5 easy tips to boost your Kundalini yoga practice

Kundalini Yoga was designed for busy people, who work, have families and other commitments. It was designed to improve one’s performance at those tasks and not take one away from it. Hence, there are many simple, powerful and quick tools we can apply to change the energy in our bodies and our state of mind. Kundalini Yoga is a vast technology which can be applied in many various ways in everyday life. Today I wanted to introduce a few of those ways that are almost effortless but in a long run, they will make a big difference.

1. Trust its power

People come to Kundalini Yoga for many reasons and they approach it in various ways. It produces an enormous amount of energy but one can receive only as much as one is prepared to take. You can come to a class to feel more relaxed, uplifted and positive after or you can allow it to heal your body and mind, transform limiting believes and deeply empower you. It's a little bit like having an iPhone and just making phone calls, and not using its full potential. So if you feel the call, have an intention in every class and let Kundalini Yoga work for you on a deeper level. 

2. 10 minutes a day

Commit to 10 minutes of yoga or meditation a day. Small steps are fantastic because you can do it easily and feel accomplished which motivates further progress. The incredible thing about Kundalini yoga is that 5 or 10 minutes of regular, daily practice can really shift your energy or bring the body into correct alignment. Make this 10 minutes your priority, time for yourself and your Self will do lots for you in return. Ordinary tasks done regularly produce extraordinary results! Not sure what to do? Drop me a line and I will be happy to help you.

3. Play mantras at home

There are many benefits of playing mantras wherever you are. First of all, you will easily learn various mantras that probably will be used in a class. Secondly, it raises the vibration of the environment where it’s played. Once a student came to Yogi Bhajan for advice on his struggling business. Yogi Bhajan told him to play Aap Sahai Hooaa mantra on repeat 24-7. Power of this chant helped to remove obstacles and indeed the energy of the venture lifted, it became prosperous again.

4. Read a book

I don't know about you but I'm obsessed with books. Reading for me is like immersing myself in a different world, learning from it and getting inspired. There are many books on Kundalini yoga that will do just that for you. They will widen your perspective, open your mind and heart. And they are easily accessible now. 9 years ago when I was starting my Kundalini adventure it was really difficult to buy any books on Kundalini Yoga in the UK. So glad things are changing and Kundalini yoga is growing as fast as it is. Wahe guru! Oh I’ve created my books recommendation for you too.

5. Immersion

I like a holistic approach to life, or to my practice. One thing is learning something and another is subtle immersion with like-minded people, sharing yogic tips and realization that we are not isolated on this path and there are other people as crazy as us. That's why I encourage you to book yourself onto a workshop or retreat and dive into this technology, its lifestyle and let it become part of your life. This is when the magic happens. 

If you know me, you know how much joy I get when I hear you practicing more and applying the technology of Kundalini Yoga in your life. So please share in the comments which of those tips seem appealing and whether you’re going to take action.

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Kundalini Yoga books to inspire and educate

People often ask for a recommendation of Kundalini Yoga books when they want to learn more, get more inspired or want to start a home practice. There are many books available at the moment and I will introduce you to different kind of books that may appeal to different personality types. Have a good scroll and I hope it will inspire you to dive deeper into your Kundalini Yoga practice.   

‘Yoga for Real Life’ by Maya Fiennes is an easy, lovely and inspiring read. It will motivate you and allow to do bits and bobs of yoga at home. Maya is a great and highly respected Kundalini Yoga teacher worldwide. In this book, Maya shows how Kundalini Yoga benefited her life and what it can do for you! Beginners will enjoy if It’s more on the feminine side, but guys fear not I have something masculine for you too.

‘The Invincible Living’ by Guru Jagat another celebrity yoga teacher from the US. Guru Jagat is a powerful and unique Kundalini Yoga teacher. She has a scientific approach and this is the impression of this book. Her teaching style is all about transformation, empowerment, human potential and radiance. If this tickles your fancy that’s the book for you. You will find simple meditations and yoga set, as well as practical tips.

