I feel like I am spiritually and emotionally ready to begin a journey in kundalini yoga… but I keep hearing so many warnings! is Kundalini syndrome very common?
Archive for July, 2010
Yoga teachers, from all the Hatha sub-styles, should reflect on the Yoga Sutras of Maharishi Patanjali. Perhaps, beginner students will not gain much from them, without the guidance of a Guru, but an experienced Yoga teacher should be able to transcend the physical plane of Hatha Yoga practice.
Remember that Asana (posture) practice is the third of the eight limbs of Yoga. Asana practice is very valuable, but it is just one of the eight limbs of Yoga.
1:16 “Tat param purusakhyater guna vaitrsnyam.” This particular Sutra deserves to be looked at in its natural state, before looking at an English translation.
“Complete freedom is a result of a spiritual quest, which will reveal an inner self, without limits, by transcending the three Gunas (the qualities of nature).”
The three Gunas are: Sattva (purity or light), Rajas (activity or vibration), and Tamas (inertia or darkness). When energy takes shape, one of these three qualities will usually be dominant. However, when a person becomes unattached to outcome, he or she would go beyond the natural limits or the limits of nature.
1:17 “To experience a settled mind (Samadhi), one must go through four steps. These four steps are: Self-analysis, insight, bliss, and the awareness of I am.”
These are very big steps. Real self-analysis, requires honesty, and is quite difficult for most people to accomplish. Insight is hard work and usually requires some significant life experience or guidance from a Guru. Bliss can be learned, but some people are never happy.
Lastly, “I am” is your spiritual connection with the supreme consciousness, Supreme Being, or God. This is the final step to Samadhi, but many people are confused because of thoughts about the correct path. Sometimes intolerance holds us back from taking the right path.
In truth, all noble paths lead toward God. Mankind wastes too much time judging each other over “small stuff,” but God is the final judge. Why waste time on earth? Our time on earth is limited. Know your place in the universe, make peace with your fellow man, and actively open your connection to God.
Patanjali was way ahead of his time to cover these four steps to Samadhi. Yes, I have elaborated about the concept of “I am,” but this is the hardest of four very tough steps to Samadhi. This is also a reason why only a handful of enlightened souls exist each century.
1:18 “There is another plane of meditation where only the Samskara is left.” Samskara is latent impression of the unconscious mind, which affects our natural tendencies, and molds our character. To settle the mind, in this way, requires much practice, but upon observation of our Samskara without judgment, we learn who we are and what we are made of.
Some may regard this as a lesser plane of meditation. This is highly debatable, because this meditation method sounds easier than it is.
This particular meditative practice will also reveal another form of Samadhi.
Many people have the greatest difficulty “coming to grip” with their natural tendencies. This may not be a “pretty picture.” This meditation practice will truly settle the mind.
To find one’s true nature, and possibly learn why we instinctively react, is a gift. Within all of us are characteristics, which we might want to purge, but some are for self-preservation. The opinion of others has only a small effect on your Samskara.
Here are just three profound Yoga Sutras, but you could easily spend much more time reflecting, meditating, and taking Maharishi Patanjali’s advice.
Today, July 22 in Ridgewood Thursday, July 22, 2010 the Ridgewood News
* Summer Baby Time Storytime (birth through age 2) at Ridgewood Public Library, 125 N. Maple Ave., 9:30 a.m. Registration information: 201-670-5600.
* ESL Summer Drop-In Conversation Group at Ridgewood Public Library, open to Ridgewood residents who wish to improve their social English, 1 to 2:30 p.m.
* Songs by the Sea (3 to 5 years old) at Ridgewood Public Library, 2 or 3 p.m. Journey to the ocean through song and movement with pre-school music teacher Marlene Pillow.
* Storytime at Graydon Pool for children ages 4 to 8, 2 p.m. Information: 201-670-5560.
* Yoga Nidra meditation open to all at the Unitarian Society of Ridgewood, 113 Cottage Place, 6 to 7 p.m. Bring a mat, cushion, and light blanket; chairs are available for those who need them. no registration required.
