How long are we doing this for?
January 26, 2013 § Leave a Comment
The effects of practicing kundalini yoga exercises and meditations are written in many KY books. This copy was shared on FB. Wanted to share it here. Hope knowing the effects help you to keep up!
Spinal Flex Series
October 17, 2012 § 1 Comment
This spinal series video was requested by a student. Thank you– Please keep them coming!
The spinal series is a quick and easy way to maintain flexibility in our spine, which supports our movement, our structure, and our spinal cord (which allows our bodies to move and our organs to function). A nice, flexible spine also helps prevent or reduce lower back pain and stress on the upper back.
In fact, yoga says that we are only as young as our spine is flexible!
While we would all love to get into a beautiful, full back bend, this is not necessary for increased quality of life. The spinal series is your floor.
Drishti (eye focus): third eye
Mantra (optional): if you would like something to keep you here in the present moment, try mentally chanting Sat on the inhale, Nam on the exhale. Sat means Truth, and Nam means Name. Truth is your name. Truth is your essence. Truth is who you are. It is a bij, or seed, mantra that you can use as a living meditation (while you walk, cook, etc).
Time: 1-3 minutes per exercise. In this video, we practice for approximately 2 minutes each.
Tune In + Closing Mantra
September 18, 2012 § 2 Comments
These two videos are dedicated to students who are starting out in their own personal practice in the privacy of their own home and without the teacher in the studio.
First, congratulations! In this tradition, we like to say, “Wahe Guru!”
Please email me with questions regarding this practice anytime.
Tuning in with the Adi Mantra is important. It calls on, and connects us to, the wisdom of all ages that reside within us. We want this intelligence guiding us in our practice! The Mangala Charan mantra is technically optional, but I think it is very important. It protects us from harm.
Then the close. Ritual is good. It lets our bodies know that we are transitioning from one thing to another, and ritual allows us to pause for a moment, pay attention and be present. This close centers us in our Truth as we step away from our mat, or meditation cushion, and into our busy lives.
Here they are. Enjoy your practice!
Tune in with Adi & Mangala Charan Mantras
Close with Long Sat Nam
Japji 25th Pauree for Wealth & Prosperity
July 4, 2012 § Leave a Comment
When chanted eleven times, each pauree in Japji produces a certain effect. This one is for prosperity and fulfillment of all of your needs. I’ve chanted this once through so that you may get the pronunciation of it, along with the transliteration so that you may follow along visually. Until I figure out how to repeat this eleven times and transfer it into a YouTube video efficiently, I ask you to replay it ten additional times to get your eleven. Sorry.
The Gift of Flash Med
December 26, 2011 § 1 Comment
As I drove to Northbrook Mall for our flash meditation, I was thinking how scary Flash Mob events can be. You don’t really know how many will show up. And if you are one of the first to get there, you’re afraid no one else might come, and there you will be, chanting on the floor of a big mall during the holiday season with one or two other people. The fun, exciting, glamourous side of Flash Mob is gone and anxiety takes over.
This thought took me back to when I was a student at the Wright Leadership Institute, and they put us in uncomfortable situations all the time. Situations weren’t random. They were meant to wake us up and put some “skin in our game.” The skin is personal risk. The risk is not of self-destructive nature (though it feels that way at the moment because your ego is pretty sure you are going to die), but one of self-affirmation by bringing out what we’ve got. And we’ve all got it. What? Gifts.
Every time I’ve been put in such situations and survived it (we always do), regardless of the outcome, I felt great. Like I accomplished something big, akin to slaying a monster that has kept me locked up. That part of me that hungers to express in a way that is “not me” (a good indication that I have limited myself) that has been yearning to come out forever.
From this flash med experience (there were 7 of us), I’ve taken away much more than what a normal group meditation at a yoga studio or in someone’s home can do:
- Prepare and market the event in advance of more than the week we gave ourselves. With our September flash mob, we prepped for 2 months and we had 40 people going. When the weather turned bad on us (it was cold, dark, rainy and with high winds), we still had around 17 people show, which was remarkable. (And it was then that we decided to make all future flash mobs inside.) We marketed the Sept one with clear time lines to keep our participants informed so that they knew what was happening. The preparation awarded us success in numbers.
- Offer opportunity to meet for tea about a half hour leading up to the flash mob so that participants know that they are in good company. It’s only supposed to look spontaneous.
- Let the mall know what we are doing so that security knows. Yea, they came up to us. Thankfully one of the participant’s husband was there to watch and he spoke with security so we could continue on in our bliss.
- Bring paper handouts so people know what we are doing. Shoppers came up and asked our videographer what was going on. Good opportunity to introduce the practice of Kundalini Yoga and Urban Yoga Chicago.
- With only 7 chanters, the energy was remarkably powerful. The people that were in it were really into it. And we more than survived a scary thing. We experienced a much needed type of community bonding, and we realized that this offered opportunity for more of it. The excitement and personal risk that we experienced created a glue. In a venue that brings us out as we go in, it helped us grow into our light.
