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Frequently
Asked Questions
I've never tried any kind of yoga before. Will this
be difficult for me?
No. There are modifications to each exercise. Moreover, Yoga is truly designed for the everyday modern person. Simply approach your practice as a journey of self-discovery and wisdom, rather than of something to be conquered. There is never a need to induce stress or to push your body beyond its own natural limits, or to compare yourself with the progress of others. Any progress is your progress, and that is all you and your body ever needs. Each single moment is the appropriate time to become involved, to focus intently and intimately on your own personal experience.
Does practicing Yoga require a lifestyle change?
Your life does not need to change, but
if it Yoga is practiced on a regular basis, your life will change dramatically.
What you will find is a natural shift in your ability to relax and concentrate,
how your mind and body will become more in alignment, and how your actions eagerly
lineup with your dreams and goals. Typically, most people find this to be a positive
change in lifestyle.
How often do I have to practice to experience results?
Highly dedicated Kundalini 'yogis' practice once a day, early
in the morning at sunrise when the sun is at its most horizontal and beneficial
angle. They don't do this because they are fanatical; they do this because of
the amazing results they experience. It can be quite powerful. However, regardless
of the frequency or the time, even every other day, practicing once a week or
even once a month offers tremendous benefit.
Because Yoga is so powerful, it is wonderfully efficient and pliable. Even a busy person practicing occasionally will receive results. You may find that the immediate effects naturally encourage you to practice daily or several times a week. Perhaps due to situations in your life, you are able to practice only sporadically or as the mood strikes. There is no magic number. The main thing to remember is that any effort will bring about a similar level of results; the more you put into it, both in frequency and intensity, the more you will receive.
I practice yoga as you have taught and I feel fantastic! My question is, how does it work? I don't always do everything correctly yet my daily experiences - people, events, capturing my goals - all just seem to flow. Somehow, my life makes more sense than it used to, almost without further effort on my part.
Essentially, everything in the Universe is pure energy held together by a particular kind of vibration. You and your body exist on vibrational level that is either lined up with the energy around you or it is not.
The true effects of Yoga are not brought about by the 'will power' of those who practice it, but rather by the effective alignment of vibrational energy. Flow naturally occurs when like is aligned with like. Once in energetic alignment, your body, your goals, your whole existence simply makes sense because that the only logical outcome.
How does Yoga differ from other forms of yoga?
Yogi Bhajan explains it in this way: There are at least 22 major forms of yoga
practice. Each one specializes in a single aspect of existence. For example,
Hatha Yoga focuses the position of the body. Laya (Mantra)
Yoga focuses on sound. Yantra Yoga focuses on symbolic patterning, and so on;
each aspect of existence has its special Yoga. Now, imagine each of these 22
forms as one of the many facets on a flawless diamond. Then, think of Yoga as the diamond itself. Yoga utilizes the entire range of sub-specialties
to unify the complete spectrum of energetic vibrations. Yoga is quite
simply, the complete technology.
Can Yoga be dangerous?
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You were born to have a full life experience, whatever
that is for you. Often, the awareness essential to living a wondrous existence
has been suppressed. What was once unbridled joy evolves into a life of quiet
desperation and hopelessness. In essence, Yoga works by aligning
the energy in your body, mind and spirit, and your existence in time and space
- and makes it all 'breathe' in harmony. Your life may become suddenly brighter;
what was dull and remote may appear larger and closer than before. This kind
of experience may initially seem highly stimulating; it may even startle or exhilarate
you. Is that dangerous or essential?
Kundalini energy has been compared to releasing
a cobra coiled up inside a basket; that once released, it displays itself with
grandness and dignity. This cobra is the symbol used to represent the 'energy
of awareness' asleep inside you. It is already a part of what you are, this
nobility waiting to be realized. It lies deep in the very essence of your consciousness,
coiled and dormant. Through your practice, the cobra will awaken and arise.
Not only is this natural, it is your birthright - your entitlement.
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Meditation to Switch Channels and for Emotional BalanceYogi Bhajan says that it is good to do this meditation when one is worried or upset and doesn't know what to do, or when one feels like screaming, yelling or misbehaving.This exercise will produce quick release of stress, foster emotional balance and help create a quiet space within. It will help you switch channels, or tune into the channel of peace and neutral mind. Use it: 1 to access the cosmic channel, 2 distinguish between the peace zone and the rational mind or conflict zone , and 3 to train yourself to choose the peace zone. Before practicing this meditation, drink a glass of water. Water imbalance in the system, which creates pressure in the kidneys, can cause worry and upset. When out of focus or emotional, attention should be given to the body's water balance and breath rate. Humans are approximately Our behavior depends upon the relation of water and earth, air and ether.Breath represents air and ether and is the rhythm of life. Normally we breathe 15 times a minute, but when we are able to rhythmically slow down the breath to 4 or less breaths per minute, we have indirect control over our mind.
