Create a Personal Practice

It is common to feel blissful after any yoga class – but to keep up you need a daily yoga practice.  Kundalini Yoga has many sets (kriyas) and meditations from which to choose, in all levels of strength, intensity, and duration (3, 7, 11,  22, 31, 62 minutes).  More often than not, your practice will have an intention – such as improving aerobic capacity, strengthening an organ/system, or decreasing negative emotions.  But don’t get caught in a “self-help” trap; you can choose your practice based on what makes you happy, or what feels right for no reason at all!

To begin – choose a kriya/meditation that speaks to you.  If you haven’t practiced before, begin your practice with an experienced Kundalini yoga teacher.  If you cannot find anyone near you, write me, and I’ll help you search for a local teacher. While optional, it is great to practice in a special space.

  1. Tune in with the Adi Mantra (Ong Namo, Guru Dev, Namo).  Pronounce it: “Ong Nah-Moe (accent on the Moe), GooDoo Dave, Nah-Moe”
  2. Perform and enjoy your personal practice, the energetic experience you designed, just for you! Tech Notes: If you have chosen a kriya or multi-part meditation, be sure to take a brief break between exercises, postures or meditations to absorb the experience of the previous posture. This may be one “long-deep” breath, or perhaps you will inhale and exhale several times for 15 – 60 seconds.  If the instructions tell you to go “immediately” into the next posture/exercise/section – disregard these instructions.  (This is why you need a teacher.)
  3. After your kriya or meditation, rest in Shivasana for at least 2 minutes (max 31).  If your practice was Sat Kriya, do this at least as long as you practiced it.  Shivasana is the rest yogis take after practice, and is said to be the most important part of the practice.  When you rest in awareness, the body absorbs the lessons provided through the exercises.  New neural pathways are created because the exercises often are novel!
  4. To participate in the fullest expression of the Kundalini Yoga tradition sing “Long Time Sunshine” after Shivasana.