* Teen Readers Unite Book Discussion at Ridgewood Public Library. Students in grades 6 to 8 at 7 p.m. discuss “Leviathan” by Scott Westerfeld; students in grades 9 to 12 at 8 p.m. discuss “Incarceron” by Catherine Fisher;
* Kasschau Memorial Shell at Veterans Field: the McVey Family and Friends (Broadway and beyond), 8:30 p.m.
* Summer Baby Time Storytime (birth through age 2) at Ridgewood Public Library, 125 N. Maple Ave., 9:30 a.m. Registration information: 201-670-5600.
* ESL Summer Drop-In Conversation Group at Ridgewood Public Library, open to Ridgewood residents who wish to improve their social English, 1 to 2:30 p.m.
* Songs by the Sea (3 to 5 years old) at Ridgewood Public Library, 2 or 3 p.m. Journey to the ocean through song and movement with pre-school music teacher Marlene Pillow.
* Storytime at Graydon Pool for children ages 4 to 8, 2 p.m. Information: 201-670-5560.
* Yoga Nidra meditation open to all at the Unitarian Society of Ridgewood, 113 Cottage Place, 6 to 7 p.m. Bring a mat, cushion, and light blanket; chairs are available for those who need them. no registration required.
* Teen Readers Unite Book Discussion at Ridgewood Public Library. Students in grades 6 to 8 at 7 p.m. discuss “Leviathan” by Scott Westerfeld; students in grades 9 to 12 at 8 p.m. discuss “Incarceron” by Catherine Fisher;
* Kasschau Memorial Shell at Veterans Field: the McVey Family and Friends (Broadway and beyond), 8:30 p.m.
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Volume reduction of abdominal body
1, the body lying on the mat, legs stretched ajar, inside toe hook, hand towel, arms stretched too far.
2, raised his hands to the body just above, perpendicular to the ground, breathing.
3, his hands moved to the abdomen, breathing, driving with both hands the head, neck, spine a one to bend up.
4, slowly exhaled, to continue to lead the upper body forward and push your hands, until the body sat up, arms affixed to the ear, spinal flexion, use of abdominal strength, breathing stop.
Nod knees
1, the body lying on the mat, legs bent open and the shoulder width, hands flat on the sides, palms down. Suction ready up.
2, curved spine and pushing the body off the ground with both hands, both hands parallel to the ground, breathing stop, inhale, return to action 1, exhaled.
Fork twist
1, sit on the mat, knees and feet shoulder width, upper body straight, his hands raised and parallel to the ground, breathing.
2, breathing, body slightly backward, abdominal strength to support the body to stimulate the body turned to one side the spine. Breathing returned to action one.
3, breathing, turning the body to the other, as straight and parallel to the ground with both hands.
4, this action to stabilize the shoulder, do not shrug.
Straddle wriggled
1, lying on the mat, legs bent knees close together, toes, under pressure, his hands placed in their heads.
2, in order to lift the spine of the forces to bring the shoulder, while the body turn left nostril.
3, turned in another direction, turning right, breathe.
Do not miss the hot summer yoga
Michael Russell asked:
Yoga has become an increasingly popular form of exercise and meditation the last several years. Many people look at yoga as just that, though. But yoga encompasses more than simply exercise and meditation. This article will “enlighten” you to some facts about yoga.
Yoga started out in the East as a spiritual practice focusing on meditation, but in the West it is normally seen as a physical practice, for the benefit of staying healthy and in shape. Hatha yoga is the variation of yoga that describes exercise. It is estimated that around sixteen million North Americans practice this form of yoga. These yoga classes focus on breathing exercises, physical exercises and meditation, which are especially beneficial for people with back, heart, or breathing problems.
In studies, yoga has helped young and old people alike who have heart problems. The studies have shown that yoga helped to lower blood pressure and increase resistance to psychological stresses. Yoga aids to improve physical flexibility, strength and endurance, which is particularly beneficial to people with back problems. The yogic breathing and meditation assists those people to better manage their back pain.
A male who practices yoga is referred to as a yogi or yogin, whereas a female who practices yoga is called a yogini. The word yoga means to yoke and it can loosely be translated as “to join” or “unite”. It can also be taken to mean as “union” or a method of discipline. Yoga is believed to be made up of eight limbs: the asana (postures), pranayama (breathing), dharana (concentration), dhyani (meditation), yamas (restraints), pratyahara (withdrawal of senses), niyamas (observances) and samadhi (absorption). The goal of traditional yoga is to achieve samadhi, which is a state of inward enlightenment.