Calm, slow breathing eliminates unbalanced behavior and promotes a calm mind regardless of the state of affairs. Sit in Easy Pose or full lotus if you can comfortably. Place your arms across the chest and lock hands under the armpits, palms open and against the body. Raise the shoulders up tight reaching toward the earlobes Apply Neck Lock by tucking the neck in toward the chest with the spine straight. Eyes are closed. This position may be uncomfortable, but it does not hurt. Concentrate on how the breath changes automatically in this position. The breath will automatically become slow. Continue for 3-5 minutes. You can gradually increase the time to 11 minutes. Drinking water, pulling the shoulders up toward the ears and tightly locking the entire area creates a solid break to the four sides of the brain. After 2 or 3 minutes, thoughts will be there, but one does not feel them. This is a very effective method of balancing the brain.To end, relax the hands down, sit quietly and enjoy your inner space of peace. You will notice that you have created a space independent of your rational mind. Your mind will still have thoughts and you can observe them, but you can choose to be in your peaceful space or neutral mind.A Story About:
What Will You Choose?The following is one of those Internet stories that is related to our Classes. It might inspire you to make attitude choices that help you create a reality of aliveness, joy and peace.Read this and let the message sink in. Then choose how you want to experience the rest of the day and how you want to start your day out tomorrow. Remember life is a series of choices that we make ourselves at every moment. Here is the story --Michael is the kind of guy you wonder How does he do it? . He is always in a good mood and always has something positive to say. When someone would ask him how he was doing, he would reply, If I were any better, I would be twins! He was a natural motivator. If an employee was having a bad day, Michael was there telling the employee how to look on the positive side of the situation. Seeing this style really made me curious, so one day I went up to Michael and asked him, I don't get it!You can't be a positive person all of the time. How do you do it? Michael replied, Each morning I wake up and say to myself, Mike you have two choices today. You can choose to be in a good mood or you can choose to be in a bad mood. I choose to be in a good mood. Each time Something bad happens, I can choose to be a victim or I can choose to learn from it. I choose to learn from it. Every time someone comes to me complaining, I can choose to accept their complaining or I can point out the positive side of life. I choose the positive side of life. Yeah, right, it's not that easy, I protested. Yes, it is, Michael said. Life is all about choices. When you cut away all the junk, every situation is a choice. You choose how you react to situations. You choose how people will affect your mood. You choose to be in a good mood or bad mood. The bottom line: It's your choice how you live life. I reflected on what Michael said. Soon thereafter, I left the Tower Industry to start my own business. We lost touch, but I often thought about him when I made a choice about life instead of reacting to it. Several years later, I heard that Michael was involved in a serious accident, falling some 60 feet from a communications tower. After 18 hours of surgery and weeks of intensive care, Michael was released from the hospital with rods placed in his back. I saw Michael about six months after the accident. When I asked him how he was, he replied. If I were any better,
I'd be twins. Wanna see my scars? I declined to see his wounds, but did ask him what had gone through his mind as the accident took place. The first thing that went through my mind was the well-being of my soon to be born daughter, Michael replied. Then, as I lay on the ground, I remembered that I had two choices: I could choose to live or I could choose to die. I chose to live. Weren't you scared? Did you lose consciousness? I asked.Michael continued, ...the paramedics were great. They kept telling me I was going to be fine. But when they wheeled me into the ER and I saw the expressions on the faces of the doctors and nurses, I got really scared. In their eyes, I read 'he's a dead man.' Iknew I needed to take action. What did you do? I asked. Well, there was a big burly nurse shouting questions at me, said Michael. She asked if I was allergic to anything. 'Yes, I replied. The doctors and nurses stopped working as they waited for my reply. I took a deep breath and yelled, Gravity. Over their laughter, I told them, 'I am choosing to live. Operate on me as if I am alive, not dead'. Michael lived, not just due to the skill of his doctors, but also because of his amazing attitude. I learned from him that every day we have the choice to live fully. Attitude, after all, is everything.As always, the choice is our own. End of story.Not everyone is as outgoing as Michael, but we all are at choice how we experience life. The inner subtle choices are the ones that determine our happiness and our destiny. Meditation gives us the chance to make these choices at deep, impactful levels.Have a grateful day, if you choose!!
Kundalini Yoga
Kundalini Yoga, Sikhism and other spiritual disciplines -- Kundalini Yoga
