Recently I noticed an online article on ways to boost your energy during winter. Like many people, the cooler dark days can leave me depressed and feeling frazzled. Since good mental health is essential to wellness, I read on. The article listed five things you could do to boost your mood that took only ten to fifteen minutes each. One of the items listed was a Kundalini yoga movement. It looked interesting and easy, so I tried it and it worked. It?s based upon Kundalini yoga which is a type of yoga that focuses on breathing, sound and movement. Being someone who used to meditate, this type of yoga seemed like something I might be interested in, so I did a little research on it and found that it is, in fact, a terrific way to enhance your energy level and mood.
The word yoga comes from the root Yuj which means to join and is often meant to join the conscious with the Divine Spirit. The practitioner of yoga is called a yogin. Many people are afraid to try yoga because they think it involves complicated positions that require extreme flexibility. This isn?t true with Kundalini yoga. The word Kundalini comes from the Sanskrit word ?kundal? which means ?the lock of the hair from the beloved.? The hair represents the unlimited potential inside every person. Others state that the energy is like that of a coiled up snake sitting at the base of your spine. It is the breathing, chanting and movement that releases this energy so that you can realize your full potential.
Kundalini yoga is considered the most powerful form of yoga. It is based upon Kundalini energy which is ?one?s dormant spiritual energy.? This energy is visualized as a coiled up snake at the base of the spine (the first chakra). The yogin can harness this energy by using breathing techniques, chanting and repetitive movements. It brings together the masculine and feminine powers of the body. The goal of Kundalini yoga is to move the Kundalini energy up through all seven chakras. When you reach the seventh chakra you experience enlightenment.
To practice Kundalini yoga you must know something about the spinal column, which is the location of five of the seven chakras, or energy centers. The spinal column is part of the Nervous System of the human body. The Nervous System also includes the brain and nerves. These things together are responsible for our thought, imagination, memory and intelligence. Five of the chakras are located along the spinal column. The other two chakras are located on the head ? one in the middle and one on the top. As you breathe you visualize the Kundalini energy traveling up the spine. This energy begins and ends with you. It is the awakening of the self. Often when you awaken the Kundalini energy you will feel warmth along the chakras. Others have reported they feel a tingling sensation.
Kundalini yoga is practiced with sets of postures and exercises that work on a specific area of the body, mind and spirit. Hundreds of these sets exist that can be used to awaken you to your full potential. They address every aspect of human nature from issues with your physical health to areas of mental health to your general well being. After the sets are completed the yogin then enters a state of deep relaxation often accompanied by spiritual music and sometimes a gong. Finally you end with a breath or mantra meditation.
The following is a sample set used in Kundalini yoga to reduce anxiety:
In a soft monotone, recite out loud each of the sounds at each Chakra starting at the naval point and working up to the crown of the head. Chant ?Har? and concentrate at the belly button. Chant ?Haray? and concentrate at your heart center (sternum) Chant ?Haree? and concentrate on your throat. Chant ?Wahay? and concentrate at your brow point (1/2 inch up from the eyebrows in the center of the forehead). Finally chant ?Guru? and concentrate at the top center of the head.
As with any form of exercise, precautions must be taken when practicing Kundalini yoga. You may experience heat developing in the body and may want to go slowly in the beginning. Also, some report a tingling sensation along the spinal column and in the palms of the hands and soles of the feet. It should gradually subside as you practice more. Last, you may experience some negative thoughts or desire to express violent emotions. These feelings also subside as you cleanse yourself of negative energy. To assist with these experiences, the beginner should practice with others and/or take classes. I looked up ?Kundalini yoga” on Google and it came up with thousands of hits, many of them being places you can take classes or receive instruction. There are even free online instructions for beginners.
Kundalini yoga isn?t just a way to revitalize yourself during the winter; it is form of yoga that can help you in all areas of your life any time of year. It certainly, for many people, adds to the overall quality of their life and their wellness. It is relatively simple and you don?t have to be in great physical shape to practice Kundalini yoga. If you can breathe, you can do this!
