Sat Nam & Happy November Dear Yogis! Thanks to everyone who came to our class at Guru's Gate in Manhattan Beach, CA this month! We had a fantastic time in the other Manhattan this past week as well! During our NYC sojourn we continued work on the production phase of our book, recorded Kundalini Yoga mantras for future projects and compiled footage for our next DVD. We love focusing on all things Kundalini so are forever grateful that this is what we do! We can't wait to get all these new goodies to you and will keep you posted on the when and where of it all right here in our monthly newsletter. In the meantime we are teaching almost every weekend. We would love to see you! If you can make it to something near you (or don't mind having an adventure to a new city) - please come and say Yo (ga)! Star Struck
November prompts up to be accountable and focused as Mars and Pluto conjoin in Capricorn. This is a no nonsense combination! It will grab us by our collar to keep us on point and employ shock and awe to inspire us to do our best. Higher consciousness is key! Saturn in Scorpio which signify seriousness, ruthlessness, and perseverance will connect with sprinters Venus and Mercury to bring quick rulings from the Cosmic Judge. It's time to offset karma with dharma (a path with heart). The Mars-Pluto conjunction combined with the Saturn-Venus-Mercury conjunction can channel huge powers towards a constructive purpose. Simultaneously, Uranus will be on good terms with Jupiter located in Leo, a configuration which can bring people on the path a jolt of inspiration and some welcome and unexpected support. Next Stop Las Vegas (THIS WEEKEND)!
Sunday, November 16, Las Vegas, NV, RYK Yoga Center 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. / $45 / $40 pre-reg. / 8450 W. Sahara Ave. Suite 109 www.rykyoga.com / 702.478.9600
Springfield Teacher Training Module 3: Divine Alignment!
It's not too late to join us for our new Teacher Training in Springfield, MO. Springfield is home to a vibrant yoga scene and a fantastic group has come together for this event. It's not too late to jump on board. You can enter our Teacher Trainings at any time and do not have to complete our six modules in order. You can also complete the various modules at any place we offer a Training. There is no time limit to complete our Training.
Please note that we will be offering a class open to the public from 10:15 a.m.-12:15 p.m. Sunday 11/23.
Info/reg.: Cheryl Hemmert: 417-987-6415 / cherylhemmert [at] me.com
Our Next Teacher Training!Our next Teacher Training will be in Orwigsburg, PA (only 2 hrs. from NYC!). Module 1 begins on April 10th! Download flier here!
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Fun Kundalini Yoga Bumper Stickers!
Bumper stickers can range from cute to rude, to overly opinionated to hilariously funny. What we have NEVER seen are any Kundalini Yoga bumper stickers-so we came up with a few of our own so that all of you old soul rednecks can be represented. Honk if you like any and...NOW IT'S YOUR TURN! Please reply to this e-mail with your most crazy and creative Kundalini Yoga bumper sticker ideas. We will publish them in our next newsletter.
If you had Sat Nam you'd be home already.
Kundalini on board.
My brights aren't on, that's my aura.
I  Kundalini yoga.
Make Kundalini your daily grind.
Kundalini Yoga delivers.
Insured by Ad Guray Namay.
Legalize Breath of Fire.
I'm a Kriya-ationist
This is my Ek Ong Car.
Powered by Breath of Fire.
Proud to be a Sa Ta Ma Ma.
I'd rather be Kundalini-ing.
My other car is a Dodge Karma.
Kundalini Yogis do it with Breath of Fire.
Honk if you're squeezing Root Lock.
I'm not speeding I'm Keeping Up!
I brake for sheepskins.
Going, going, gong.
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Rise in Fall!
The sun energy of summer is waning and our "dark sides," are closer to the surface. This is actually an excellent opportunity to resolve the unresolved so that the great mystery of us can be solved. Live your colors this Fall and rise!
 
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Kundalini Yoga and Body Building
I hope all is well with you both. I hope you've had a chance to have a bit of a breather in your busy schedule! I had a question regarding body building and how KY might compliment this practice. We know that body building is not so ideal for the body, but those on this path are committed to this lifestyle. What would be the best way to use KY as a practice to support this demanding physical practice? Are there any specifics you'd recommend straight away or would you just generally say to jump right in with any KY practice?
Bodybuilders more than anyone need the type of breath work and movement Kundallni Yoga provides to keep the fascia and muscles flexible and fluid. Any Kundalini Yoga will do. They also need Sat Kriya and Sat Nam because body building (as opposed to weight training which is great for bone density and a great adjunct to any form of exercise/fitness) often represents a first chakra issue around control and body dysmorphia which is an imbalance of the psyche.
Everyone who does Kundalini Yoga will begin to bring their lives and outlook into balance. Even though body building is a kind of extremism, everything does contain its opposite. On one hand it's totally centered on the body but all of the discipline, focus, and commitment a person utilized in their training can immediately be directed towards soul development and great gains on the inner planes.
Chakra Balance
Hi Ana and Ravi, I hope you are both doing well! I was reading this past newsletter - the question about which DVD goes with which chakra and how certain chakras balance each other. I'm wondering, as a follow-up to that, if you work one chakra out of a pair, can the other chakra in the pair become off-balanced? I'm wondering if over focusing on the high level chakras (6,7,8) without attention to the lower levels can cause an imbalance? Or if you are working on one chakra in the pair can that shift energy in it's polar opposite? Sat Nam!
