Kundalini Yoga - Ray

[Guest guest]

Hello Ray,

 

Thanks for your question. All of my experience is in the Hindu

tradition of yoga, and I know little about the Sikh version of

kundalini yoga that is commonly practiced in the US. I only took a KY

class once, and it seemed to move the energy alright--hence, I assume

it could work. (A caveat: none of the kundalini yoga teachers I know

are K active, so this is not a silver bullet, either).

 

Generally speaking, the purpose of all yogas--both Hindu and Sikh--is

the merging of the individual soul with divinity. Keep in mind,

however, that the most powerful component of yoga is meditation.

Regardless of the branding, a good yoga session begins with physical

poses, then follows with breathwork (pranayama), and ends with at

least a half hour of meditation (the order could be reversed).

Alternatively, the whole session could be devoted to breathwork and

meditation only.

 

Sorry it took me so long to respond--have been away from the list for

a couple of days...

 

Cheers,

 

Sel

 

 

, " raazor1 "

<raazor wrote:

>

> Hi Selena,

> I hope you are doing well.

> I know that you are a yoga instructor, and wanted to ask if you think

> Kundalini Yoga is a good practice toward awakening the Kundalini, or

> if you think there might be some that are better.

> I have a DVD by Carol Carlson that I've been working out with. I

> really like it, but haven't seen other types of yoga.

> I wanted to ask you since I know you have a lot of experience here.

>

> Many thanks and Love to you Selena,

>

> Ray

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Selena,

Thanks for your reply.

Gives me some more to think about . . . uh . . . where was I?

Oh yes, I'm reading a book right now " Kundalini Tantra " by Swami

Satyananda Saraswati. He has recommended several, depending on

experience. He has said that Hatha Yoga is good to start with, then

go to Kriya Yoga. He also mentions some that I have a hard time

pronouncing :-).

Anyway, perhaps I'll look into Kriya. I already have a Hatha on

order thru NetFlix, which I'll take a good look at.

I like the Kundalini Yoga DVD I have, Ms. Carlson combines mantra,

meditative space, and challenging workouts (kriyas?), then gives you

a large space at the end to relax and merge. It's nice, but I want

to see some more.

 

Thanks very much for you.

 

Love,

 

Ray

, " selena230 "

<selena230 wrote:

>

> Hello Ray,

>

> Thanks for your question. All of my experience is in the Hindu

> tradition of yoga, and I know little about the Sikh version of

> kundalini yoga that is commonly practiced in the US. I only took a

KY

> class once, and it seemed to move the energy alright--hence, I

assume

> it could work. (A caveat: none of the kundalini yoga teachers I

know

> are K active, so this is not a silver bullet, either).

>

> Generally speaking, the purpose of all yogas--both Hindu and Sikh--

is

> the merging of the individual soul with divinity. Keep in mind,

> however, that the most powerful component of yoga is meditation.

> Regardless of the branding, a good yoga session begins with

physical

> poses, then follows with breathwork (pranayama), and ends with at

> least a half hour of meditation (the order could be reversed).

> Alternatively, the whole session could be devoted to breathwork and

> meditation only.

>

> Sorry it took me so long to respond--have been away from the list

for

> a couple of days...

>

> Cheers,

>

> Sel

>

>

> , " raazor1 "

> <raazor@> wrote:

> >

> > Hi Selena,

> > I hope you are doing well.

> > I know that you are a yoga instructor, and wanted to ask if you

think

> > Kundalini Yoga is a good practice toward awakening the

Kundalini, or

> > if you think there might be some that are better.

> > I have a DVD by Carol Carlson that I've been working out with.

I

> > really like it, but haven't seen other types of yoga.

> > I wanted to ask you since I know you have a lot of experience

here.

> >

> > Many thanks and Love to you Selena,

> >

> > Ray

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Ray,

I hope you don't mind me sharing in here a bit.

Kundalini yoga is preliminary to the awakening of the k

It is mostly to attune the chakras and create the awareness of the

breathing process in the spinal column. The understanding of

kundalini yoga is very important in helping anyone who in the

process of awakening the K accidentally or not. It is an aid to help

them with understanding the energy flows and the use of the correct

breathing processes and safeties.

I don't think it is a designed method to open the kundalini though

you can do it with the breathing and the mudras and bandhas, though

quite often you're left on you own devices to play with that.

Seemingly due to my observations in the past, a lot of yoga teachers

were frightened of the kundalini in the first place. This may be

changing now though.

Now I see you have got kundalini tantra book as it has got the

program all in it. It is the kundalini kriya section that will get

it all happening. There is not too many who are qualified to teach

that. Also it belongs to a particular linage passed down by Babaji.