Terry J. Coyier is a 37-year-old college student studying for an Associates of Applied Sciences degree. She is also a freelance writer who writes about a variety of topics, many concerning health and mood. She lives with her son in the Dallas/Ft. Worth Metroplex. Terry is an author on http://www.Writing.Com/ which is a site for Writers and her personal portfolio can be viewed here.
Showing posts with label chakra. Show all posts
Showing posts with label chakra. Show all posts
March 1, 2009
February 24, 2009
Yoga in Practice: Ajna Chakra
Chakras are vortices located in the subtle body. Ajna chakra is located between the eyebrows. The existence of chakras is a point of contention to some. Yogis, and Yoginis, may practice balancing their chakras, while some religious fundamentalists feel this practice borders on witchcraft. However, let?s discuss one chakra that most everyone can identify with.
Ajna chakra is referred to as the ?third eye? and is sometimes called,?the mind?s eye.? Whether you believe in the existence of chakras, or not, most of us accept the concepts of intuition and insight. These concepts enable us to use self-reflection for our own advancement.
Most Yoga practitioners think only in terms of physical Yoga (Hatha Yoga), only. Yet all Yoga practitioners are aware that Yoga involves physical, mental, and spiritual aspects. Therefore, let?s use the ?window of your mind? to your advantage. Visualization is commonly used by successful people to turn thoughts into reality. Although this is a mental exercise, it is a form of spiritual innovation. This is also a formula that will continually yield success in your life.
By steadily practicing positive visualization, self-analysis, and meditation, any Yoga student should be successful within any chosen path taken during the course of his or her life. You will notice that I mention ?positive? visualization. Do you think that Tiger Woods ever focused on missing a putt or losing a golf tournament? Whatever you envision, can easily become your reality.
Therefore, always focus on achievement and success. You cannot afford to think of anything else. See yourself overcoming obstacles and living your dreams. This is what all achievers do.
Now, let?s take a closer look at intuition. If you are not an intuitive person, you should work on enhancing this quality. Balancing Ajna chakra might help you, and if this is not a possibility, you should keep a trusted intuitive person around you, when it is time to make important decisions.
This is not to say that intuition is the overriding factor in your decision making, but intuition always has weight. Intuition will help us seek and find the deeper truth in all matters. This allows us to develop our personal awareness of what is, what is not, and what could be.
As we continue our journey to find the deeper truth, we become much more aware of the many possibilities and opportunities we have to contribute to the common good of all.
Paul Jerard is a co-owner and the director of Yoga teacher training at: Aura Wellness Center, in North Providence, RI. He has been a certified Master Yoga teacher since 1995. He is a master instructor of martial arts, with multiple Black Belts, four martial arts teaching credentials, and was recently inducted into the USA Martial Arts Hall of Fame. He teaches Yoga, martial arts, and fitness to children, adults, and seniors in the greater Providence area. Recently he wrote: Is Running a Yoga Business Right for You? For Yoga students, who may be considering a new career as a Yoga teacher. http://www.yoga-teacher-training.org/index.html
Ajna chakra is referred to as the ?third eye? and is sometimes called,?the mind?s eye.? Whether you believe in the existence of chakras, or not, most of us accept the concepts of intuition and insight. These concepts enable us to use self-reflection for our own advancement.
Most Yoga practitioners think only in terms of physical Yoga (Hatha Yoga), only. Yet all Yoga practitioners are aware that Yoga involves physical, mental, and spiritual aspects. Therefore, let?s use the ?window of your mind? to your advantage. Visualization is commonly used by successful people to turn thoughts into reality. Although this is a mental exercise, it is a form of spiritual innovation. This is also a formula that will continually yield success in your life.
