A Staycation Everyday
It sounds a little sales-y, I know, but it's true. Kundalini Yoga is the best and fastest way I know to go deep within and separate from the thoughts, doubts, judgments, expectations, and to-dos swirling in my monkey mind. Everyday, I can (anyone can) access a mini-staycation, a total escape.
But how does it do that? Well, here's how it works for me. The practice doesn't really give me a choice. There are so many things bringing me into myself and the present moment that I can't get distracted. Within one Kundalini Yoga session, I'll experience breath of fire, challenging postures and meditations, mantra work, and beautiful music. Below, I explain the way each technique helps me let go.
Drowning Out My Snarkey Monkey Mind
Breath of fire is a quick, rhythmic breath in and out of the nose. You let the belly expand a bit on the inhale and pull the navel toward the spine on the exhale. When I do breath of fire, it's audible and the sound fills me, becomes my soundtrack (instead of my snarkey monkey mind). I also start to feel great. It changes me. "Breath of fire powerfully breaks the habit your nervous system may have developed of entering into and remaining in the stress response." (Hari Kaur Khalsa, A Woman's Book of Yoga).
It sounds a little sales-y, I know, but it's true. Kundalini Yoga is the best and fastest way I know to go deep within and separate from the thoughts, doubts, judgments, expectations, and to-dos swirling in my monkey mind. Everyday, I can (anyone can) access a mini-staycation, a total escape.
But how does it do that? Well, here's how it works for me. The practice doesn't really give me a choice. There are so many things bringing me into myself and the present moment that I can't get distracted. Within one Kundalini Yoga session, I'll experience breath of fire, challenging postures and meditations, mantra work, and beautiful music. Below, I explain the way each technique helps me let go.
Drowning Out My Snarkey Monkey Mind
Breath of fire is a quick, rhythmic breath in and out of the nose. You let the belly expand a bit on the inhale and pull the navel toward the spine on the exhale. When I do breath of fire, it's audible and the sound fills me, becomes my soundtrack (instead of my snarkey monkey mind). I also start to feel great. It changes me. "Breath of fire powerfully breaks the habit your nervous system may have developed of entering into and remaining in the stress response." (Hari Kaur Khalsa, A Woman's Book of Yoga).
How Many More Minutes? 9? Sh*t!
Kundalini Yoga has a reputation for not being as physical as Vinyasa because of its spiritual emphasis and near absence of chaturanga. But we have our moments. You know what I'm talking about if you've attempted 54 frogs or 3 mintues of stretch pose, or what I'm going to focus on now, a meditation with your arms up above your head for 11 minutes or more.
Here's what happens to me: I've got my arms up and for a little while it feels okay; then fatigue sets in and my monkey mind goes berserk "Why do I have to do this? How many more minutes could there be? 9? Sh*t!" Then, I realize there's no way I can go for 9 more minutes with thoughts like that. So I have to get neutral. I have to repeat a mantra: Sat Nam or I can, I can or inhale, exhale. Then, it works. I start to settle into neutrality and see a way through. On occasion, I've felt I could go forever. That's an amazing feeling!
Kundalini Yoga has a reputation for not being as physical as Vinyasa because of its spiritual emphasis and near absence of chaturanga. But we have our moments. You know what I'm talking about if you've attempted 54 frogs or 3 mintues of stretch pose, or what I'm going to focus on now, a meditation with your arms up above your head for 11 minutes or more.
Here's what happens to me: I've got my arms up and for a little while it feels okay; then fatigue sets in and my monkey mind goes berserk "Why do I have to do this? How many more minutes could there be? 9? Sh*t!" Then, I realize there's no way I can go for 9 more minutes with thoughts like that. So I have to get neutral. I have to repeat a mantra: Sat Nam or I can, I can or inhale, exhale. Then, it works. I start to settle into neutrality and see a way through. On occasion, I've felt I could go forever. That's an amazing feeling!
The Cure for Mind-Numbing, Ungratifying Chores
The music of Kundalini Yoga is heartbreakingly beautiful. If you haven't experienced the music of Mirabai Ceiba, Jai Jagdeesh, or Snatam Kaur, you're in for a treat. I can't imagine being underwhelmed by this devotional music. It's transporting.
It's hard to get stuck on your to-do list or to worry that you may have forgotten to DVR So You Think You Can Dance (which would suck, I grant you), when you're listening to the soaring sounds of Kundalini Yoga's mantra music. When I'm stuck in negativity, usually bummed about doing chores, I put on one of my favorites. It's an instant antidote to negativity.
The practice of Kundalini Yoga draws me in like nothing else I've ever experienced. I need it! I love it!
The music of Kundalini Yoga is heartbreakingly beautiful. If you haven't experienced the music of Mirabai Ceiba, Jai Jagdeesh, or Snatam Kaur, you're in for a treat. I can't imagine being underwhelmed by this devotional music. It's transporting.
It's hard to get stuck on your to-do list or to worry that you may have forgotten to DVR So You Think You Can Dance (which would suck, I grant you), when you're listening to the soaring sounds of Kundalini Yoga's mantra music. When I'm stuck in negativity, usually bummed about doing chores, I put on one of my favorites. It's an instant antidote to negativity.
The practice of Kundalini Yoga draws me in like nothing else I've ever experienced. I need it! I love it!