You pronouce Kri-ya as Cree-yah silent h. It literaly means means

moving energy. In the secret doctrine it is mentions the atributes

of the one's who restablishment life on earth as being of the sons

of kriya and there atributes are that of to materialise the ideal. I

am just restarting the practices myself once again. I am of the

kriya linage as I have been initiated into them and have been taught

in class the first twelve if you have a question I will try and

answer it, though I don't know them all. Aperently there is

something like 80 in total

The Kriyas (the first Twelve)are what I believe is the activation

tool that maintains a constant stream and flow through the body,with

a couple of inclusive jumpstarts thus keeps your k active and in a

circulative motion, That in itself can throw you, However the second

8 are very dynamic and are specifically designed to set the k off

due to it previously being in an activated state. The rest i dont

now they might be only be revieled intuitivly

The first time i wished to do the course i was staying at the ashram

and had already been doing advanced yoga classes where they taught

some of the kriyas. I was at that time K active and didnt have any

contol prior to that i was blowing light bulbs on touch and i was a

bit trippy in the eyes of the swamis so I was not allowed to do

it.Nor was it required of me to do any sadhana, The k awaened swami

there told me to stop all Though many of the swamis there were

trippy in my eyes as well.

Take it easy take it slow, I have had a few mind jarring experiences

with it that can scare you off. Once you stop after having a taste

it can be hard to be self restrictive enough to go back to the

beginning and just be satisfied with that. I have seen people in a

mess in the first day of doing the course, not many continue the

practice, it is very powerful and can be overwhelming. the fisrt

time i sat down and done the first 20. I sat for about 4 hrs doing

it i got shingles within the next few days. it was alright once I

had it diagnosed I overcome it pretty quick.

The energies on this group are getting stronger I believe the more

we tune in the more we will be prepared. In time we may well become

able to tackle anything.

All the best cheers

John M.

, " raazor1 "

<raazor wrote:

>

> Hi Selena,

> Thanks for your reply.

> Gives me some more to think about . . . uh . . . where was I?

> Oh yes, I'm reading a book right now " Kundalini Tantra " by Swami

> Satyananda Saraswati. He has recommended several, depending on

> experience. He has said that Hatha Yoga is good to start with,

then

> go to Kriya Yoga. He also mentions some that I have a hard time

> pronouncing :-).

> Anyway, perhaps I'll look into Kriya. I already have a Hatha on

> order thru NetFlix, which I'll take a good look at.

> I like the Kundalini Yoga DVD I have, Ms. Carlson combines mantra,

> meditative space, and challenging workouts (kriyas?), then gives

you

> a large space at the end to relax and merge. It's nice, but I

want

> to see some more.

>

> Thanks very much for you.

>

> Love,

>

> Ray

> , " selena230 "

> <selena230@> wrote:

> >

> > Hello Ray,

> >

> > Thanks for your question. All of my experience is in the Hindu

> > tradition of yoga, and I know little about the Sikh version of

> > kundalini yoga that is commonly practiced in the US. I only took

a

> KY

> > class once, and it seemed to move the energy alright--hence, I

> assume

> > it could work. (A caveat: none of the kundalini yoga teachers I

> know

> > are K active, so this is not a silver bullet, either).

> >

> > Generally speaking, the purpose of all yogas--both Hindu and

Sikh--

> is

> > the merging of the individual soul with divinity. Keep in mind,

> > however, that the most powerful component of yoga is meditation.

> > Regardless of the branding, a good yoga session begins with

> physical

> > poses, then follows with breathwork (pranayama), and ends with at

> > least a half hour of meditation (the order could be reversed).

> > Alternatively, the whole session could be devoted to breathwork

and

> > meditation only.

> >

> > Sorry it took me so long to respond--have been away from the

list

> for

> > a couple of days...

> >

> > Cheers,

> >

> > Sel

> >

> >

> > , " raazor1 "

> > <raazor@> wrote:

> > >

> > > Hi Selena,

> > > I hope you are doing well.

> > > I know that you are a yoga instructor, and wanted to ask if

you

> think

> > > Kundalini Yoga is a good practice toward awakening the

> Kundalini, or

> > > if you think there might be some that are better.

> > > I have a DVD by Carol Carlson that I've been working out

with.

> I

> > > really like it, but haven't seen other types of yoga.

> > > I wanted to ask you since I know you have a lot of experience

> here.

> > >

> > > Many thanks and Love to you Selena,

> > >

> > > Ray

> > >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Ray,

 

It might be a good idea for you to choose one specific type of yoga,

and then stick with it for a couple of years. I know it sounds boring,

but the results come over time as you deepen the practice, and there

are reasons for asanas and sequences to be structured as they are.

