Where does yoga come from?
The Indian sage Patanjali is believed to have collated the practice of yoga into the Yoga Sutra an estimated 2,000 years ago. The Sutra is a collection of 195 statements that serves as a philosophical guidebook for most of the yoga that is practiced today. It also outlines eight limbs of yoga: the yamas (restraints), niyamas (observances), asana (postures), pranayama (breathing), pratyahara (withdrawal of senses), dharana (concentration), dhyani (meditation), and samadhi (connection to our infinite source)). As we explore these eight limbs, we begin to refine our behaviour in the outer world, and then we focus inwardly until we reach samadhi (experiencing liberation, enlightenment)
I'm not flexible–can I do yoga?
Yes! You are a perfect candidate for yoga. Many people think that they need to be flexible to begin yoga, but that's a little bit like thinking that you need to be able to play tennis in order to take tennis lessons. Come as you are and you will find that yoga practice will help you become more flexible. This newfound agility will be balanced by strength, coordination, and enhanced cardiovascular health, as well as a sense of physical confidence and overall well-being.
What does Kundalini mean?
The uncoiling of your essential consciousness, your creative potential, the energy of consciousness, the energy of the soul itself. Literally it means “the curl in the lock of the hair of the beloved.
How is yoga different from stretching?
Unlike stretching or fitness, yoga is more than just physical postures. Even within the physical practice, yoga is unique because we connect the movement of the body and the fluctuations of the mind to the rhythm of our breath. Connecting the mind, body, and breath helps us to direct our attention inward. Through this process of inward attention, we learn to recognize our habitual thought patterns without labeling them, judging them, or trying to change them. We become more aware of our experiences from moment to moment. Is yoga a religion? Yoga is not a religion. It is a philosophy that began in India an estimated 5,000 years ago.This philosophy of life described in Patanjali's Yoga Sutra provides a framework for spiritual growth and mastery over the physical and mental body. It is not necessary to surrender your own religious beliefs to practice yoga.
What does Kriya mean?
Kriya means action. In yoga, Kriya means a sequence of postures, breath and sound that are integrated together to allow the manifestation of a particular state. When you do a kundalini kriya, the result of its repetition is the access to and mastery of a particular, predictable, and stable state – a facet of your awareness.
What does ONG NAMO GURU DEV NAMO mean?
"I salute to the divine creative energy, I salute to the infinite wisdom within me & within all" This mantra will connect us with our higher selves and also with the golden chain of teachers of Kundalini Yoga, it is important to always chant this mantra before any practice of Kundalini Yoga