In
exploring a new yogic theory, I challenged myself to go beyond a
purely physical practice and delve into a meditation-based
experience. I came across the Kundalini Yoga Boston (KYB) center in
Cambridge's Inman Square. Kundalini is known as the “yoga of
awareness”, in which practices take on a variety of forms and focus
on the power of untouched prana energy to alter consciousness. This
energy, located at the base of the spine, is thought to have to
ability to uplift and transcend the seven chakras in the body,
heightening one's sensory awareness and intuition. Fascinated by the
language of Kundalini, I visited the center at 186 Hampshire Street
for a “Kundalini Yoga and Meditation” practice that is offered
several times a week. The 90 minute practice I was anticipating
turned into an intensive and inspiring series of experiences.
As
the only Kundalini-focused center in the Boston area, KYB is open to
the public and offers a wide variety of services. The small and
serene space houses a holistic boutique and yoga studio space as well
as hosts concerts and doubles as an art gallery. This unique and
diverse setup invites all sorts of people. Aside from weekly general
Kundalini yoga classes, other available services include workshops,
private lessons, gong meditation, small group work, and aquarian
sadhana sessions. The “Kundalini Yoga and Meditation” class that
I first attended focused on the power of pranayama and mantra
vibrations to isolate and stimulate the chakras. With a focus on
strengthening the naval, teacher Kythe Heller emphasized the
importance of establishing a strong foundation throughout the
practice. The small group of 7 or 8 was led through simple exercises
and breath techniques that were repeated for short increments of
time. The breath of fire was used during the majority of the
practice, for it is a crucial aspect of Kundalini yoga. This short,
shallow, and intense breath creates a quick rhythm or pulsing
throughout the body that stimulates a burst of fresh energy. Kythe
Heller explained the purification process of our internal organs
throughout the breathing exercises. She explained the importance of
movement, both internally an externally, in uniting body and spirit
as well as the physical and emotional strengthening of the spine.
All of these steps were given careful and equal attention, leading up
to the vulnerable and powerful state of opening up the heart. The
process of the practice was well explained and understandably
particular, which made every detail seem important. Each small
movement or fluctuation in the breath was welcomed, but carefully
noticed and monitored.
The
power of vibrations through the body was a primary focus during the
practice. Sound was important to the practice. Music played the
whole time, we chanted several mantras, and the session ended with
gong meditation and a group sung song. Hythe Keller used the
example of a purring cat in order to explain the instinctive
attraction to such vibrations. When a cat is happy it purs, sending
a consistent pulse through the body that is settling and comforting.
The rhythm of sounds creates a safe place for the cat's contentment
to breath. A similar example is the therapeutic sound of a mother's
beating heart when in the womb. The build up of the practice led to
a state of pure relaxation and effortless meditation in shavasana
with the playing of the gong by the teacher. Shavasana is a place to
collect oneself after exerting energy into a practice, a place to
reset and let everything soak in. The increasing intensity of the
gong made this particular shavasana experience unlike any other I
have had. The vibrations of the music were both heard and felt up
through the floor. The blanket I was under felt heavier and heavier
as I melted into the floor. I was quite quickly put into a state of
pure contentment. Letting go of my body and embracing the power of
this moment was not intimidating or unfamiliar in any way. I felt
completely natural and safely led into this state.
The
flexibility of the teaching style was very welcoming as a newcomer.
There was no pressure or distraction to have “correct” postures
or have proper pronunciation when chanting, for the space was
comfortable from the very start. The teacher's voice set the tone
for the practice, leading the group without dominating. Upon
arriving at the center I was welcomed in by one of the owners and
invited to sit and have tea while I filled out the initial paperwork.
All anxieties or uncertainties were put to rest immediately. There
were several spots throughout the space where different events,
services, group activities, and suggested resources were on display.
This information was a great lead into getting connected to a yoga
community that is focused on a lifestyle based on mindfulness
practices. It was from on of these bulletin boards that I found out
about a workshop being offered at the center. Entitled “Sensory
Therapy Through Ayurveda: Healing A Fractured Nervous System”, this
workshop really opened my eyes to contemporary ways to infuse
traditional yogic theory into my daily routine.
