KUNDALINI YOGA CLASS
Taught by: Siri Adi Singh (redlox's sikh name)

Spirit Rising Yoga
3717 N. Ravenswood Ave.

WEDNESDAYS:
2:00 pm-3:30 pm

FRIDAYS:
Sadhana Leader
4:30 am-6:30 am

Class includes lessons in:

Pranayama: breath exercises
Assanas: body postures
Kriyas: dynamic exercises
Meditation with Chanting

Q. What is Kundalini?
Kundalini is the dormant power of Infinity in a human, a healthy natural quality, our own spiritual energy that takes away all suffering and duality. When the Kundalini is active only in the lower chakras we have only a finite experience. When it is distributed through all the chakras, we can experience pure consciousness. According to the Bhagavata-purana II.10.6, "Liberation is simply the spiritual self dwelling in its own nature". When, once in a while a little kundalini "seeps" into the higher centers we have everyday experiences of joy, calmness, peace of mind, oneness or the bliss at the sight of our newborn's smile. Otherwise we feel lonely and separate, we suffer in life; it is dull, drab and lackluster.

Q. What is Kundalini Yoga?
Kundalini Yoga is an ancient energy management system which respectfully draws upon a vast body of teachings brought to the West by Yogi Bhajan Ji from India in 1969. He broke with tradition dramatically by teaching Kundalini Yoga to all. It includes familiar yogic postures as well as incorporating dynamic movement, pranayama breath techniques, deep relaxation, meditation, mantra and mudra. Of all the Yogas, Kundalini Yoga is the most rapid means to reach the union of Yoga, to know the unknown and see the unseen, while providing the numerous benefits that one enjoys from a regular Yogic practice. It is the authentic Raj Yoga which unites you with the Infinite through your nobility and grace. Your very royal presence heals and inspires others. It is challenging to master because it demands our appreciation of our own vastness and unwavering love for our entire selves and this on every breath!

Q. What is the difference between KY and other yogas?
Students typically point out the following about the Kundalini Yoga experience:

• It emphasizes and incorporates in every aspect of practice the awareness and mastery of the breath, Pranayama, especially Breath of Fire. (Breath of Fire is a rapid complete diapragmatic breath which has many benefits including massaging the heart, cleansing the circulatory and respiratory systems and energizing the body.)
• The practice of Mantra and the sound current, including the use of the Gong, is a key componant of every class. There is no initiation, everyone is "self-initiated". Its roots are in the Sikh mystical tradition which emphasizes a householders path and the teaching to all without restriction.
• Kundalini Yoga classes all begin with tuning in with the Adi Mantra and finishing with an affirmation/personal prayer called the "Long Time Sunshine Song"
• Kundalini Yoga uses very sophisticated movements and exercises not commonly practiced in most other yoga traditions to achieve specific body-mind-spirit goals.
• One can be in various ranges of physical fitness to get benefits from a Kundalini Yoga Class.
• Creating Community and Group Consciousness is valued and encouraged as well as community service.

Q. Why do Kundalini Yoga Teachers cover their head with a hat or turban?
Yogi Bhajan taught us that the hair is alive and has an energy function. We are training ourselves to be aware of and master our subtle energies and so he has all teachers cover our head and hair with a cotton cloth or WRAPPED TURBAN . Any natural fiber head covering is functional, however he has provided an entire system he calls "turban therapy" which The practical reason for wearing a head covering can be summed up as follows:

Your head is a very sensitive part of the body:

a) 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".

b) 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.

c) The hairs on all parts of our body is an extension of our sensitive field, an antenna.

And speaking of hair:
The hairs conduct electricity and wherever they are on the body, they balance the electromagnetic charge at that part of the body. (eye brows, armpits, sexual area, chest, head, etc) When the hair is uncut it stablizes the body's electromagnetic field. Also imagine that if your hair is like a coil of electricity, that by coiling it all together at the top of the head -it will draw more electricity/energy towards it like a big electromagnet. This has the effect of pulling up the energy residing at the base of the spine (lower chakras) to the higher centers. If the hair is altered on any part of the body it will have an effect on the electromagnetic field and the physical body as well.

