Kundalini Yoga: Beneficial or Dangerous? Sadhguru speaks about what kundalini is, and looks at the process of Kundalini Yoga. He explores how this powerful spiritual process should be approached with utmost responsibility and reverence. Sadhguru: In the yogic culture, the snake is a symbolism for kundalini – the unmanifest energy within you. Kundalini and perception Heightened states of energy are also heightened states of perception. Kundalini and the Third Eye The third eye does not mean someone’s forehead has cracked and something came out. Kundalini Yoga: Preparation first! Nowadays, a lot of books and yoga studios talk about Kundalini Yoga and its benefits, though they don’t know anything about it. Kundalini Yoga is the most dangerous form Kundalini Yoga in its essence is the most dangerous form of yoga. If the necessary supportive atmosphere is not there, simply attempting to raise kundalini could be very irresponsible and dangerous. This doesn’t mean there is something wrong with Kundalini Yoga. You may also like
Yoga for Concentration We live in a short attention span world. Between Twitter, Facebook, text messages, and TV, we’re used to getting information and processing it in teensy little bursts. While that’s great for communication, it’s not so great for our overall concentration. It might seem a bit overwhelming to tear ourselves away from the screen and take some time to just breathe and focus, but the benefits are well worth it! This yoga routine focuses on moving slowly, breathing deeply, and sinking into the flow of the poses. Yoga Routine for Concentration Breathe to Find Your Center Start out in easy pose, sitting cross legged, focusing on keeping your back straight. Once you’re relaxed, do a couple of breathing exercises to further focus your mind: Alternate Nostril Breathing. Image Credit: Yoga for Concentration photo via Thinkstock Twist to Improve Concentration It’s important when you’re doing twist poses that you don’t push yourself too hard. Revolved Head to Knee. Downward Dog. Flow with Arm Balances
What is Kundalini and how to Activate it? I can recall in my spiritual journey a time of inner purification, which steadily integrated and unleashed soul through my being. Each step was like a home coming - a remembrance of who I was and where I really came from. But nothing was quite like the power of Kundalini Reactivation: the unification of higher and lower self, which I experienced as the top of my head lifting off and a fountain of light connecting me deep into the cosmos. This truly was like coming home! So what exactly is Kundalini and how do we activate it?... What is Kundalini? To me the soul is a flowing stream of consciousness, out from the source and back again. Most - if not all - have suffered the loss of this inherent condition early in life. We can reactivate this kundalini. How to activate Kundalini? Firstly, it greatly helps to keep reminding yourself of the higher connection through spiritual practice. But this connection to higher self is not the end of the story. Opening the channels for Kundalini
Yoga for Energy Feeling a little run down? Try some yoga for energy to get your heart pumping and your blood flowing. We think of yoga as being soothing and relaxing, but it can be incredibly energizing, too. Strenuous postures get your heart pumping and can help improve energy levels. Others help your body process those strenuous postures so you finish your practice feeling refreshed, not pooped. Related Reading: Yoga for Concentration You can do this yoga series all in a row, transitioning from pose to pose. Want to get in on the action? 1. Start in a standing position with your feet just hip-width apart. Once you’re feeling calm and centered raise your hands — still in prayer position — over your head. 2. Release your hands from prayer position, rotating your palms to face forward, then bring your arms parallel to the floor and swan dive forward, until you are in a full standing forward bend.
Yoga Breathing Exercises - Pranayama Yoga breathing exercises, which are called pranayama in Sanskrit, may be done in association with yoga poses or just while sitting quietly. Here are some of the most common types of yoga breathing exercises and their benefits. Introduction to Pranayama Breathing ExercisesExplanation of pranayama and instruction for calming and invigorating breathing exercises. Alternate Nostril Breathing – Nadi SodhanaCalm yourself with Nadi Sodhana. Equal Breathing - Sama Vritti PranayamaIn sama vritti, you focus on inhaling and exhaling for the same amount of time. Cooling Breath - Shitali PranayamaHow to Practice Cooling Breath - Shitali Pranayama. Ocean Breath – Ujjayi PranayamaOcean Breath – Ujjayi Pranayama is an important part of a vinyasa yoga practice. Skull Shining Breath – Kapalabhati PranayamaWarm up with Kapalabhati Pranayama. Three-Part Breath – Dirga PranayamaLearn to calm yourself with Three-Part Breath. Lion's BreathRoar!
10 Yoga Poses to Improve Circulation Poor circulation can cause all sorts of problems in your body like fluid retention and swelling in the lower extremeties. Often the causes of poor circulation are out of our control, but one way to improve your body’s circulation is with exercise. Check out these yoga poses to help get your heart pumping and your blood flowing! Swelling is more than a cosmetic concern – it can be very uncomfortable. Related Reading: Yoga for Concentration For example, my pregnancy is causing some swelling in my feet and ankles, and practicing yoga helps bring that swelling down visibly. Ready to get moving and give the ol’ circulatory system a boost?
Why Awaken Kundalini? Everybody should know something about kundalini as it represents the coming consciousness of mankind. Kundalini is the name of a sleeping dormant potential force in the human organism and it is situated at the root of the spinal column. In the masculine body it is in the perineum, between the urinary and excretory organs. In the female body its location is at the root of the uterus, in the cervix. This center is known as mooladhara chakra and it is actually a physical structure. It is a small gland which you can even take out and press. To awaken kundalini you must prepare yourself through yogic techniques. Although kundalini is said to reside in mooladhara chakra, we are all at different stages of evolution, and in some of us kundalini may have already reached swadhisthana, manipura or anahata chakra. Once the multipetalled lotus of sahasrara blossoms, a new consciousness dawns. Whatever happens in spiritual life, it is related to the awakening of kundalini. Who can awaken Kundalini?
