Sat Nam Yoga Friends! Our prayers go out to all of you who were impacted by hurricane Sandy. We lost power for a few days but that's nothing compared to what many people had to endure and are still enduring. Times like this make one think about what's truly important. What's truly important is that we do what we can to help those who are suffering. Also, when we can take creature comforts for granted, may we be inspired to make Spiritual hay while the sun shines. A gift with the beauty and power of Kundalini Yoga, is something our souls have prayed for over lifetimes. Through the agency of this amazing technology we have the power to defy death, create heaven on earth, and recreate history. Kundalini is the energy of the Universe. Life itself. LIfe finds a way, and Spirit finds a way. Spirit is Life! May our lives blossom in the presence of Spirit. May all beings taste the inner sweetness of Self. May we all grow in Consciousness together. And may the light of Awareness illuminate the world. Sat Nam!
Teacher Trainings Beginning This Fall
We had a great first weekend for our Teacher Training course in Syracuse, NY. It's not too late to get on board and attend the remaining five modules. You can easily make up the first module in 2013, anywhere we will be offering a Training. For more info: ravianayoga@aol.com / 1.800.243.9642
Upcoming Workshops / Events
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Based on the number of e-mails we receive on the subject, people want to know: What exactly is Kundalini? What does it mean to awaken Kundalini? How do you know when Kundalini is awakened? What if your Kundalini awakens prematurely? Here are some definitive answers
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Kundalini is the energy of energies. It's the basic bio-energy of our beings. A Jungian psychologist might call it a Universal archetype in the growth of the psyche. Dylan Thomas' line, "The force that through the green fuse drives the flower," is a perfect definition of Kundalini. It's life aspiring. If Kundalini weren't already flowing in us, we wouldn't be motivated to better our circumstances, be more and see more, and grow as humans and as Spiritual beings.
When one googles "Kundalini awakening," all kinds of scary and fascinating stuff appears. Here's a sample from the 'Seven Signs of a Kundalini Awakening,'
"...a person may experience intense involuntary, jerking movements of the body, including shaking, vibrations, spasm and contraction.
"...spontaneous yogic postures or hand gestures which they have never learned or could not do in a normal state of consciousness. ...Unusual breathing patterns may appear with either very rapid or slow, shallow breathing. Some people may not breathe at all for extended periods.
"...unusual physiological activity as intense energy releases toxins in the body. Symptoms include apparent heart problems, pains in head and spine, gastrointestinal disturbances and nervous problems,...and even spontaneous orgasm. Symptoms can be erratic, coming and going without provocation, but are generally unresponsive to medical treatment.
"...a swing from feelings of anxiety, guilt and depression,to compassion, love and joy, with accompanying bouts of uncontrollable weeping.
"...visions of lights, symbols, entities, or review of past life experiences. ...hearing voices, music, inner sounds or mantras....scents of sandalwood, rose or incense. ...losing a sense of self as a body, or feeling bigger than the body, or out of the body, with the resulting confusion and disorientation.
"...with the opening up of psychic abilities, a person may experience precognition, telepathy, psychokinesis, awareness of auras and healing abilities.
"...in some cases, the state of emergency is so acute that it resembles a psychotic episode.
You can see what we're up against!
Here's a story which exemplifies the Kundalini Yoga take on Kundalini:
A group of Sufis (the mystical sect of Islam) had a convocation around a campfire. All night long they chanted and did breathing exercises and sacred dances. One of the younger novices noticed that during the night a certain elder, at times, would speak in tongues, gesticulate wildly, and execute spontaneous dances and movements. When the sun rose and the group was disbanding, the novice approached the elder and said, "Sir, I wish I were as spiritually advanced as you, and could experience some of the phenomena I saw you going through." The elder said, "If I were really advanced, the energy would move through me and you wouldn't notice a thing!"
That dear yogis is our ideal. Kundalini Yoga, as the Yoga of Nerve Strength, advocates a graceful, systematic process. This system is designed so that we never access more energy than we can easily accommodate at any given time in our development. Though many may feel excited at the prospect of leaving their bodies to go flying off to an astral Disneyland, what we really need is to learn to be more IN our bodies. Accountable, and present.
So, what does someone's life look like when their Kundalini has awakened? One can point to people who are living on FIRE. Bruce Springsten would be an example. Not only is he obviously accessing his creative essence, but he also uses his considerable talent to uplift people and give back. This is the ultimate expression of SPIRIT! Sting is also an example of this.
Kundalini reveals your mission to you and expands the scope of your mission. It takes everything in your life to a higher octave of Self. A Kundalini awakening is not meant to make us dysfunctional; it's meant to make us highly functional. Authentic. Simply real. That true you is the definition of Sat Nam.
If Kundalini weren't already flowing in you (because it takes Spirit to access Spirit), you probably wouldn't be reading this. The fact that you are, means that on some level, in some way, you made the requisite sacrifices, and through the intensity of the most heartfelt prayers of your soul, Spirit has been ignited in you, and you have been given the time, space, and opportunities to walk a Path with Heart.