By steadily practicing positive visualization, self-analysis, and meditation, any Yoga student should be successful within any chosen path taken during the course of his or her life. You will notice that I mention ?positive? visualization. Do you think that Tiger Woods ever focused on missing a putt or losing a golf tournament? Whatever you envision, can easily become your reality.
Therefore, always focus on achievement and success. You cannot afford to think of anything else. See yourself overcoming obstacles and living your dreams. This is what all achievers do.
Now, let?s take a closer look at intuition. If you are not an intuitive person, you should work on enhancing this quality. Balancing Ajna chakra might help you, and if this is not a possibility, you should keep a trusted intuitive person around you, when it is time to make important decisions.
This is not to say that intuition is the overriding factor in your decision making, but intuition always has weight. Intuition will help us seek and find the deeper truth in all matters. This allows us to develop our personal awareness of what is, what is not, and what could be.
As we continue our journey to find the deeper truth, we become much more aware of the many possibilities and opportunities we have to contribute to the common good of all.
Paul Jerard is a co-owner and the director of Yoga teacher training at: Aura Wellness Center, in North Providence, RI. He has been a certified Master Yoga teacher since 1995. He is a master instructor of martial arts, with multiple Black Belts, four martial arts teaching credentials, and was recently inducted into the USA Martial Arts Hall of Fame. He teaches Yoga, martial arts, and fitness to children, adults, and seniors in the greater Providence area. Recently he wrote: Is Running a Yoga Business Right for You? For Yoga students, who may be considering a new career as a Yoga teacher. http://www.yoga-teacher-training.org/index.html
February 23, 2009
Is Maslow’s Hierarchy A Plagiarism On Chakras & Kundalini Yoga, Known About For Thousands of Yea
Maslows Hierarchy Of Needs is A Plagiarism On Chakra Theory And Kundalini Yoga, Known About For Thousands Of Years
Maslow’s Hierarchy of needs Psychology- Really a plagiarism of the psychological aspects of the 7 Chakra Processors? Is Maslow’s Hierarchy of needs really a plagiarism or parallel confirming research of the psychological aspects of the 7 Chakras, known about in Kundalini Yoga for Thousands of Years.
Chakras are about the parallel processors of the mind. Only one of these processors is Intellectual. The rest comprise the emotions, the unconscious, the subconscious, the inner child and the id.
All todays fastest supercomputers use parallel processors gaining speed with the number of processors.
Base Chakra is Mooladhara Chakra
Abdominal Chakra is Swadisthan Chakra
Solar Plexus Chakra is Manipur Chakra
Heart Chakra is Anahata Chakra
Throat Chakra is Visshudhi Chakra
Brow or Third Eye Chakra is Ajna Chakra
Crown Chakra is Sahasrara Chakra
The levels of evolution and their relationship to the parallel processors of the human brain, chakra, development and the ages at which they normally start working correctly, are used in the Montessori method of teaching yet the age of paradigm shift is simply the age at which another chakra gains functionality. Anyone can see that this follows the theory of chakra awakening of Kundalini Yoga known about for thousands of years.
Maslows Hierarchy of Needs says that as the lower desires are fed so higher desires can be achieved.
Sex , Safety and Food - base chakra
Belonging in relationships ? second chakra
Power ? solar plexus
Self Esteem ? Heart Chakra
Self Actualisation ? Crown Chakra
Anyone can see that this follows the theory of chakra awakening of Kundalini Yoga known about for thousands of years.
Chakras are like the processors in a super computer. The more they communicate, the more intelligent they are. So anything which stops that communication, like an energy blockage will decrease intelligence. The more each chakra functions, the more intelligent we are, therefore anything which stops that functionality, like an energy blockage, the less of our potential intelligence we are using.
Intelligence is not only the intellectual IQ.
Emotional Intelligence functions in different chakras from the intelligence chakra. And emotional intelligence is when there exists in a human being none of the negative emotions.
Negative emotions are, Anger, Depression, wanting attention, manicism and Fear but to these we could add, wanting to harm another, jealousy and selfish desire.
