In those days we found things in the phone book. I was nineteen, looking for my first yoga class, and I had stumbled upon something called Kundalini Yoga, which was advertised as being helpful for transformation. "That one," I said, "Transformation is definitely what I need." So I tried it out and it blew my expectations right out of the water, changed my life, and hasn't let up since.
Now as we find ourselves on the cusp of the Aquarian Age, change and personal growth is happening just as part of life, in big and often disruptive waves – whether we like it or not. And Kundalini Yoga is right there, ready to help. It doesn't just instigate change, it is a tool for assimilating the shifts that are occurring in life and helping us stay sane in the process. When it comes to times of transformation, Kundalini Yoga is the Chuck Norris of Yoga. It eats change for breakfast.
When feeling pummeled by life, anything we do that serves the truth of our spirit will be of help. And since Kundalini Yoga fosters that connection, and balance overall, we can pick just about any yoga set or meditation and feel better from it. Here is small sampling of some Kundalini Yoga gems that are particularly effective for times of change:
Breath
Pranayama exercises are simple, yet profound, approaches to whole body balancing. By guiding the rhythm and pacing of breath, we affect the way we feel, act, and live.
Long deep breathing, and the more advanced extension of One Minute Breath, are effective pranayama practices for reducing stress, strengthening the nervous system, and creating a balanced, present mental state.
Breath of Fire is a cleansing breath, releasing toxins and bringing a sense of renewal and focus. Additionally, it is a great breath to assist in letting go of old habits that no longer serve us.
Yoga
Kundalini Yoga kriyas are complete sets or processes and create shifts physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually.
Sat Kriya works through all the chakras, or energy centers, of the body and is profoundly transformational. It roots out and releases old blocks and is often described as being more effective than therapy!
The Kriya for Elevation is a great yoga set for practitioners of all experience levels. It works systematically through the body to balance and uplift.
For more advanced yogis, Transforming the Lower Triangle to the Higher Triangle is a "rock your world" kind of set that utilizes several of the practices previously mentioned. This one is intense but it definitely gets things shifting.
Meditation & Mantra
We cut through the chatter and dramas of the mind by doing inner housekeeping with meditation and mantra. It is easy to get lost in the story but with these tools we can find a still space and connect to the most expansive sense of Self.
The mantra Sa Ta Na Ma is used in Kirtan Kriya, a deeply powerful meditation for releasing old patterns and clearing the way for personal growth and mental balance.
When we are experiencing the heaviness of life challenges, the mantra Ardas Bhaee answers the call of the soul and gives us what we need to make it through.
Relaxation
Relaxation and rest is key to helping us assimilate changes at the end of a yoga class and in life, in general. Though we aren't "doing," relaxation is actually very productive and time well spent. The Guru Ram Das mantra is a classic favorite for opening the heart to compassion and healing and is a beautiful soundtrack for relaxation.
Change isn't always pretty or pleasant. But it is a gift. This is how we grow and rise to the potential of human life. Kundalini Yoga sees that potential in us and unfolds it sweetly and without hesitation.
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[...] a chance to integrate the work you've done. (I mentioned Sat Kriya recently in a previous post on Staying Sane in a Sea of Change, which also includes other applicable practices that are not mentioned [...]