'The 8 human talents' by Gurmukh. It's a beautiful book about charkas, Kundalini Yoga and meditation. If you want to learn more about chakras and how their energy affects your everyday life this book is for you. There are many stories of Gurmukh herself and her students. You will probably relate to some of them or will be able to understand your own journey with yoga. I definitely recommend this book to everybody, no matter whether you're more right- or left-brained. 

‘The Kundalini Yoga Experience’ by Darryl O'Keeffe & Guru Dharma Singh Khalsa is probably little bit more factual and masculine. It explains many postures, breathing exercises and meditations, very practical and precise. There are full sets (kriyas) which you can do at home. Perfect if you want to establish your own Kundalini Yoga practice.  

The last two books are for hardcore Kundalini Yogis.

‘Kundalini Yoga: The Flow of Eternal Power - a Simple Guide to the Yoga of Awareness as Taught by Yogi Bhajan’  by Shakti Pawha Kaur Khalsa it’s a fantastic book if you really want to learn more and go deeper into your practice. Many interesting facets of Kundalini Yoga and lifestyle explained in an accessible way. Plus yoga sets, meditations, yogic recipes and more. Full of wisdom.  

Last but not least, ‘Laws of Life’ lecture by the master of Kundalini Yoga himself. A little book but full of wisdom and can leave you contemplating for a while. Wanna taste of the original teachings of Yogi Bhajan? This is a good place to start...

There are obviously many more books on Kundalini Yoga but this will keep you going. If you’re looking for something more specific, get in touch I will be happy to help. Oh and let me know if you read any of those books and what are your thoughts.  

Join weekly live classes, or learn more about Kundalini Yoga here.

Kundalini Yoga Music

The healing, uplifting and transformational power of music has a very long history. Most cultures have traditions of singing songs because when we sing we are more in touch with our soul and each other. Sound travels easily through water and since our bodies are mainly water this is how the healing happens. Have you heard of the “Happy Birthday Effect”? Look at your family pictures of people just before they sing “Happy Birthday” song and after it and you will see their faces are different, more joyful, radiant and happier after they sung the song. Music is one of Kundalini Yoga’s superpowers. It keeps one focused, creates wonderful atmosphere and connects body, mind and spirit together.

I often get asked about the music I share in my classes so decided to write a blog and feature some of my favourite artists. The only problem is there’s too much good music and I don’t want to overwhelm you so here’s part one and I will follow with some more great music in future posts.

For more information about an artist click on their image.

Music that got my attention even before I’ve started practicing Kundalini Yoga was Snatam Kaur. It was played in my hatha yoga class and it touched me so deeply I had it on repeat on my iPod for a long time.. Snatam has been part of Kundalini Yoga scene from her birth as her father was dedicated student of Yogi Bhajan from early 1970. Her father, Sat Santokh Singh Khalsa, was a manager of the Grateful Dead so both Kundalini Yoga and music were big in their family.

Jai Jagdeesh is another number one on my list:-). Her music is very different to Snatam’s, it’s more modern, she sings mantras and some incredible English songs too. Both very powerful, healing and heart opening. And she is just a very lovely and funny person. Follow her on Instagram for a good laugh.  

Including a picture of me ironing her outfit before her performance in Manchester in 2018. 

Mirabai Ceiba are my recent favourite so if you come to my classes you have heard it a lot lately. I always knew of them but really fell in love at European Yoga Festival 2018. They led the closing ceremony with live music and it was mind blowing. See the video on my Instagram. 

Last few artist I want to mention are Gurunam Singh, and two local musicians Benjamin from Wales and Kamari & Manvir from Preston. The last two have very funky twist and will get you dancing, singing and celebrating!

So there you have it. My favourite Kundalini Yoga music at the moment. You will easily find it on Spirit Voyage, YouTube, iTunes and Spotify. Enjoy!

I wonder what’s your favourite new age music at the moment? Please comment below. Sharing is caring:-)

Join weekly live classes, or learn more about Kundalini Yoga here.

No pressure, no diamonds.

After practicing Kundalini Yoga and Meditation for almost 8 years, I’m constantly amazed at how it works and how it transforms personalities. It stretches us beyond our physical and mental limits. The transformation in Kundalini Yoga is often referred to as magic or alchemy, as this is exactly what happens.