• Yogis know that when the hair on the legs is cut it can result in back problems.
• The pituitary gland and the growth of the eyebrows are related. When the eyebrows are "plucked" or altered†it affects the pituitary Arc Line balance.
• Allowing chin hair (beards) to grow helps balance the moon center at the chin and is said to stabilize the emotions.
• Shaving interferes with the water in the body and causes swelling."

Q. Where did yoga come from?
There is a myriad of yogic paths, meditations, postures and definitions. Yoga comes from the Sanskrit "yug", to yoke or to unite. In the practice of yoga we join our finite selves to our infinite selves. In popular terms, we unite body, mind and soul to act together as a balanced whole. This technology uses the body's natural movements, breath, energy pathways and sounds to purify and strengthen the physical form so that the mental form(mind) may be brought under control and an ongoing connection with the spirit forged. The origin of yoga predates our historical records as yoga is traditionally a practice not an academic study. One who practices yoga is called a yogi: someone who is not affected by the pair of opposites i.e. like and dislike. The goal is to be who you really are through practice of awareness and non-reacting to the events that surround you.

Q. Is Yoga a religion?
The language of Kundalini Yoga is rooted in the experience of Infinate Consciousness which is ultimately linked with the goals or essence of most world religious traditions.Perhaps some of us will balk at the use of the word "God"; There are many words we can use which mean the same thing, such as infinity, higher consciousness, ecstasy - the choice of words does not matter as much as the strength of the desire to awaken within us that which Generates, Organizes, and then Delivers (GOD) or Destroys all Creation. This desire within us is also called the "urge to merge". Yoga (including meditation) is a way of fulfilling the urge to merge that exists within each of us. Religions arose from the expanded consciousness of often just one person who attempted to describe their journey to awakening. The desire to come together for support of this yearning formed religions that incorporated lifestyle and structure into a dogma for life. Yoga is a practice to purify and strengthen our bodies and minds to remember that we are essentially spirits in human form. It is open to all to practice and experience. Consciousness is the ruling guide. "We are spiritual beings experiencing a finite life." .

Q. I am resuming kundalini yoga practice after putting on considerable weight and am limited in my ability to do the postures. Will I receive the same benefits?†
Any effort that is placed into sincere practice will aid the whole self: physical, mental and spiritual, as all three are intimately connected.

Q. What does happen when the kundalini is activated?
The root of the Kundalini experience is Shabad Guru. When the Kundalini awakens, it is often called Shabad Brahm. It means the Word, the vibratory creative aspect of the infinite soul in experience. Yogic anatomy identifies 72,000 energy meridians, nadis in the body. The primary three are the ida, pingala and shushumna nadis, located along the spine. When through consistent practice the ida and pingala are balanced, referred to as "balancing the breath on both sides of the body," the sushumana or central channel will be clear. This is a significant concept. We are simply clearing the blocks which allow our natural, everyday energy of consciousness and awareness to be fully realized. It is the experience of our complete selves. The Kundalini Shakti flows unencumbered activating all the chakras, especially the higher centers, so we may realize our omni-present Infinite Self and experience samadhi. Consider the chakras as transformers, which allow our human bodies to use the energy of the Universe, much like we use the electrical energy from enormous high-tension power lines to turn on a little light bulb. On the day to day level, this translates into heightened awareness, clarity of thought and increased tolerance and patience.

Q. Why is Kundalini represented by a snake?
In the East, the snake is a positive and royal image considered auspicious and it is often a mandatory component in the lives of Gods and saints. The word 'kundal' with the female ending "ini" means the 'coil in the hair of the beloved', a reference to the long hair of the adepts, coiled on top of the head in a "bun". In the Tantric Scriptures kundalini shakti is positively described as entering the shushumna like a snake entering a hole, silently, smoothly and effortlessly.

click here for a kriya for the Adrenals and Kidney