Yoga for Lower Back Pain If you’re coping with lower back pain, you know how debilitating it can be. We’ve rounded up some basic yoga poses to help relieve pain in your low back. When you’re dealing with low back pain, you really get a sense of how much you use those muscles throughout the day, don’t you? From sitting at your computer to digging in the garden to doing laundry, your back takes a lot of abuse. Related Reading: 10 Exercises for Better Posture Of course, if your back pain is severe, it’s a good idea to talk to your doctor first. If your back pain is from poor posture, days spent sitting at the desk, or even menstrual cramps, these poses can go a long way in giving you some relief! 1. Cat/Cow is actually a pair of yoga poses, but they go so well together, let’s just lump them into one! To practice these postures, you’ll want to get on your hands and knees with your hands lined up beneath your shoulders and your knees in line with your hips. 2. 3. Talk about a good, deep stretch! 4. 5.
8 Simple Yoga Poses You Should Do Every Day It's not always easy to get to yoga class. Whether it's a late night at work or something else, we get it; sometimes that hour of downward dogging just doesn't happen. There's no reason not to strike a few poses throughout the day, though. In fact, you can reap most of the same benefits of a class by spending a few minutes throughout the day doing a backbend, warrior pose or opening up your hips. Here are 7 yoga poses to do every day -- yes, even at the office. When You Wake Up Cat-Cow (Damon Dahlen/Huffington Post) Cat-cow is the perfect way to wake up the entire spine after it's been resting for a solid seven to eight hours (we hope). Downward Dog Downward dog stretches out the back, legs and arms. Mid-Morning Standing Forward Fold When you've been sitting all morning, a standing forward fold is a great (and not all that noticeable) way too stretch your legs and back. After Lunch Seated Forward Fold Mid-Afternoon Warrior 2 Evening Pigeon Pose Child's Pose
7 Yoga Poses to Help You Sleep It’s 12:00 midnight—you’ve put the finishing touches on tomorrow’s presentation, done some much-needed laundry, and put the kids to bed (though how long they’ll actually stay in bed is anyone’s guess). You retreat underneath the covers, eager to capture a few hours of shut-eye. The problem is, your eyes—and your brain—refuse to close. Sound familiar? The occasional sleepless night, while annoying, is no big deal. Can yoga help you snag extra sleep? One way you may be able to snatch some extra shut-eye is by adopting a nightly yoga routine. Harvard University researchers recently discovered that a regular yoga practice helped people fall asleep faster, stay asleep longer and improved the overall quality of their rest. Previous studies have also linked the ancient form of exercise to improvements in sleep efficiency for post-menopausal women, cancer survivors and those suffering from osteoarthritis. These findings come as no surprise to long-time yoga devotees. Just breathe
Breathing: Three Exercises "Practicing regular, mindful breathing can be calming and energizing and can even help with stress-related health problems ranging from panic attacks to digestive disorders." Andrew Weil, M.D. Since breathing is something we can control and regulate, it is a useful tool for achieving a relaxed and clear state of mind. I recommend three breathing exercises to help relax and reduce stress: The Stimulating Breath, The 4-7-8 Breathing Exercise (also called the Relaxing Breath), and Breath Counting. Try each of these breathing teachniques and see how they affect your stress and anxiety levels. Exercise 1: The Stimulating Breath (also called the Bellows Breath) The Stimulating Breath is adapted from yogic breathing techniques. Inhale and exhale rapidly through your nose, keeping your mouth closed but relaxed. If done properly, you may feel invigorated, comparable to the heightened awareness you feel after a good workout. Watch a video of Dr. Exercise 2: The 4-7-8 (or Relaxing Breath) Exercise
Kundalini Rising: A Comprehensive Guide To The 7 Chakras Kundalini Rising, Part 1: The Root Chakra “Until you make the unconscious conscious, it will direct your life and you will call it fate.” ~ Carl Jung Imagine your spine is a tree trunk with seven ascending flowers (chakras) growing out of it. These flowers are either opened or closed depending upon your health, mental disposition, and ability to communicate with the cosmos. These flowers emit a distinct energy unique to your personal frequency, but they are profoundly interconnected, both with each other and with the greater cosmos. This article will discuss the significance of the first of these chakras: Muladhara, the root chakra. If the crown chakra is the Übermensch (overman) of the Kundalini process, then the root chakra is the Untermensch (underman). The root chakra is symbolized by a red lotus with four petals. The deity associated with this region is Indra who is often depicted riding a white seven-tusked elephant. Root Chakra Meditation/ How to Open the Root chakra
Meditation Breathing Techniques Next you want to deepen your rumination even further, and you can use many meditation breathing techniques to fast track the process. With total focus, take three slow, deep, breaths; simple meditation breathing techniques use a count of eight for your inhalation, then hold the breath for the count of eight and exhale for the same. This keeps the breathing even and also gives your body an oxygen boost which relaxes you even further. If a thought does pop into your mind throughout the session, as before, remind yourself everything is fine and all will resolve just as it should. Take comfort knowing after your meditation you can spend time thinking about whatever you like, but now is not the time. It is not uncommon for people to experience restlessness or a moment of discomfort during the initial meditation breathing technique’s effects. Meditation breathing techniques are the most important part of the meditating process. By Jack McCoy Popular related searches: