Yoga

[Panthau]

Thought i use old this thread for my question, as its title fits perfect

Im trying to find a yoga class or something similar atm, and i just dont find something suitable. Maybe something is waiting around the corner anyway hehe

My question is, is "Kundalini" yoga suitable for beginners? I thought this might fit somehow in my meditation progress, but im not sure if it can suit for yoga newbies.

Maybe someone knows more
Pan

[Itlandm]

It is no secret around here that I had a bad encounter with Kundalini. But then again I was more of a newbie than you are, I did not have a guru or qualified instructor (I am not sure how qualified you can be in this area without being a guru though), and my kundalini reacted very strongly. This varies wildly from person to person and I don't know that it is can be predicted.

The more secular and westernized yoga schools are usually just doing the postures, breathing exercises and relaxation, and generally encouraging healthy living. These and Kundalini yoga can both be seen as derived from Hatha yoga, but in radically different directions.

As you may see from the Wikipedia discussion pages, there is an outright battle between those who claim Kundalini Yoga is pure good and absolutely harmless, and those who think it may lead to permanent brain damage if you don't do it closely with an Awakened guru. So, uhm, buyer beware?

[Edwin]

I checked for you Pan, and the best advice would be not to rush Kundalini.

Basically what Itlandm said. Not bad for a pinnsvin Itlandm !

Better realise the Self first, then Kundalini will come when it is time.
Other forms of Yoga are a bit "safer".

At least that is what Wolter Keers used to say, the first Advaita teacher to bring Advaita to the Netherlands

[Panthau]

Thanks guys, ill do as u suggested. Im sometimes a bit too curios and often get a bleeding nose from it. Itlandm, have you written down your experiences somewhere?

Found a nice place for asthanga yoga, which is more suitable for me. Realising the self, yes... sounds good

[Itlandm]

No, I haven't written any more anywhere than I have written here. It all happened long before the Internet age after all. I have posted short warnings in another place or two.

Don't get me wrong. Depending on who you ask, Kundalini is the Indian concept closest to the Holy Spirit, or the Authentic Self, or the Divine Energy in creation, or the Divine Presence / Shechinah, something like that. It is certainly seen as a good thing, and there seems to be a vague agreement that all spiritual practice - including that of non-Indian religions - will raise a person's Kundalini.

What I am referring to is a set of practices specifically designed to release the Kundalini in a movement from the base of the spine up to the crown. If the person is receptive to this, it could rapidly escalate into an orgasm-like (and then some!) experience in which the normal consciousness is blown out in a white-out of the mind for an unpredictable amount of time. For many people however the only thing that happens is that the microcosmic circulation begins operating more strongly, which is surely harmless and a good thing. Unfortunately there is no known way to foretell who will just be more awake and alert at their job and who will spontaneously make strange uncontrollable movement at random times for the next several years. (No, I did not get that far, but it certainly felt like something was trying to take over my brain.)

Since increasing the level of Kundalini is pretty much the purpose of any yoga, there may be schools that use the name "Kundalini Yoga" even if they don't focus on those particular practices I have mentioned above.

[Panthau]

Thanks for that info Itlandm, sounds fun LOL

Realising the self, and dropping ones ego might be a good start for raising the kundalini (maybe it will raise on its own at that time?). If theres nothing to drop, one might not go crazy *gg*

Looks sweet in this video... YouTube - Introduction to Kundalini Yoga

[purplevibe]

Hi,

I recently got myself got stressed about money and stuff and I went back to Yoga. I have a kundalini yoga DVD by Maya Fiennes, 'Detox and De-Stress' which is so gently and beautifully meditative, she includes music and most of the postures are sitting, so it is ideal for a morning yoga practice when one is not 'wide awake'. It brings me into the day in such a spiritual way that I definitely recommend it. It is gentle enough for beginners and begins with a mantra and ends with a mantra, I do half of it in the week, and the whole hour at the w/end - the latter half is more strenuous.

She has an intro on there from Deepak Chopra who obviously respects her and enjoys being in her presence. If you are looking for getting into yoga you need a good teacher, a class would be ideal, but if not, I can recommend this, even for beginners, I have practiced yoga on and off, for 20 years, I went to class 4/5 times a week for years (if you are unsure of my experience in this matter). With yoga, it is all about the breath which puts one into a mediative state, therefore, remember, breathe in 'Let' breathe out 'go'. You should be breathing in and out on each posture to get the full benefit, breathe in deeply and then let go gently as you go into the posture, on the Maya Fiennes DVD she is very clear about this, so it is easy to follow. I would not normally be so firm about advertising a particular DVD but this one is so spiritually fulfilling I want to share it with everyone on here!

Enjoy!

[Panthau]

Thanks for the tip! Does it matter if i use one week hatha and the other week asthanga/kundalini/whatever dvd? I like the variety!

On the other hand, its surely a difference to do kundalini yoga after 20 years of practice, or to get with it into yoga.

So after 20 years of yoga, whats the benefit? (my mind thinks in such patterns )

Thanks
Pan

[Panthau]

Just wanted to tell about my yoga experience. Im doing yoga now regulary for maybe 3 weeks, and its just a miracle. I and my girlfriend feel so better, i have much better access to blocked emotions, my meditation now is everytime like flying and its just pure fun and totaly relaxing, while my body gets a little workout. As everyone is different, everyone will experience different things, but i can only recommend it to anyone that wants to experience relaxation :-)

Atm im doing Hatha Yoga (Ralf Bauer DVD´s) but want to change to Raja/Ashtanga when the time is ready for it.

[JCG]

Panthau,

This is a very uplifting post to read. I have been debating wether or not to begin yoga but you have just made up my mind.

It can't hurt to try these things.

Jack