Kundalini Yoga

This past Summer I began taking Yoga Classes with my friend Andrea. She teaches Kundalini Yoga. At first I was skeptical about doing it, but once I got started I was hooked. I feel so relaxed after each class. I can't wait to go to class each week. It is great.

I am writing this blog to help people to understand what Kundalini Yoga is all about. There are many misconceptions about the practice and I hope that after you read this blog that those will be dispelled. Maybe you will be inspired to even try it.

What is Kundalini Yoga? It is basically about awakening the inner self. In Kundalini you awaken the energy centers in your body and learn how to use them awaken your body.

"Kundalini" is an ancient Sanskrit word that literally means "coiled snake." In early Eastern religion (long before Buddhism and Hinduism) it was believed that each individual possessed a divine energy at the base of the spine. This energy was thought to be the sacred energy of creation. This energy is something we are born with, but we must make an effort to "uncoil the snake," thereby putting us in direct contact with the divine. Kundalini Yoga is the practice of awakening our Higher Self and turning potential energy into kinetic energy.

Today's Western definition of yoga is limiting, describing a specific type of exercise. But to the ancients, yoga was a sacred spirit-body connection. Their goal was not fitness. It was direct connection with Brahman, the God-like spirit within us. No religious buffer between man and God was considered necessary. Just practice. Of the many yogas that developed over the past 5,000 years, Kundalini was considered the most sacred.

Top 5 practical reasons to do Kundalini Yoga

1) Expanding your presence expands your life.
Kundalini's connection to your core energy allows you to approach each day with a strong sense of individual truth. This presence is obvious to those around you and will result in new opportunities and an expanded reality.

2) Instant inspiration.
I walk away from each class with a clarity of mind that breaks through old mental patterns and inspires new ideas.

3) Having a community keeps you in check.
Most of us spend part of our day around negative people who drag us down. Regular contact with a positive community on a spiritual path will lift you up and remind you what is important.

4) Magic happens outside your comfort zone.
Kundalini Yoga is full of surprises. You might be stretching one day and screaming the next. The spontaneous nature of each class keeps you light on your feet and ready for anything.

5) Everyone is a teacher (yes, even you).
Yogi Bhajan said that he did not teach Kundalini to attain disciples. He taught in order to train new teachers. Kundalini reminds us that we each have an important message to share with the world. By finding your voice, and having the courage to share it, you will transform your life and the lives of those around you.

Kundalini techniques
Stretching, breathing, jumping, running, dancing, yelling, chanting, meditating. Any given Kundalini kriya contains a variety of activities. A typical class is focused on control of breath,expansion of energy and alignment of the chakras.

The typical class is 60-90 minutes, structured as follows:

• 5-10 minute warm-up (often including spiritual teachings from the instructor)
• 30-45 minute kriya (the workout itself)
• 5-15 minute Savasana relaxation (try not to fall asleep)
• 11-31 minute meditation (this could include mantras or hand mudras)

The following guidelines should be followed during each Kundalini Yoga class:

• Tune-in with the Adi Mantra: Chant Ong Namo Guru Dev Namo three times before beginning any warm-ups, kriyas, or meditation.
• 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.

"May the long time sun
Shine upon you,
All love surround you,
And the pure light within you
Guide your way on."
- Kundalini Yoga farewell blessing

In our Yoga Class Andrea does exercise on the chair and on the mat. We do lots of breathing exercises. One of the exercises that we do is called Fist of Anger. It is all about moving around the energy we have when we are angry. When I do this exercise I feel like it helps to calm me and lower my blood pressure. That is great.

Another exercise that we do is called Cat Cow. This is great for helping with back pain. It helps with your spine, digestive system, nervous system, and helps bring your emotions into check. Another exercise we do is called Downward Facing Dog. This brings the brain into focus. So if you have had a stressful day you can do this pose. We also do the Tree Pose which I am really good at.

We do another pose Warrior Pose. I love it. It is a great pose to open up your hips and your shoulders. Another pose we do that I like is called Sphinx Pose, but I have found it also called Cobra Pose. It helps open up your spine and chest.

One of the breath things that we do is called Breath of Fire or Dragon Breath. One of the ways that we do it reminds me of a dog panting in the summer heat.  A mediation that we do as part of the class is called Peace Begins With Me. I have found this useful when I am stressed. I say it and it makes me feel so much better.

During the class Andrea plays a song that I love called Long Time Sun. Then at the end of the class we say it.

May the long time sun,
Shine upon you,
All love surround you,
And he pure light,
Within you,
Guide your way home.

Adopted Family

This past July my Mom went to be with the Lord. My sister and I were very devastated at loosing her. I will admit that life without Mom in it has been hard. I find myself crying over the little things that remind me of Mom.

I am trying to deal with her loss that best that I can. I have friends that I can talk to and that is great. However, there are times that you really need your Mom to talk to. That is when I fins myself missing her the most.

The day that Mom died my cousin Shawna and her mom Ginger where with my sister and I. Also there was our friend Jeannette. I was so glad that they were at the hospital with us. Just having someone to talk to and to be there when the tears flowed was awesome.

Since Mom passed I have been adopted into a whole new family circle. Jeannette, her husband Brian, son Sean, and Jeannette's parents have welcomed me into their family. I am so thankful that the second day that Mom was in the hospital that Jeannette's dad Nip was with us. He is a pastor. I feel I can talk to him whenever I need to. He is a great guy.

Then there is Ginger's family. Ginger's parents have welcomed us into their life with open arms. They have accepted us as their grandkids. I am so blessed to them in my life. Then there is Ginger who has taken over and become like a mother to my sister and I. I know that I can call her day or night if I need anything. Shawna is the same way. I am so blessed to have these people in my life.

