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Kundalini
Yoga
Times Of India
Techniques Of Kundalini Yoga
Breath, sound and meditation are the main resources of
kundalini
yoga. For example, a school of Kundalini yoga is probably
best
recognised for its frequent use of 'Breath of Fire' and the
mantra 'Sat Nam'. Breath of Fire is a breathing exercise
where you
inhale and exhale rapidly through the nose without pausing,
and pump
the navel point while using the abdomen as a bellows. Sat
Nam
means 'truth is my identity' and, as a chant, is used to
stop mind
chatter by creating a rhythm that produces higher
consciousness.
The postures, or asana , of kundalini are mostly taken from
hatha
yoga. The difference is that Hatha yoga postures are
typically held
on in same position for some time, while kundalini postures
primarily
use continuous movement -- breathing, chanting and flexing
the spine -
to allow the kundalini, the life force, to circulate freely
in the
body thus energising the subtle and invisible charkas in the
astral
body.
Some techniques
Take your RIGHT hand and make a fist with your thumb out
straight.
Put that thumb in your upper heart/heart chakra area. Now
look at
your fingers they are going the way a healthy chakra would
go. This
applies to all the chakras down the front of your body, 3rd
eye /
throat / heart / solar / sacral and the root / base, however
for your
root the thumb should be pointing up vertically into your
body.
Kundalini Basics
Awaken your body's untapped energies with kundalini yoga.
Kundalini Yoga, the 'king' of yogas, draws from all yogic
systems and
techniques.
Kundalini is the agent of self-transformation on the
physical,
mental, emotional, psychic and spiritual levels.
Kundalini awakening is a process, which taps into the
blueprint for
higher consciousness, which is latent within every human.
The Kundalini yoga is a must for all who practice or wish to
learn
about this powerful and proven system for
self-transformation and
personal development.
It is important not to confuse Kundalini awakening with
enlightenment.
Enlightenment rarely results from a single encounter with
the
numinous. It is more as if the energetic awakening initiates
an
expansion in consciousness, which sets the scene for a
progression of
many experiences with transpersonal states of consciousness.
The
intensity and duration of each of glimpse varies with our
readiness
to contain and integrate them.
Thus the Kundalini awakening is not an end point in itself,
but the
beginning of a transformation of consciousness, which
expands our
capacity to Know the infinite.
Spiritual development often includes expanded perceptual
abilities,
increased energy, creative expression and a dedication to
being of
service for the greater good.
In practical terms, the transformation this brings to all
those who
awaken the kundalini and make it circulate freely, is that
they live
with more contentment or a gentler perspective, more
involved and
committed in service to others, perhaps more energized and
expressive, and displaying unconditional love for all.
I hope you will benefit from this article and draw on your
support as
required. We are all on the same voyage of self-discovery.
It will be
nice and quicker to travel together.
Pitfalls Of Kundalini Yoga
We are treading sacred waters here. To plunge in recklessly
is to
risk self-annihilation.
When Kundalini awakening happens to people who are not on a
spiritual
path, the experience can leave them fragile and fragmented.
As the
Kundalini process involves a redefinition and reintegration
of self,
it adds extra pressure when people wish to suppress the
transformation and insist to lead their lives normally.
Of greatest benefit is a supportive framework, which can
allow people
to make sense of the intricate connection between spirit and
the
movement of physical energy in the body, rather than fearing
they are
going insane. It is important to understand that Kundalini
awakening
is a process that taps into the blueprint for higher
consciousness,
which is latent within every human.
While the enormous changes associated with a spiritual
awakening may
demand psychological and social adjustments, they are not in
themselves necessarily indicative of illness. Communication
and
connection with others who can provide support and a
meaningful
context for understanding the process reduces the isolation
and
overwhelm and can help to minimise the disturbance. Someone
who has
the personal qualities of creative adaptation to change and
a
flexible mental framework is more likely to weather the
changes with
grace and style than those who are rigid in their beliefs
and world
view.
Essential precautions
When practising this system of yoga, please be careful about
these
points:
•
• There may be heat developing in the body. You may wish to
go slow
on the exercises a little for some days.
•
• There may be tingling sensations in the spinal column,
palms of the
hands or soles of the feet. This is due to energy rising and
freely
circulating leading to opening of sleeping charkas. You
should not
bother too much as it will gradually subside.
•
• Negative thoughts and desire to express violent emotions.
This is
part of the energy rising and cleansing process. Control and
practise
the yamas and niyamas strictly.
Understanding Kundalini Yoga
Kundalini ' literally means, 'coiled one'. The Oriental
(Eastern)
Spirituality defines 'Ananda' as Bliss; the letter 'A'
symbolising
Shakti . Kundalini is the primordial ' Shakti' or cosmic
energy that
lies coiled in the muladhara chakra (Base or Root Chakra)
corresponding to the base of spine, in your body.
The cosmic energy is your life force, which keeps your body
alive,
and can be pictured as a coiled snake living at the base of
the
spine.
