Kundalini Yoga Technology

Practicing Kundalini Yoga kriyas is one of the best ways to prepare yourself for a healthy, happy, and holy life. Using the angles and triangles of the asanas, fueled by the prana in the breath, retuned by the repetition of mantra, and concentrated by eye-focus and body locks, you are physically different by the end of kriya.

These changes assist the physical and mental preparation of a meditative internal space. This framework for meditation occurs in numerous ways: opening the joints to facilitate sitting, altering the chemical constituents of the blood via glandular stimulation, and redirecting the mind through concentration and focus.

Practicalities and details

Based on audio and video recordings, the Kundalini Research Institute has consolidated and published the numerous kriyas Yogi Bhajan taught over the years. You can find some classic sets (a set is the equivalent of a kriya) in the Featured Kriyas and Meditations page and many more in numerous manuals and videos available in several online stores, including at the 3HO World Market.

Everyone can practice these kriyas on their own. An important aspect of the power of Kundalini Yoga is that each kriya is whole unto itself, a perfect jewel that acts to create a flow. They are perfectly designed sets meant to produce predictable and subtle impacts on the total Self. Yogi Bhajan emphasized the importance of keeping the teachings as given, with the exception of reducing the timing of postures.1

Below are suggestions for practicing a kriya at home or in a class.

Before:

• Consume only a light snack and water in the 2 – 3 hours prior to practicing.
• Turn off all cell phones, pagers, and other distractions.
• Have water in a closed-lidded container handy.
• Wear lose, comfortable clothing and a natural-fiber head covering (e.g., bandana, scarf, cap).
• Have a sheepskin or blanket (natural fiber) to sit on and a shawl or second blanket to cover yourself during relaxation and meditation.
• If you are tight in the lower back, hips, or legs, have a pillow or cushion to elevate yourself on during meditation and seated postures.
• Natural fibers include cotton, wools, silk, and furs.
• Why natural fibers? Through time, yogis found it to be the best insulator to keep grounded during meditation.
• Remember to Tune-in with the Adi Mantra: Chant Ong Namo Guru Dev Namo three times before beginning any warm-ups, kriyas, or meditation.

During:

• Kundalini Yoga is the yoga of awareness. Listen to your body; do what works for you.
• Challenge yourself to extend just past whatever you think your limits are. For instance, if you think you can only do one minute of an exercise, then try for one minute and ten seconds.
• Follow the directions! Keep the order and type of posture. Do not exceed the stated times. If you wish to shorten an exercise, shorten all exercises in the kriya proportionally (i.e., cut all times in half or quarter).
• In a class, feel free to ask for clarification on an exercise or other aspects of the practice.
• Drink water as needed between exercises.
• Remember the Moon! Women, during the heaviest part (one to three days) of your monthly menstruation, avoid strenuous yoga. In particular, do not do: Bow Pose, Breath of Fire, Camel Pose, Locust Pose, Root Lock, Sat Kriya, Inversions (e.g., Shoulder Stand), or Strenuous Leg Lifts. Instead, visualize yourself doing the posture or ask the teacher for a modification.

After:

• Drink lots of water. Pay attention to your physical, emotional, and mental self.
• Incorporate what you experienced in class into the rest of your life, particularly the “simple” things like long, deep breathing and a graceful, royal posture.

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