To awaken one' s Kundalini Is a matter of degrees. Take the example of a Major League baseball player. A very small differential in eye/hand coordination, speed, strength, etc., can often be the difference between a person being a star player, or an average one. In that sense, what separates us from accessing our Higher Potential is often just a little bit more energy, a bit more insight, a bit more Grace. A regular Kundalini Yoga practice helps us to bridge that gap everyday.
Kundalini is not something you awaken once and then spend the rest of your life bragging about. With regard to raising Kundalini, it's not that hard to attain it, the trick is in sustaining it. That means to do one's Spiritual practice every day.
What does it mean to prematurely raise one's Kundalini? It's means that one needs to do more Kundalini Yoga! What people experience when they say that their Kundalini has risen before they're ready, is actually the extent to which their nervous systems have been compromised (by stress, emotional duress, drug use, etc.) and the extent to which their natural energy flows are blocked. The answer: More Kundalini Yoga!
Contained in the word prematurely is its root word mature. May we have the maturity to realize that each of us was meant to walk in radiance and use our gifts to heal, uplift, and inspire. Can you remember a time when you felt incredibly inspired, or when your heart was bursting with love for someone who rose above limiting circumstances to shine? Have you ever played a tennis game and surprised even yourself by playing way above your skill level? Have you ever felt yourself to be in constant communion with the Universe? Have you ever created a work of art, poignant and powerful, which seemed to be a perfect expression of your soul? Those are all signs of an awakened Kundalini.
May we live our lives with Consciousness, clarity, courage and creativity. May we inspire one another to Keep Up. In the Sikh tradition, Kundalini is called Cherdi Kala (elevated Spirit). May we keep our practice strong, and may our Spirit ever be on the rise in us!
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42 Day DVD Challenge!
 "Hi! =) I'm a long time fan and have written a number of times in the past about this and that. Mostly to say how much I loved you guys. hehe But I am also a certified personal trainer (not a yoga instructor) and LOVE to map out workout plans for others to follow. I happen to LOVE your workouts and have the entire library, but was itching for a calendar to follow myself to map progress over a set period of time. I've used your sessions to help me achieve balance for an overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism) with much success and also for regulating hormones and living with less daily stress. What I've always wanted was a nice drawn-out calender to follow for a 40-day plan. I wrote you once about this, but you are always on the road or busy bees, so I've created one for myself and am currently on day 2. =) "  I thought I'd pass it along to you so you can tell me if this is a good plan or not! I was leaning on the side of a more intermediate/advanced practitioner to give a real challenge, while also keeping the body toned and fit (for us workout goddesses) since it will be a break away from the same old routine. I feel it is very challenging and that makes me excited to follow it. What do you think? Sat nam! xo Gianna Dear Gianna, Thank You. We Love it!!! What a perfect rotation. Our guess would be that you're in the best shape of your life and that your chakras are buzzing! We love your Sunday celebration: rotating A Journey thru the Chakras and Dance the Chakras!
Week 1: Bootcamp, Body Electric, Warrior Workout, Yoga Cleanse, Fat Free Yoga, Yoga Beauty Body, Dance the Chakras
Week 2: Warrior Workout, Bootcamp, Body Electric, Yoga Cleanse, Yoga Total Tune Up, Warrior Workout, A Journey thru the Chakras
Week 3: Body Electric, Warrior Workout, Bootcamp, Yoga Cleanse, Body Electric, Fat Free Yoga, Dance the Chakras
Week 4: Bootcamp, Yoga Beauty Body, Warrior Workout, Yoga Cleanse, Bootcamp, Yoga Total Tune Up, A Journey thru the Chakras
Week 5: Fat Free Yoga, Bootcamp, Body Electric, Yoga Cleanse, Bootcamp, Yoga Beauty Body, Dance the Chakras
Week 6: Yoga Total Tune Up, Fat Free Yoga, Warrior Workout, Yoga Cleanse, Bootcamp, Yoga Beauty Body, A Journey thru the Chakras
Week 7: Meditate all week long!
Sat Nam & Blessings, Ana & Ravi |
Mixing Practices
Dear ana / ravi
hope all is well. Can you please guide me as whether the two practices of K. Yoga and Qi gong / Chi kung be combined and done or one should do only one thing. I have heard that combining the two practises can be dangerous as Yoga is meant for spiritual development and Chi Kung is for martial art purpose. So combining Chi Kung with Yoga will defeat the real purpose of Yoga. Please shed light onto this confusion. Best regards, The answer is that you can do both, but do them separately. Or, make Qi gong your warm-up (do it first) and then do your Kundalini Yoga. Since Kundalini Yoga is not only a physical practice, but a Spiritual Path, it would be good to consider that your Primary Practice. If you only have time for one, do Kundalini Yoga, because it's more all-encompassing. The fact is that most people only have so much time in this life to get the compulsories covered. There are certain physical requirements for health and vibrancy, and then of course there is a Spiritual timetable which, by the Grace of the Infinite, some people choose to honor. Kundalini Yoga is the best of both worlds. It allows us to experience this human experience and also gives us access to sublime Spiritual heights. May we all keep climbing! Sat Nam and Blessings.
