"God respects me when I work, but He loves me when I sing."

-Sufi Saying

Why is the breath so important in Yoga?

In the orient, it is said that when a child is born, the life span is already pre-determined, pre-measured, pre-ordained and pre-destined - not by years but by the number of breaths allotted. If you breathe slower, you will live longer. You will also live healthier.

The rate and rhythm of the breath are intimately connected to our mental and emotional states. In fact, just as the emotions and the mind cause the breath to vary, by consciously controlling the breath we gain control over the mind and the emotions. By slowing down the breath, we calm the mind and cool down our emotional energy.


-excerpt from "Kundalini Yoga: The Flow of Eternal Power"

Camel Pose

^ Begin by sitting on the heels and rising up onto the knees
^ Root yourself with the knees, press firmly into the earth
^ Bring the pelvis/hips forward
^ Tilt the tailbone under
^ Lift the heart center and exhale as you lean back
^ Grab your heels or ankles
^ Drop the hed back
^ Breathe long and deep



Checkpoints:
*Do not have the knees too far apart. Keep them approximately two fists apart.

Effects of the posture: Camel Pose adjusts the reproductive organs and opens the heart center. This posture is also excellent for spine health. We need a flexible spine in order to cultivate a flexible attitude, to be able to relax and be strong at the same time.

They want you to say what?!

Like a chorus of angels they chanted "Ong Namo Guru Dev Namo."

Ong - The creative divine manifested
Namo - I bow
Guru - The Teacher. The one who takes you from darkness to light
Dev - infinite divine
Namo - I bow

"Ong Namo Guru Dev Namo."

"I Bow to the Creator, to the Divine Teacher Within.

Every Kundalini class opens with the chanting of this powerful mantra three times. Intially, sitting there in the midst of so many unfamiliar people taking part in an even more unfamiliar practice (to me certainly), I stalled. I felt that feeling many american church girls feel in the face of chanting, bowing or making any gesture of reverence unrelated to my faith. I placed my hands in the prayer pose, lowered my eyes and said nothing. But I could not help but listen. Several classes later and upon really understanding the meaning in the mantra (although the translation is always given for the benefit of newcomers) I was overcome with gratitude.

Imagine that, I thought; acknowledging the divine creative within me....and bowing to it no less. It is like giving a little girl a sparkling wand and a princess crown. From my mouth to my own ears it was permission to acknowledge and thereby actualize, my highest most amazing self.

Growing up in church I have bowed my head to pray, often bowed my head in shame but never had I bowed my head to acknowledge my own divinity, the reality of my own creative soul. And I understood immediately that once you
get in the habit of doing this, bowing in acknowledgement of this highest part of you, this part that connects directly with God, there is that much less of a chance that you will continue to fall backwards into the things that harm, or disassemble you.

There is another mantra we chant in the practice of Kundalini Yoga; this one in english, "God and me, me and God are one." When an entire practice is designed to make this fact unwaveringly clear, it really is the beginning of a powerful, transformative way to Be.

Why do we chant mantras?

The scientific use of sound to affect consciousness is called Mantra Yoga. Next to breathing (necessary for any endeavor), the use of Mantra is the most important aspect of the practice of Kundalini Yoga.

"MAN" means Mind. "TRA" means to tune the vibration (just as one tunes the guitar). Mantra is the sound current which tunes and controls mental vibration. Silence makes you aware of the many experiences of the mind while repeating mantra aloud restructures the patterns in the mind that allow experience.

Chanting mantras either silently or aloud is a conscious method of controlling and directing the mind. Happiness, sorrow, joy and regret are vibratory frequencies in the mind. Call them atttitudes or beliefs but fundamentally they are vibratory frequencies or thought waves. They determine the kind of program our mind plays. What we choose becomes our vibration, defines how we feel and what we project to others. And we have the right and access to choose differently at any time.

So think of yourself as a divine instrument with strings. When you chant, the vibration of the strings causes all thirty trilion cells of your body to resonate, to dance - forming the patterns that shape you physically, emotionally and mentally.

Rx for *congestion

Mix 1 tsp of Celtic Sea Salt in 8 oz of warm water
pour water into palm
sniff salt water mixture through nostrils (this will be a new kind of uncomfortable for beginners)
blow salt water mixture out through nostrils (it may also come out of the mouth. don't be alarmed)

later.rinse. repeat.

