done by doing the yoga ! ) My health and energy have already improved and I am more bright eyed and focused - it feels like I've gained back about 20 years and I've only been doing this for less than a month. Can't wait to see what the next six months brings me and yes I am hopefully going to be able to offer this through the SPA very soon. As the old saying goes, you need to spend money to make money and so it is with creating energy – spending energy creates more energy!
Namaste, Lee-ann |