When we stay in a certain posture for a while we are applying pressure on the body and mind. And this pressure is crucial for a process of purification and healing. The question is what are you going to do with that pressure? Are you going to surrender to it or give into the pressure. The more you surrender to it and let it work on you, the more purification and transformation happens. It’s all about your commitment and how much you’re going to invest of yourself. This is why there’s no initiation in Kundalini Yoga as our effort and commitment is a self-initiation process.

And this is exactly how diamonds are created! Diamonds and coal are both made out of the same material – carbon. The difference is the amount of pressure that is applied to it. There’s obviously greater pressure applied to the diamond and significantly less to the coal. People who do turn up to Kundalini Yoga classes and commit to a Kriya (set of exercises) are pressurised and go through the purification process which in time transforms them into ‘diamonds’. They are strong, beautiful, glowing and pure. That’s the alchemy. "If it’s so great why isn't everybody doing it?" you may ask. The answer is - mind. Mind is hardwired to move us towards pleasure and away from pain. Mind will avoid pressure at all cost. However Kundalini Yoga has some great tools on how to train the mind, to go beyond its limits and help us grow and expand. You don’t even need to practice Kundalini Yoga to understand this. Life too throws many pressures on us to make us grow and shine.

It’s natural for me to see potential in people and put them under pressure, to get the diamond out and let them shine. This is what I do in yoga all the time. Job of a teacher is to poke, provoke, confront and elevate.

Though it is funny when it happens the other way round. I was in a situation recently where I was being pressurised by someone, it taught me a great lesson... I’m trying to learn how to play harmonium at the moment which is a little challenging for me(pain). My partner was saying that I don’t practice enough and I’m not ready for an upcoming performance (applying pressure to me). This hit a big resistance in me, and at first, brought some anger and fear. The resistance is a natural reaction of the mind. Yogi Bhajan said "When the time is on you, start, and the pressure will be off." This is when the teachings come in very useful. So after feeling a little sorry for myself, ('oh my bruised ego,') I made a plan of playing harmonium twice a day and I’m loving it. I’m learning, stretching and growing again. Thank you for the pressure. No pressure, no diamond. 

I wish you all to grow and shine and go beyond any limitations!

This Girl Can

This post won’t be about achievements we traditionally perceive. I have no intentions of showing off, proving myself or craving any admiration. I would like to invite you to my world just as it is at the moment. Raw, vulnerable and real.

After recent death of my parents, my life turned upside down. And I’m not taking about headstand. Unless one stays in the headstand for months because this is exactly how I’m feeling right now.

Everything I was proud of and defined by in the past has disappeared. My vitality, radiance, positive energy, passion for life, divine practice, pure and simple mind, sense of security and support. It’s all gone. Just like my parents are gone. And it hurts, really hurts. Physically, mentally and emotionally!

So when I made the poster “This girl can” I meant:

This girl can get to work after sleepless nights.

This girl can face life even tho there seems to be no point.

This girl can show up beside enormous pain she is in.

This girl can feel sadness, loss, depression, frustration, anger, hopelessness and betrayal sometimes all in one hour.

This girl can walk even tho crawling seems like too much.

But I’ve made friends with grief now. We are getting closer now and understand each other more. I know this grief is simply love that took a different form. Nothing ever disappears, it just changes its form. So my parents haven’t disappear neither, and my vitality, radiance and all the things I’ve mentioned above. They are all there, they just look differently. I need to keep my eyes, ears, mind and all my senses open as they are not the same as they used to be. This situation, yet again, is calling for my awareness, presence, innocence and openness. And this understanding helps me get out of bed as difficult as it is often times.

I’m grateful for sleepless nights for finally I understand insomniacs who come to my classes.

I’m grateful for depression because I forgot what it feels like (that’s what Kundalini Yoga does to you). Now I will be able to have more empathy for people who suffer with depression and help them overcome it.

I’m grateful for grief because grief is love. And as hard as it is at times, I still remember the primal truth “We are love”

This girl can… LOVE

Sat nam!

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