When awakened, Kundalini begins to move upward within the
sushumna,
the subtle central channel, piercing the chakras and
initiating
various yogic processes, which bring about total
purification and
rejuvenation of the entire being. When Kundalini enters the
sahasrara
( the Crown Chakra) region, the spiritual center in the
crown of the
head, the individual self merges in the universal Self and
attains
the state of Self-realisation.
The goal of ' Kundalini Yoga ' is to en the life force by
causing
energy to travel up through the spine, where it will
stimulate
various chakras (emotional centers throughout the body).
Kundalini
yoga can be profoundly emotional - it can allow you to see
what's
really going on in your life; if helps you become more aware
of
negative thought patterns and make the choice to change
them.
Symptoms Of Kundalini Awakening
While the awakening Kundalini may be a dramatic experience,
the
resultant shift in consciousness may be accompanied by years
of
physical and psychological upheavals.
The process of Kundalini awakening can vary greatly from
person to
person. Some have intense physical symptoms, while others
experience
mainly emotional or psychological symptoms. It is as if the
new
energy invites a spring-cleaning the entire system, with
unresolved
physical or emotional conditions coming up for resolution
and
release. The life transforming changes which accompany a
Kundalini
awakening cover the entire physiological, emotional, mental
and
spiritual spectrum.
Greenwell (1990) has noted seven categories of symptoms
which have
been observed during Kundalini awakening.
Pranic movements or kriyas
Prana is the Hindu word for vital energy. Thus as intense
energy
moves through the body and clears out physiological blocks;
a person
may experience intense involuntary, jerking movements of the
body,
including shaking, vibrations, spasm and contraction. As
deeply held
armouring and blockages to the smooth flow of energy are
released,
the person may re-access memories and emotions associated
with past
trauma and injury.
Yogic Phenomen
Some people find themselves performing yogic postures or
hand mudra
gestures, which they have never learned or could not do, in
a normal
state of consciousness.
Similarly, they may produce Sanskrit words or sounds, or
have an
awareness of inner music or sound, mantras or tones. Unusual
breathing patterns may appear with either very rapid or
slow, shallow
breathing. Some people may not breathe at all for extended
periods.
Physiological Symptoms
Kundalini awakening often generates unusual physiological
activity as
intense movement of energy releases toxins in the body.
Symptoms
include apparent heart problems, pains in head and spine,
gastrointestinal disturbances and nervous problems.
Internal sensations have been reported as sensations of
burning, over
sensitivity to sensory input, hyperactivity or lethargy,
great
variations in sexual desire and even spontaneous orgasm.
Symptoms can
be erratic, coming and going without provocation, but are
generally
unresponsive to medical treatment.
Psychological Upheaval
Spiritual awakening offers a direct challenge to the primacy
of ego
consciousness and the myth of separation. It brings with it
a
challenge to move beyond the unconscious responses ruled by
drives
and instincts and remove ego consciousness from the center
stage of
the psyche. It comes as no surprise that such a challenge
produces a
period of confusion and unbalance. People find themselves
beset by
inexplicable emotional states as they move to clear out
unresolved
issues. The emotional roller coaster may swing from feelings
of
anxiety, guilt and depression, through to compassion, love
and joy,
with accompanying bouts of uncontrollable weeping.
Extra Sensory Experiences
As perception expands outside of consensus reality, people
experience
atypical visual phenomena, including visions of lights,
symbols,
entities, or review of past life experiences. Auditory input
may
include hearing voices, music, inner sounds or mantras. Even
the
olfactory system may be stimulated with perception of scents
of
sandalwood, rose or incense. There may also be disruption of
the
autonomous perceptive system, with 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.
Psychic Phenomena
With the opening up of psychic abilities, a person may
experience
precognition, telepathy, psycho kinesis, awareness of auras
and
healing abilities.
Mystical States of Consciousness
A person may shift into altered states of consciousness
where they
directly perceive the unity underlying the world of
separation and
experience a deep peace and serenity with a profound knowing
of
wisdom. In some cases, the state of emergency due to
psychological
upheaval is so acute that it resembles a psychotic episode.
Many clinicians still regard phenomena associated with
spiritual
emergence as indicative of pathology because the signs are
so easily
confused with the indicators of psychosis, mania,
depression,
schizophrenia or borderline personality disorder. Many
people
undergoing spiritual emergency are misdiagnosed and treated
with
suppressive medication, which further complicates their
process.
Advantages Of Kundalini Yoga
By practising Kundalini yoga, and depending on the degree
and quality
of practice, you will:
•
• Be able to make your spinal cord both flexible and erect
leading to
freedom from many illnesses.
•
• Get firm will power and determination thereby
accomplishing most of
your tasks with ease and dexterity.
•
• Can get psychic or paranormal experiences wherein you
could be able
to read or communicate directly with other minds
(telepathy), move
objects with your mind (teleporting), see colors around
persons
(auras), see visions of the future (clairvoyance), etc, and
•
• Be able to realise your true nature and achieve unity with
the
Eternal Spirit.
Kundalini Yoga
Times Of India
http://spirituality.indiatimes.com/articlelist/211482916.cms
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