Most people who practice yoga today are involved with the limb asana. They use these physical postures to increase physical strength and flexibility, while purifying the body at the same time. These asanas or postures are known as the increasingly popular hatha yoga. The word hatha can mean forceful or willful and can be translated into “ha”, which means “sun” and “tha” meaning “moon”. Hatha yoga is the physical exercises and postures of yoga that allows the free-flow of energy throughout the body, as well as creating balance and inner peace and harmony.
When some people picture someone doing yoga, they have an image of a person sitting cross-legged with their eyes closed, thumb and fore finger pressed together, chanting the word “Om”. What is Om and what does it mean? Repeating the word Om is a mantra; it is a vibration of the universe around us. Everything has a pulse and ancient yogis created Om to represent that universal pulse. Chanting Om at the beginning and end of a yoga session brings the person a sense of connection to the entire universe and is meant to be soothing and uplifting.
Yoga is beneficial no matter how much or how little of it you can fit into your weekly schedule. It is recommended to start practicing yoga two or three times a week for an hour each time and work your way up from there if possible. However, any time that you can find for a yoga session will work too. Nothing special is required to begin a yoga session. The only things that are needed for a yoga session are your body, mind and comfortable, well-fitting workout clothes. Then you are ready for your first yoga experience!
Yoga has become an increasingly popular form of exercise and meditation the last several years. Many people look at yoga as just that, though. But yoga encompasses more than simply exercise and meditation. This article will “enlighten” you to some facts about yoga.
Yoga started out in the East as a spiritual practice focusing on meditation, but in the West it is normally seen as a physical practice, for the benefit of staying healthy and in shape. Hatha yoga is the variation of yoga that describes exercise. It is estimated that around sixteen million North Americans practice this form of yoga. These yoga classes focus on breathing exercises, physical exercises and meditation, which are especially beneficial for people with back, heart, or breathing problems.
In studies, yoga has helped young and old people alike who have heart problems. The studies have shown that yoga helped to lower blood pressure and increase resistance to psychological stresses. Yoga aids to improve physical flexibility, strength and endurance, which is particularly beneficial to people with back problems. The yogic breathing and meditation assists those people to better manage their back pain.
A male who practices yoga is referred to as a yogi or yogin, whereas a female who practices yoga is called a yogini. The word yoga means to yoke and it can loosely be translated as “to join” or “unite”. It can also be taken to mean as “union” or a method of discipline. Yoga is believed to be made up of eight limbs: the asana (postures), pranayama (breathing), dharana (concentration), dhyani (meditation), yamas (restraints), pratyahara (withdrawal of senses), niyamas (observances) and samadhi (absorption). The goal of traditional yoga is to achieve samadhi, which is a state of inward enlightenment.
Most people who practice yoga today are involved with the limb asana. They use these physical postures to increase physical strength and flexibility, while purifying the body at the same time. These asanas or postures are known as the increasingly popular hatha yoga. The word hatha can mean forceful or willful and can be translated into “ha”, which means “sun” and “tha” meaning “moon”. Hatha yoga is the physical exercises and postures of yoga that allows the free-flow of energy throughout the body, as well as creating balance and inner peace and harmony.
When some people picture someone doing yoga, they have an image of a person sitting cross-legged with their eyes closed, thumb and fore finger pressed together, chanting the word “Om”. What is Om and what does it mean? Repeating the word Om is a mantra; it is a vibration of the universe around us. Everything has a pulse and ancient yogis created Om to represent that universal pulse. Chanting Om at the beginning and end of a yoga session brings the person a sense of connection to the entire universe and is meant to be soothing and uplifting.
Yoga is beneficial no matter how much or how little of it you can fit into your weekly schedule. It is recommended to start practicing yoga two or three times a week for an hour each time and work your way up from there if possible. However, any time that you can find for a yoga session will work too. Nothing special is required to begin a yoga session. The only things that are needed for a yoga session are your body, mind and comfortable, well-fitting workout clothes. Then you are ready for your first yoga experience!