As the chakras becomes harmonized by losing their energy blockages then the negative emotions become controllable or just go.
Thus releasing the Power of Positive emotions like Love, Willpower and the Power of getting things done. These become the norm.
Kundalini Yoga works by giving advanced techniques to remove energy blockages and thus release the power of the human intellect and Positive Emotion. Of Love, Love under Will.
Read the psychology of, Wilber, Piaget and Berne, - Ponder on this and see the truth for yourself.
Director Satchidanand, is one of the leading teachers of Meditation.
He helps people worldwide reach further than they EVER thought possible, FASTER!
http://www.energyenhancement.org
Maslow’s Hierarchy of needs Psychology- Really a plagiarism of the psychological aspects of the 7 Chakra Processors? Is Maslow’s Hierarchy of needs really a plagiarism or parallel confirming research of the psychological aspects of the 7 Chakras, known about in Kundalini Yoga for Thousands of Years.
Chakras are about the parallel processors of the mind. Only one of these processors is Intellectual. The rest comprise the emotions, the unconscious, the subconscious, the inner child and the id.
All todays fastest supercomputers use parallel processors gaining speed with the number of processors.
Base Chakra is Mooladhara Chakra
Abdominal Chakra is Swadisthan Chakra
Solar Plexus Chakra is Manipur Chakra
Heart Chakra is Anahata Chakra
Throat Chakra is Visshudhi Chakra
Brow or Third Eye Chakra is Ajna Chakra
Crown Chakra is Sahasrara Chakra
The levels of evolution and their relationship to the parallel processors of the human brain, chakra, development and the ages at which they normally start working correctly, are used in the Montessori method of teaching yet the age of paradigm shift is simply the age at which another chakra gains functionality. Anyone can see that this follows the theory of chakra awakening of Kundalini Yoga known about for thousands of years.
Maslows Hierarchy of Needs says that as the lower desires are fed so higher desires can be achieved.
Sex , Safety and Food - base chakra
Belonging in relationships ? second chakra
Power ? solar plexus
Self Esteem ? Heart Chakra
Self Actualisation ? Crown Chakra
Anyone can see that this follows the theory of chakra awakening of Kundalini Yoga known about for thousands of years.
Chakras are like the processors in a super computer. The more they communicate, the more intelligent they are. So anything which stops that communication, like an energy blockage will decrease intelligence. The more each chakra functions, the more intelligent we are, therefore anything which stops that functionality, like an energy blockage, the less of our potential intelligence we are using.
Intelligence is not only the intellectual IQ.
Emotional Intelligence functions in different chakras from the intelligence chakra. And emotional intelligence is when there exists in a human being none of the negative emotions.
Negative emotions are, Anger, Depression, wanting attention, manicism and Fear but to these we could add, wanting to harm another, jealousy and selfish desire.
As the chakras becomes harmonized by losing their energy blockages then the negative emotions become controllable or just go.
Thus releasing the Power of Positive emotions like Love, Willpower and the Power of getting things done. These become the norm.
Kundalini Yoga works by giving advanced techniques to remove energy blockages and thus release the power of the human intellect and Positive Emotion. Of Love, Love under Will.
Read the psychology of, Wilber, Piaget and Berne, - Ponder on this and see the truth for yourself.
Director Satchidanand, is one of the leading teachers of Meditation.
He helps people worldwide reach further than they EVER thought possible, FASTER!
http://www.energyenhancement.org
What is Patanjali’s Ashtanga Yoga Part-III
As described earlier, Ashtanga Yoga has eight limbs or parts. So far Yama, Niyama, Asana, Pranayama has been described. In the present article Pratyahar, Dharana, Dhyana and Samadhi shall be described.
Pratyahar(withdrawal)
Before Pratyahar one should lie in Sukhasana comfortably and motionlessly. Then one should practice Pranayama by keeping mind on the movements of breath across the nostrills. After half an hour in Pranayama, there is cut off in inhalation and exhalation. Mind and Pranabreath for practical purpose) become one and motionless. In this state one should practice Pratyahar.