The
workshop was led by Denise Kirpal Kaur, and centered around how the
five senses feed the body, mind, and spirit. She introduced the
subject with a discussion about the importance of balance and harmony
within our physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual selves. When
any of these facets are in a state of disharmony the system is
fractured. Denise reviewed Doshas and explained the types of
fracture within vata, pitta, and kapha people. She then highlighted
several yogic theories as ways to strengthen and clarify each of the
five senses, and described pain as a method of communication between
body and mind. Rather than rushing to subside pain, one should sit
with the pain and listen to what the body is needing.
One
highly recommended practice that helps individuals to take the time
to look inward is sadhana. This daily spiritual practice is
undefined in terms of how the time should be spent. Amount of time
spent is not as important as the commitment to make the ritual a
habit. It is encouraged that time is taken each day to observe
oneself, and for this practice to become a nourishing routine.
Spontaneity within the routine is important, for energy is constantly
in motion. These meditations should occur in the morning and at
night, preferably between 4-6am and 4-6pm due to cycles of the sun
and daily changes in atmosphere. There is a silence and calmness to
the early morning that is difficult to duplicate at any other time,
especially within the hustle of today's world. “It takes 40 days
to make or break a habit, 90 days for a habit to really set in, 120
days for the practice to become really ingrained, and 1,000 days for
it to become a true part of the individual” says Denise. With this
sort of dedication in mind, Denise outlined the five senses. She
explained the senses as equal in importance saying “everything
heard, smelt, felt, tasted, or seen is being eaten; all of this
sensory information must be digested”. When we are constantly
intaking information from all of these sources, the time to reflect
and recollect ourselves in crucial in maintaining the balance we
strive for.
Particular
meditation practices such as Tratakam meditation, color therapy,
candle/sun gazing, and basic eye exercises were discussed within the
sense of sight. These methods are thought to cleanse the sense of
sight, almost like a reset button. Training our eyes to focus on key
points until the eye is flooded with tears is a healthy purification
process that takes some practice.
Sound
is an extremely important sense in Kundalini yoga, for it is
vibrations that help to open up each chakra. Examples of positive
sounds include singing bowls, natural sounds music, wind chimes,
Tibetan chimes, and gongs. All of these can be used to create
positive, soothing sounds. The most important sound, and typically
most difficult to obtain, is silence. The power of silence is
something forgotten by most of today's culture. It is a rarity to
sit as one with silence, and to embrace and enjoy its healing
capabilities.
When
discussing smell, pranayama and aromatherapy were the two primary
practices used. Aromatherapy is different for each individual, for
our dosha informs our natural compatibility with different smells.
For example, vatta people are prone to complimenting sweet, warm, and
calm scents such as jasmine, rose, or sandalwood. Certain scents
have calming, energizing, or stimulating properties that can be used
as remedies for a variety of things.
Taste
was the most in depth and interesting sense covered. I loved the way
that Denise framed the context saying food is her medicine and her
kitchen is her sanctuary. She spoke of food as having spiritual
properties. The three main guidelines were to eat local, organic,
and seasonal. We talked a lot about flavor and the different
associated emotions and healing properties of seasonings. As with
all other senses, our dosha informs what we should include more of in
our diet, as well as help to balance particular moods.
Lastly,
the sensation of touch. Massage, Shirodhara, dry brushing, and hatha
yoga are a few suggested ways to keep the skin healthy. As the
largest organ in the human body, the skin is a vital part of our
physical being and requires extra care. Secretion is an important
step in this process, a sweat should be broken daily. After
profiling the different senses and suggested Ayurvedic methods of
healing, Denise advised the class to tackle one sense at a time, for
addressing all at once is too much change and will throw off routine.
Attending
these sessions has really opened my eyes to the different healing
powers of Kundalini yoga on the spiritual, emotional, and physical
being. I really responded to the focus on sound and breath, two
seemingly simple things, to really transcend the body. Both the yoga
class and Ayurveda workshop worked side by side to inform my
understanding of Kundalini as well as introduce me to many theories
that are applicable to my daily life.
Works Consulted
Kaur,
Denise Kirpal. "Underestimating Atta..." Divine
Light Yoga & Ayurveda.
Web. 22 Feb. 2012. <http://divinelightyoga.com/>.
"Welcome
to Kundalini Yoga Boston." Kundalini
Yoga Boston — Become One.
Web. 20 Feb. 2012. <http://www.kundaliniyogaboston.com/>.
No comments:
Post a Comment