Also, if you use DVDs, make sure you have a bunch of them that you can

rotate. Practicing only a few asanas all the time can lead to

repetitive strain injuries. Alternatively, you may want to find a

studio and take classes there. In fact, for a beginner, taking classes

with a teacher is strongly recommended. It's very important to have

somebody to watch your alignment and adjust you if needed. The only

drawback is that, unless you find an Integral Yoga instructor, you

probably won't get any instruction in pranayama and meditation at US

yoga schools. If this is the case, all you need to do is to establish

your own meditation and pranayama practice at home. A good place to

learn how to meditate is Swami Rama's work, or even Swamij's website.

 

A word of caution: many yoga practitioners in this part of the world

confuse meditation with relaxation/shavasana and/or mindful awareness,

and they think that deep, loud breathing (ujjay) during asanas is

pranayama. Don't let them confuse you.

 

Last but not least: as John said, older yoga teachers think that

kundalini is dangerous, and the younger ones think it's just a hatha

yoga style like Iyengar or vinyasa. One more reason to keep your

endeavor to yourself... ;-)

 

Sel

[Guest guest]

Excellent advice for us all! Thank you Selena. -

[Guest guest]

John,

Thanks very much for your information and offer for help. I truly

appreciate your generosity.

The instructor does talk about moving the breath through the spinal

column during one exercise and tells us to always " follow the breath "

and " direct the breath " .

During Bridge Pose, she talks about prana and apana moving and

meeting at the navel and directing the breath from the tailbone

through the top of the head when in Child Pose. So, it does sound

like she's doing the right stuff .

Anyway, thanks again John for your post. I found it very helpful.

 

Grace and Peace,

 

Ray

 

 

 

, " johndplumber "

<jaganath wrote:

>

> Ray,

> I hope you don't mind me sharing in here a bit.

> Kundalini yoga is preliminary to the awakening of the k

> It is mostly to attune the chakras and create the awareness of the

> breathing process in the spinal column. The understanding of

> kundalini yoga is very important in helping anyone who in the

> process of awakening the K accidentally or not. It is an aid to

help

> them with understanding the energy flows and the use of the correct

> breathing processes and safeties.

> I don't think it is a designed method to open the kundalini though

> you can do it with the breathing and the mudras and bandhas, though

> quite often you're left on you own devices to play with that.

> Seemingly due to my observations in the past, a lot of yoga

teachers

> were frightened of the kundalini in the first place. This may be

> changing now though.

> Now I see you have got kundalini tantra book as it has got the

> program all in it. It is the kundalini kriya section that will get

> it all happening. There is not too many who are qualified to teach

> that. Also it belongs to a particular linage passed down by Babaji.

> You pronouce Kri-ya as Cree-yah silent h. It literaly means means

> moving energy. In the secret doctrine it is mentions the atributes

> of the one's who restablishment life on earth as being of the sons

> of kriya and there atributes are that of to materialise the ideal.

I

> am just restarting the practices myself once again. I am of the

> kriya linage as I have been initiated into them and have been

taught

> in class the first twelve if you have a question I will try and

> answer it, though I don't know them all. Aperently there is

> something like 80 in total

> The Kriyas (the first Twelve)are what I believe is the activation

> tool that maintains a constant stream and flow through the

body,with

> a couple of inclusive jumpstarts thus keeps your k active and in a

> circulative motion, That in itself can throw you, However the

second

> 8 are very dynamic and are specifically designed to set the k off

> due to it previously being in an activated state. The rest i dont

> now they might be only be revieled intuitivly

> The first time i wished to do the course i was staying at the ashram

> and had already been doing advanced yoga classes where they taught

> some of the kriyas. I was at that time K active and didnt have any

> contol prior to that i was blowing light bulbs on touch and i was a

> bit trippy in the eyes of the swamis so I was not allowed to do

> it.Nor was it required of me to do any sadhana, The k awaened swami

> there told me to stop all Though many of the swamis there were

> trippy in my eyes as well.

> Take it easy take it slow, I have had a few mind jarring

experiences

> with it that can scare you off. Once you stop after having a taste

> it can be hard to be self restrictive enough to go back to the

> beginning and just be satisfied with that. I have seen people in a

> mess in the first day of doing the course, not many continue the

> practice, it is very powerful and can be overwhelming. the fisrt

> time i sat down and done the first 20. I sat for about 4 hrs doing

> it i got shingles within the next few days. it was alright once I

> had it diagnosed I overcome it pretty quick.

> The energies on this group are getting stronger I believe the more

> we tune in the more we will be prepared. In time we may well become

> able to tackle anything.

> All the best cheers

> John M.

> , " raazor1 "

> <raazor@> wrote:

> >

> > Hi Selena,

> > Thanks for your reply.

> > Gives me some more to think about . . . uh . . . where was I?