Patanjali describes - when senses leave their objects of enjoyment and get engaged in realising true self(svarup), it is called Pratyahar(II>54). So far Yoga is concerned, there are two directions - one is outside and the other is inside. Outside there is enjoyment(bhoga) and enjoying(ahara) and inside there is Yoga and Pratyahar(withdrawal from enjoyment). So long as senses are fixed on the objects of enjoyment, there is enjoying(ahara); but as soon as senses withdraw from them, there is Yoga and Pratyahar.
In enjoyment there is loss of energy; whereas in Yoga there is conservation of energy. Inside there is treasure of energy, happiness, knowledge, health and longivity; but outside there is loss of energy, pain, ignorance, disease and death. as people take their earned money from home and spend them outside, so people earn energy, happiness inside, but spend them outside. People who spend more and more money outside, get bankrupt and people who spend more and more energy outside get diseased. So a true Yogi earns more and more energy inside, but spends less and less outside to remain happy, knowledgeable and healthy.
Pratyahar is practiced after Pranayama in the same posture(sukhasana). It is a mental excercise only. In the legs there are six sets of joints and in the body there are six Chakra. From the tip of fingers in the legs one should rise upwards joint by joint and Chakra by Chakra. In each joint or Chakra one should remain for a while and feel that lower parts from that joint or Chakra have gone senseles. In this manner one should reach Ajna Chakra in between eyebrows. At Ajna Chakra one should feel that there is no sensual feeling of the body. One should see nothing, hear nothing or feel nothing. There is neither the feeling of the body nor of the material world.
Dharana(to hold), Dhyana(meditation)and Samadhi(total concentration)
Dharana means to hold. After one withdraws oneself from the gross body and senses, one should hold mind firmly. One can enter into Samadhi through this mind only. The saints and sages of Ancient India first realisd that nothing is as great as mind in the whole universe. Mind is the cause of everything; creation, maintenance and destruction of this universe goes on because of this mind only. It is also the cause of bondage and liberation of all. Mind can be a good servent, good friend as well as good master. So in Dharana one learns how to hold mind firmly for own liberation.
After Dharana comes Dhyana(meditation). In Yoga meditator, meditation and the object of medition are one. Because the aim of Yoga is to realise the true self. In Dharana and Dhyana mind should be fixed at Ajna Chakra in between eyebrows(trikuti). Eyes should be closed in practicing all the limbs of Yoga starting from Asana to Samadhi. However religious masters teach to meditate upon some symbols or pictures of Gods and Goddesses with eyes open. Through such meditation mind does not come inwards and so no Yoga shall be practised.
Through regular and sincere practice of Pranayama, Pratyahar, Dharana and Dhyana, one may enter into Samadhi one day. Only a true and rare practitioner achieves this state, also called Turiya. Normally all men experience three states - waking, dreaming and deep sleep. The state of Turiya, which is the fourth state of a being, is experienced by a Yogi alone. This is such a dreaming state, where one is awake while sleeping. This is such a waking state, where one does not use one’s body and senses. This is such a deep sleep where one is fully concious. As without sound sleep a man cannot remain healthy and peaceful, so without Turiya a man cannot be healthy and peaceful completely. For complete peace and bliss, for complete knowledge, freedom and liberation, every individual should practice Yoga and try out to reach the state of Turiya or Samadhi.
Author is an Indian and a desciple of Late Munisvar Shiv kumar Shastri. Those who are in the quest for true spiritualism and yoga and want freedom and bliss should go through his book ‘Quest for Truth: the spiritual and yogic way’ and email to him.
http://www.bookstobelievein.com/questfortruth.php
premansu_chand@rediffmail.co
Pratyahar(withdrawal)
Before Pratyahar one should lie in Sukhasana comfortably and motionlessly. Then one should practice Pranayama by keeping mind on the movements of breath across the nostrills. After half an hour in Pranayama, there is cut off in inhalation and exhalation. Mind and Pranabreath for practical purpose) become one and motionless. In this state one should practice Pratyahar.