Do this twice a day for as long as congestion persists. Also sleep with a humidifier to moisten night air.

Be well,
Kundalini Yogini


*regular bouts of congestion or increases of mucus in the sytem could be a sign that there is too much sugar, dairy and meat in the diet. Reduce consumption of these items for optimum health.

"Difficult things take a long time. The impossible takes a little Longer"

-Yogi Bhajan




*Siri Shiva (pictured above) can be contacted at bluyoga.com

Is Kundalini Yoga associated with a religion?

No. Kundalini Yoga (and yoga in general) is a technology for health and consciousness that predates religion. It is practiced by people of all faiths. Our teachers represent many paths including Christian, Buddhist, Jewish, Sikh, and others. Teachers who visually exemplify a religious path (such as Sikh teachers who wear turbans as part of daily attire) do so because of their personal beliefs.

The technology of Kundalini Yoga is aimed at the spirit that has no boundaries. No matter what, if any, religious path a person follows, Kundalini Yoga helps practitioners experience fully what they believe.

Why do Kundalini Yogi's cover their head?

The practical reason for wearing a head covering can be summed up as follows: Your head is a very sensitive part of the body.

1.) The skull is made up of tiny bones that are constantly moving even if only by micromillimeters and the degree to which they move impacts levels of calmness or anxiety. Covering the head provides a sense of containment and focus while practicing yoga or while doing work that requires clarity of thought. It literally helps "keep your head together".

2.) The forehead consists of porous bone which allows light to pass through it and stimulate the light sensitive pituitary gland. The pituitary is the master gland which regulates all other glands. If it is not stimulated by enough light, a lack of glandular secretion can result including the "feel-goods" dopamine, seratonin and melatonin. Therefore keeping this area of the forehead clear (having the hair up or not wearing bangs) can help with these hormone levels.

Wearing a head covering when you teach or practice enables you to command your sixth center, the Agia Chakra or the third eye point (where we gain access to our intuition). Covering the head stabilizes the cerebral matter and the twenty-six parts of the brain which are interlocked with the neurological system and electromagnetic field. Covering the head creates a focus of the functional circuit of the hemispheres, and tunes the neurological system. Kundalini Yogi’s are taught that the hair is alive and has an energy function. We are training ourselves to be aware of and master our subtle energies and all teachers cover their head and hair with a cotton cloth or wrapped turban. Any natural fiber head covering is functional.

Rx for Canker Sores

For healing and pain relief:

- Create a "canker concoction"
mix sea salt
one crushed asprin (or two baby asprin)
and 8 oz warm water

gargle for 30 sceonds (repeat twice)

- Drink water with fresh squeezed lemon

- Alkalize the body - Google "Alkaline vs. Acidic foods" for a complete list of ways to bring the acid level - which causes canker sores - down and the alkaline levels up.

- Get adequate rest. A sleeping body is a healing body.

- Breathe deeply (and practice yoga) to eliminate stress; it too causes canker sores.

Be well,
Kundalini Yogini

What is Kundalini Yoga?

Kundalini Yoga is a 5,000 year old system of yoga exercises and meditation that promotes health, happiness and awareness. Combining breathing (pranayam), movement (asana) and sound (mantra), Kundalini Yoga is a safe, comprehensive technology that can be practiced by anyone.

Practicing Kundalini Yoga keeps the body in shape, increases vitality and trains the mind to be strong and flexible in the face of stress and change. It balances the glandular system, strengthens the nervous system and enhances creative potential. Through yogic breathing techniques and meditation, peace of mind can be obtained, giving an experience of deep inner calm and self-confidence.

Kundalini Yoga is more than a system of exercises. With this technology, people have healed themselves of the pain of physical illness, mental pressure, drug and alcohol addictions and more.

The technology of Kundalini Yoga is aimed at the spirit that has no boundaries. Therefore, it is universal and non-denominational. No matter what, if any, religious path a person follows, Kundalini Yoga helps practitioners experience fully what they believe.


“What is Kundalini Yoga? The creative potential of the human.”
-Yogi Bhajan

Teaching Schedule-February 2008

Thursdays - 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.
Revive Yoga Studios (Beginning 2/7/08)
23350 Lake Manor Drive
Chatsworth, CA 91311

Sundays - 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Home Studio (beginning 2/3/08)
email for details