> > Oh yes, I'm reading a book right now " Kundalini Tantra " by Swami

> > Satyananda Saraswati. He has recommended several, depending on

> > experience. He has said that Hatha Yoga is good to start with,

> then

> > go to Kriya Yoga. He also mentions some that I have a hard time

> > pronouncing :-).

> > Anyway, perhaps I'll look into Kriya. I already have a Hatha on

> > order thru NetFlix, which I'll take a good look at.

> > I like the Kundalini Yoga DVD I have, Ms. Carlson combines

mantra,

> > meditative space, and challenging workouts (kriyas?), then gives

> you

> > a large space at the end to relax and merge. It's nice, but I

> want

> > to see some more.

> >

> > Thanks very much for you.

> >

> > Love,

> >

> > Ray

> > , " selena230 "

> > <selena230@> wrote:

> > >

> > > Hello Ray,

> > >

> > > Thanks for your question. All of my experience is in the Hindu

> > > tradition of yoga, and I know little about the Sikh version of

> > > kundalini yoga that is commonly practiced in the US. I only

took

> a

> > KY

> > > class once, and it seemed to move the energy alright--hence, I

> > assume

> > > it could work. (A caveat: none of the kundalini yoga teachers I

> > know

> > > are K active, so this is not a silver bullet, either).

> > >

> > > Generally speaking, the purpose of all yogas--both Hindu and

> Sikh--

> > is

> > > the merging of the individual soul with divinity. Keep in mind,

> > > however, that the most powerful component of yoga is meditation.

> > > Regardless of the branding, a good yoga session begins with

> > physical

> > > poses, then follows with breathwork (pranayama), and ends with

at

> > > least a half hour of meditation (the order could be reversed).

> > > Alternatively, the whole session could be devoted to breathwork

> and

> > > meditation only.

> > >

> > > Sorry it took me so long to respond--have been away from the

> list

> > for

> > > a couple of days...

> > >

> > > Cheers,

> > >

> > > Sel

> > >

> > >

> > > , " raazor1 "

> > > <raazor@> wrote:

> > > >

> > > > Hi Selena,

> > > > I hope you are doing well.

> > > > I know that you are a yoga instructor, and wanted to ask if

> you

> > think

> > > > Kundalini Yoga is a good practice toward awakening the

> > Kundalini, or

> > > > if you think there might be some that are better.

> > > > I have a DVD by Carol Carlson that I've been working out

> with.

> > I

> > > > really like it, but haven't seen other types of yoga.

> > > > I wanted to ask you since I know you have a lot of experience

> > here.

> > > >

> > > > Many thanks and Love to you Selena,

> > > >

> > > > Ray

> > > >

> > >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Selena,

Thanks for your insight.

I'm not worried about being bored at all. I've found that the longer

I do the yoga, the deeper the significance, so I'd expect that to

keep going. Good advice on the repetitive injury syndrome. I'm

trying to get a 2-DVD series on another type of Kundalini Yoga - one

that has the 5 Tibetans on it.

BTW, the instructor on the current K Yoga DVD I have studied with

Yogi Bhajan. I think he is credited for bringing Kundalini Yoga to

the West.

At the air force base where I work, they offer free yoga classes.

I'll find out what kind.

 

Love,

 

Ray

 

, " selena230 "

<selena230 wrote:

>

> Hi Ray,

>

> It might be a good idea for you to choose one specific type of yoga,

> and then stick with it for a couple of years. I know it sounds

boring,

> but the results come over time as you deepen the practice, and there

> are reasons for asanas and sequences to be structured as they are.

> Also, if you use DVDs, make sure you have a bunch of them that you

can

> rotate. Practicing only a few asanas all the time can lead to

> repetitive strain injuries. Alternatively, you may want to find a

> studio and take classes there. In fact, for a beginner, taking

classes

> with a teacher is strongly recommended. It's very important to have

> somebody to watch your alignment and adjust you if needed. The only

> drawback is that, unless you find an Integral Yoga instructor, you

> probably won't get any instruction in pranayama and meditation at US

> yoga schools. If this is the case, all you need to do is to

establish

> your own meditation and pranayama practice at home. A good place to

> learn how to meditate is Swami Rama's work, or even Swamij's

website.

>

> A word of caution: many yoga practitioners in this part of the world

> confuse meditation with relaxation/shavasana and/or mindful

awareness,

> and they think that deep, loud breathing (ujjay) during asanas is

> pranayama. Don't let them confuse you.

>

> Last but not least: as John said, older yoga teachers think that

> kundalini is dangerous, and the younger ones think it's just a hatha

> yoga style like Iyengar or vinyasa. One more reason to keep your

> endeavor to yourself... ;-)

>

> Sel

>