Working any chakra in the context of a Spiritual practice (and life exercise) is a good thing. It is possible though to over-focus on the higher chakras with the result that things are swept under the carpet in relationships, emotions, security issues, etc.. The touchstone for this chakra polarity model should be one's life. An honest self-assessment will invariably bring things into stark clarity in terms of which chakras over over or under active. For instance if you feel you need grounding, it's important to support the 7th chakra through work on the 1st. If you feel that you're too indulgent in your sex life you might want to work on the 6th chakra for gain discernment. If you're not sure which chakra to work on, you can never go wrong by working on the Navel and Third Eye. The Navel Chakra makes energy available that the chakras can draw upon and the Third Eye directs the energy to the chakras that need it to help us truly transform. Sat Nam & Blessings!
Breath of Fire Confusion
Ravi and Ana, I have a great deal of trouble with coordinating the action of my navel with my breath of fire. You are supposed to move your stomach out when you inhale, and pull in your stomach when you exhale (like normal breathing). But I almost always after doing breath of fire for a short while I start to reverse it and do stomach out on the exhale, which seems more natural to me, and then I have to stop and try to get back in synch, repeatedly. How important is it to do this right? Would it be better to address this problem by doing breath of fire very slowly, or would it be better to just do breath of fire at regular fast speed and not worry about it when I get off track with coordinating breath and navel? Thanks!
While it is very important to do Breath of Fire correctly, we suggest that you don't worry about your navel, etc. The key is to keep everything relaxed, feel the rhythm, and let the breath breathe you. Just make sure that the breath is even on the in and out and that everything from your nose down is relaxed. Find a rhythm that's right for you. Breath of Fire is like regular breathing speeded up. While initially we may feel a lack of coordination, trust that your body already knows how to do it and just go along for the ride! Please review this post on our A-Z Health archive on raviana.com
Sciatic Blues
i have a question for you. After all these years of doing the sciatica stretch - why do i still have a little man with a knife who insists on stabbing me behind the knees every time i do it? it has never improved. oh, don't get me wrong: i can still fold myself over almost completely at 62, so i ain't complainin', but i kinda am.
Remember that the sciatic nerve is the longest nerve in the nervous system and has a tie in with every system via the nerve network. It may be that you need some fascia release. The backs of the legs also relates to the element water and thus emotions. We recommend the Sa Ta Na Ma Meditation. Also, make sure that you're doing appropriate counter poses. Best exercise to counter sciatic stretch: hip raises: on back, arms by sides palms down or hold ankles. At a moderate pace: inhale raise hips, exhale press lower back ribs into floor. 1-3 min. Foam rollers can be very useful as well to help massage out areas of tightness that may be contributing to the discomfort you are experiencing. We also recommend giving up (not cutting down) coffee, dairy, alcohol, etc. You will find a direct correlation between your diet/lifestyle and your flexibility quotient.
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Meditation of the Month
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Sudarshan Chakra (not to be confused with So Darshan Chakra Kriya) involves a special way of chanting the Aap Sahaaee Hoaa mantra to give us the power to "rotate the psyche of the Universe."
Sit in Easy Pose and chant: Ap Sahaee Hoa Suchay Da Suchah Doa Har Har Har.
Imagine the sound current leaving from mid-back at the level of your Heart Center, circling up over your head, and then returning back to the Heart Center at your sternum. This
circular form creates a moving chakra or wheel.
As you chant Aap Sahaaee Hoaa visualize energy flowing from your
mid-back, and starting to go up, above your head.
As you chant Sachay Daa Sachah Doa visualize the current expanding up to the ethers.
As you chant Har Har Har allow the energy from the Infinite flow down, streaming into and penetrating through your Heart Center. Let your Heart Chakra be be cleared, purified and strengthened.
Accent each Har by pulling your navel in slightly. As you chant Har your mouth is open as if in a 3/4 yawn. This allows the tongue to flick the upper palate and stimulates the hypothalamus which is the control mechanism for the pituitary and pineal glands.
To End: Inhale, and hold. "Pray and powerfully project." "Realize the Factual Self of Yours."
Start with 11 minutes. Work up to 62 minutes a day.
Yogi Bhajan's Comments: If you can circulate the energy this way, it gives you "piston power." Although we move the navel point as we chant Har, the overall meditation is from the Heart Center. When we speak or chant from the navel it opens the heart of the hearer. The Heart Center is the strongest of all the chakras. It has the power of 108 suns. Whenever you pray with your head it works like a computer and is a very long, slow process. When you chant or pray from your heart it is timeless, spaceless, and absolutely effective. It works. Praying from the heart is 108 trillion times more effective than praying from the head. |
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Ana on Twitter - Tweet! Tweet! Be the recipient of Ana's sky blue tweets!
Our Website- Check out our tour schedule, A - Z Health Archive, More!
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 We wish you an exhilarating, fun, and joyful November!
Sat Nam & Blessings!
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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