I know that God saw my need before it happened and found the best way to help me through it. He knew who in my life that I could count on and those outside my close family that would be there for me when I needed it most.

Recently I was listing to the Message on Sirus XM Radio and came across this song by Steven Curtis Chapman that talks about adoption. It made me think of all the people in my life that have adopted me into their families. I am so grateful for that.  I Will Be Here is a song too that speaks about being adopted into the family of God. What a blessing!

God adopted us into his family. We were adopted when we ask Jesus into our hearts and got saved. I remember my Aunt Virginia telling me that when I got saved. She told me to always remember that date (June 21, 1995) cause that was my adoption date into the family of God.

I thank God for the people in my life that he has put there to adopt me. I also thank God that he adopted me on the day that I got saved. What a blessing!

Grief , holidays, and support

Back in July my Mom passed away unexpectedly. After her passing people have come to me with all sorts of suggestions on how to deal with my loss and grief. Some of those people understand what I am going through. Others have no idea what it is like. Then there are others who don't think it is a good idea to grieve the loss of a loved one. Put a period and move on they say. Everyone grieves in their own way at their own time.

I have experienced a lot of loss in my life. I have dealt well with it for the most part. However, I think loosing Mom has been very hard on me. I have done a lot of praying and looking to God for help. I have good friends that have been their for me through all of this.

One of the hardest times during the grieving process is the holidays. I remember 21 years ago today my dad passes away. That first Christmas was hard. I was 15 and my sister was 10. No one could have thought that we would have dealt as well as we did. Dad always brought Mom flowers at the holidays. I could tell that on the first Christmas Mom was sad that she didn't get the flowers. Another thing that made that Christmas hard was that we use to go get a live tree with dad. That first Christmas people that we knew who had a Christmas Tree farm brought us a tree. We had lots of support at that time.

It is the same now after the loss of Mom. People opened their homes to my sister and me of Thanksgiving and Christmas. Some have even made us feel like a part of the family. Having that much love and support is great. It shows that people really care.

However, there are those that choose to not take advantage of the support that is offered them during the holidays. You have to let them deal in their own way. Don't push them. Offer support to them. Let them know that they are not alone in this.

Support groups are great. However, you need to take caution before joining one. One thing you need to consider is who is running the support group. Is that person a trained professional? If not you need to stay clear. Often times groups ran by people who are not trained professionals tend to be gossip centers. I was asked to join a support group after Mom died and I said no. I had been told by people that I trusted that the group was only a gossip circle.

If you know the people in the group well and trust them then go ahead and join. Often times joining a support group ran by people that you know will make it easier to go. You will feel more at ease. In any case you need to decide if joining a support group is right for you.

In the end grief is a slow process. It is different for everyone. Don't let someone tell you how to grieve. Do it at your own time and in your own way. You will see the light at the end of the tunnel in the end.

Jesus, The Reason for the Season

Christmas Time is just around the corner. People are putting up decorations and getting ready for the holiday. All too often we loose sight of the real meaning of this season. That is Jesus. Think about it. If Jesus would have not been born that first Christmas Night we would have nothing to celebrate.

Picture it. Mary and Joseph traveled a far distance to take part in the censes so that they could be taxed. Mary road on a donkey and Joseph walked. They probably traveled for several days. They were tired and hungry. After having participated in the censes they wanted to get something to eat and find a place to sleep.

This was next to impossible. Fact was all the room in the inns in the city of Bethlehem were full. Joseph explained the situation that they were in to the last inn keeper they can across. Mary was with child and it was time for that child to be born. They needed a place to sleep now.

So the Inn Keeper gave them a room in the stable. That was better than nothing at this point. That night Jesus was born. He was born into a world full of sin. Little did we know on that first Christmas Night that 30 years later Jesus would have to die on Calvary on Good Friday and be raised from the dead on that first Easter to save all those that believed in him from the sin of the world.

So God had a plan and a purpose in sending his one and only son to Earth that first Christmas Night. He knew then that his only son was going to save the world. This in itself is a strange way to save the world. However, it did get the job done.

Now we come to 2015 when Santa Clause is the king of Christmas to most people. We have lost sight of Jesus. We have commercialized Christmas. Jesus' birth has lost its meaning. We have lost the true meaning of the first Christmas so long ago. .

Oh how the world would be a different place if we got back to that meaning. If Jesus was the king of Christmas once again for everyone the world would be a better place.

So this Christmas I challenge each of you to find the true reason for the season. Put Christ in Christmas.

Jesus Loves You.....But You Don't Really Mean That

Recently I was involved in a some what of an argument at church. The end result as I was walking away was that the person that was arguing with me said Jesus Loves You and I Love You. I was shocked. Those words had never before come out of that persons mouth to me. I was blown away. Had my prayers been answered. I didn't take it too seriously.

I have come to believe that people who claim to be Christians, but are really not (talk the talk, but don't walk the walk) tend to say things that they really don't mean. This was on of those times. Following worship this person gave me the weekly sermon like always. Nothing had changed.

Don't take the love of Jesus lightly. Jesus died on the cross to save you and me. That is a big thing. Don't think that in an argument that you will win if you say Jesus Love You. You are just covering up for the fact that you may not be right.

When I tell someone Jesus Loves You I mean it. I take the love of Jesus seriously. I know that Jesus has done lots for me in this life. When I die I know that I am going to spend eternity with him. That is an awesome thought.

So the next time that someone tells you Jesus Loves You think about the meaning behind it. It says a lot about what kind of Christian that they are.