Patanjali describes - when senses leave their objects of enjoyment and get engaged in realising true self(svarup), it is called Pratyahar(II>54). So far Yoga is concerned, there are two directions - one is outside and the other is inside. Outside there is enjoyment(bhoga) and enjoying(ahara) and inside there is Yoga and Pratyahar(withdrawal from enjoyment). So long as senses are fixed on the objects of enjoyment, there is enjoying(ahara); but as soon as senses withdraw from them, there is Yoga and Pratyahar.
In enjoyment there is loss of energy; whereas in Yoga there is conservation of energy. Inside there is treasure of energy, happiness, knowledge, health and longivity; but outside there is loss of energy, pain, ignorance, disease and death. as people take their earned money from home and spend them outside, so people earn energy, happiness inside, but spend them outside. People who spend more and more money outside, get bankrupt and people who spend more and more energy outside get diseased. So a true Yogi earns more and more energy inside, but spends less and less outside to remain happy, knowledgeable and healthy.
Pratyahar is practiced after Pranayama in the same posture(sukhasana). It is a mental excercise only. In the legs there are six sets of joints and in the body there are six Chakra. From the tip of fingers in the legs one should rise upwards joint by joint and Chakra by Chakra. In each joint or Chakra one should remain for a while and feel that lower parts from that joint or Chakra have gone senseles. In this manner one should reach Ajna Chakra in between eyebrows. At Ajna Chakra one should feel that there is no sensual feeling of the body. One should see nothing, hear nothing or feel nothing. There is neither the feeling of the body nor of the material world.
Dharana(to hold), Dhyana(meditation)and Samadhi(total concentration)
Dharana means to hold. After one withdraws oneself from the gross body and senses, one should hold mind firmly. One can enter into Samadhi through this mind only. The saints and sages of Ancient India first realisd that nothing is as great as mind in the whole universe. Mind is the cause of everything; creation, maintenance and destruction of this universe goes on because of this mind only. It is also the cause of bondage and liberation of all. Mind can be a good servent, good friend as well as good master. So in Dharana one learns how to hold mind firmly for own liberation.
After Dharana comes Dhyana(meditation). In Yoga meditator, meditation and the object of medition are one. Because the aim of Yoga is to realise the true self. In Dharana and Dhyana mind should be fixed at Ajna Chakra in between eyebrows(trikuti). Eyes should be closed in practicing all the limbs of Yoga starting from Asana to Samadhi. However religious masters teach to meditate upon some symbols or pictures of Gods and Goddesses with eyes open. Through such meditation mind does not come inwards and so no Yoga shall be practised.
Through regular and sincere practice of Pranayama, Pratyahar, Dharana and Dhyana, one may enter into Samadhi one day. Only a true and rare practitioner achieves this state, also called Turiya. Normally all men experience three states - waking, dreaming and deep sleep. The state of Turiya, which is the fourth state of a being, is experienced by a Yogi alone. This is such a dreaming state, where one is awake while sleeping. This is such a waking state, where one does not use one’s body and senses. This is such a deep sleep where one is fully concious. As without sound sleep a man cannot remain healthy and peaceful, so without Turiya a man cannot be healthy and peaceful completely. For complete peace and bliss, for complete knowledge, freedom and liberation, every individual should practice Yoga and try out to reach the state of Turiya or Samadhi.
Author is an Indian and a desciple of Late Munisvar Shiv kumar Shastri. Those who are in the quest for true spiritualism and yoga and want freedom and bliss should go through his book ‘Quest for Truth: the spiritual and yogic way’ and email to him.
http://www.bookstobelievein.com/questfortruth.php
premansu_chand@rediffmail.co
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