What to expect during a Kundalini Yoga Class + Gong Relaxation

During a Kundalini Yoga Class you can expect pranayama (breathing exercises), warm ups, asana (physical postures), mantra, relaxation and meditation. During my classes I often also incorporate the Gong during the relaxation.

​We always begin the class by tuning in with the mantra:  

Ong Namo Guru Dev Namo
Ong=Creative Vibration of the Cosmos
Namo=Bow
Guru=Inner or outer wisdom (sometimes personified as the teacher)

Then we do the mangala charn mantra:

Aad Guray Nameh Jugaad Guray Nameh Sat Guray Nameh Siri Guru Dayvay Nameh
This is a mantra for auspiciousness and protection.

​We then often do some pranayama exercises. Prana is the vital energy connected to the breath and yama means to control or balance. In yogic philosophy mind patterns (samskaras) are seen as being connected to the breath, so when we balance our breathing we help to calm and balance the mind (Chitta).

​During the class we then go and do some warm-up exercises, often those specifically designed for Kundalini Yoga.

Then we move onto a Kriya. A Kriya is a series of exercises that has a particular purpose and effect. In the wider Kundalini tradition these could be spontaneous but in the Kundalini Tradition as taught by Yogi Bhajan we practice specially designed Kriyas that have a certain, predictable effect. The Kriyas may work on particular parts of the body, like the digestive system, lungs or glandular system.

After practising the Kriya we go into a time of relaxation, often accompanied by the symphonic Gong.

Then we practice a Kundalini Meditation.

At the end of the class we close with the long time sun song. The words are:

May the Long Time Sun
Shine upon you
All love surround you
And the pure light
Within you
Guide your way on

We then chant three long Sat Nam’s to end the class. Sat means truth and Nam means identity. So when we chant this we are seeking to unite our personal identity with the truth.

A typical class will last one hour and fifteen minutes. After the class you will feel more aware, rejuvenated and stretched in the body and spacious in the mind. I am currently running classes in Bristol, Bath and the South West. 

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