Urban Blues
Dear Ravi and Ana, I am hoping you are willing to advise me on a new situation in my practice. I recently had to move from my very isolated and quiet farm, to a house in town on a very busy, noisy street. I've always been highly sensitive, and all the noise, light, sound, people, and cars rushing by are physically exhausting me. Is there a particular practice or mantra I can use to build up my resilience to external stimulus? I feel like I am unravelling and need some shield of protection from all the rushing energy. ( i may have to live here for 10 years!) Thank You for any suggestion. With Gratitude,
We are so sorry to hear of your life challenge! Everything contains its opposite. It's been said that, "Smooth seas don't make a skilled mariner," so this is actually an opportunity to be stronger and more resilient than ever. What's needed now is a strong nervous system, an intensified magnetic field, and a strong Navel Center. We suggest our Kundalini Yoga for Energy and Super Radiance DVD twice per week and our Navel Power twice per week. Also, this is the perfect time to do a daily Meditation practice. We suggest the Ganpati Kriya Meditation which you can read about under "G" in the A-Z Health Archive on www.raviana.com. We also suggest the PM Meditation on our Am/Pm Yoga DVD. Try to do these for 22 min. each: Ganpati Kriya in the morning, the PM Meditation before bed. We know that' s quite a homework load, but the results will be amazing. You may also want to consider simulating a little more country in your city dwelling with a white noise machine. Insulating curtains which block outside night lights may be helpful as well.
Drinking and Drubbing
Hi Ana and Ravi! First of all, I'd like to thank you for your wonderful DVDs! After countless DVDs, workshops, and classes, I just couldn't get into Hatha yoga. It felt very inaccessible to me. But then along came your DVDs and my introduction into Kundalini yoga, and now I'm hooked!
I'm having an issue with talking too much and being opinionated. Sometimes I speak out of turn and talk against people, especially after drinking alcohol. Afterwards I feel terrible and miserable, and I beat myself up for being such a bad person.
The people I usually talk about are people who I feel have "wronged" me or someone I love, and even though intellectually I understand that people who make us uncomfortable can be our best teachers. I just feel angry a lot of the time and it comes out in this way.
The other thing I'm experiencing and I think is linked, is that I care- A LOT- about what other people think of me. To the point that I feel paralyzed. Thank you for taking the time to read my email and I appreciate any thoughts you have about the issues I'm facing!
It is actually a good thing that you have been observing yourself and have the desire to self-improve. The beauty of Kundalini Yoga is that it helps to correct issues even as we are struggling to understand them. What seems to be happening is that you are overcompen- sating (by disapproving of others) to make up for a need for validation. Of course the cure is to validate yourself. In practical terms we recommend Navel Chakra work. That will help you to be more patient with others and to turn anger into inspiration. It will also help you put the brakes on with regard to certain entrenched behaviors and create new momentum. We recommend our Navel Power DVD at least 2 - 3 times per week as well as our Journey thru the Chakras DVD 1 - 2 times per week. So Darshan Chakra Kriya which you can read about under "S" on the A-Z Health archive on raviana.com is an amazing practice which will help you make breakthroughs you never thought possible. 'Caring A LOT about what other people think of you,' means that somewhere in there, you care a lot! That means that your heart is wide open and you are ready to make a huge difference in the lives of many. It's simply a matter of getting in phase with your special gifts. We hope that sometime down the road, you will consider taking one of our Teacher Trainings! We wish you joy, health, and abundant blessings! |
Gian Siddhi Kriya
taught by Yogi Bhajan July 28th 1992
Have your hands over your ears, fingers pointing straight back. Chant the Sarb Shakti Mantra:
Gobinday, Mukunday, Udaray , Uparay, Hariang, Kariang, Nearnomay, Akamay four times per breath. Eyes closed. Start with 11 min. and build up to 31 min. over time.
If you would like a free pronunciation sound file, please e-mail us at ravianayoga@aol.com
Yogi Bhajan's Comments:
'This gives control of the 108 elements of the Universe and control over Life and Death. If you master this practice you will gain Gian Siddhi, the power to know, when you are talking to someone, that whatever they are talking, thinking, or saying inside, will be as clear to you as a loudspeaker. You may be diplomatic and tolerate the falsehoods, but you will know the truth, and what they are all about. When you practice this Meditation with your inner sensory system, you will start hearing the inner sound. And as the inner sounds start developing you will begin to know the little sound of your conscience and Consciousness.'
Additional Comments: Gian translates as Wisdom. Siddhi is a gift of Grace granted through discipline. Siddhis are yogic "powers," which allow us to be super-sensory. May our humility always be commensurate with our attainment. The Sarb Shakti ("all powerful") mantra is known as a "fate killer." The implications of that are truly profound. When we apply ourselves to a Spiritual practice with our hearts and souls, a point comes when new vistas and possibilities reveal themselves to us. The existence of something beyond the body can no longer be denied.
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We wish you an exhilarating, fun, and joyful November!
 All Best, Ana Brett & Ravi Singh Disclaimer: The advice we give is in no way intended as a substitute for medical counseling. Please consult your physician before beginning any exercise program or nutritional protocol |
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