Kriya Yoga Lessons -1and 2 - Initiation.

Kriya Yoga Tradition In 1861, Lahiri Mahasaya's guru Babaji Maharaj initiated him into Kriya Yoga, at Ranikhet in Himalaya, the same teachings that Krishna gave to Arjuna later known as Patanjali. Kriya yoga is the special teaching for salvation, unity and communion with the Divine of this age. Kriya Yoga techniques brings about purification of mind and chakras, and a tremendous vital and spiritual power will follow helping one to meditate deeply and achieve highest spiritual stages, the state of bliss being at these stages a daily occurrence. Before starting to say anything about the Kriya Yoga Initiations, I will say some words to the person aspiring to be a Kriyaban, which he/she need to know : The energies released by this practice are tremendous, unlike any other practice ever heard of. Thus, the aspiring student needs to have a strong and healthy body, free of any ailments and a healthy mind. The student should not engage in practicing the advanced Kriyas if he/she have high blood pressure, heart disease, have recently suffered a stroke or heart attack, or knows he/she is suspect of any mental/psychic disorders. The aspiring Kriya practician needs to work for a period of 3 month at least Hatha Yoga, asanas and complete yogic breathing in order to strengthen his body, prior to start the main techniques of Kriya. If however the student practice Tai Chi, or Qi Gong for a long period of time thus the body being cleansed, healthy and strong, then it shouldn't be any problem to start doing the prescribed Kriya techniques. If this is not the case, then the Kriyaban should start his daily practice with warming up the body, followed by 10 Complete yogic breaths and after that Asanas ( 5-6 asanas at least), relaxation in Shavasana ( the corpse position) and only after he/she will start to work the proper Kriya Yoga and meditation techniques. Warming up the body doing various movements of the head, neck, spine, hips and legs, as taught in Hatha Yoga class. Take deep breaths at the same time. Complete Yoga breathing is done as follow: Inhale long, deeply by nose and exhale by mouth. The process will seems to take place in 3 stages, although it's a single movement; Inhale in the belly, relaxing the muscles of abdomen, continue breathing at the next stage into the chest, and last stage is inhaling in the upper part of the lungs, the upper part of the chest, moving the collarbone upward. Exhale long and deeply until there is not air anymore in the lungs, at the end pressing slightly the muscle of stomach toward spine. Repeat10 times. Asanas to streghten the body, to be practiced before working Kriya yoga techniques:

Standing asanas: forward hanging/ hands to feet, backward bending with hands extended over the head, the spine twist with hands extended left/right, the triangle pose, etc Sitting asanas: cobra, forward stretch ( head to knees and hands to feet), the camel, the frog and the bow, the yacht, Inverted pose ( legs up)Viparita Karani etc. Breathe long and gentle all the period when practicing the yoga poses. In order to be able to practice the Kriya Yoga and meditation techniques, the knowledge of Ujjiay pranayama ( a yoga breathing technique) is necessary. Ujjiay pranayama: Breathe in and out through both nostrils while producing a noisy sound in the throat (this can be done, if while breathing, you contract the muscles of throat, thus restricting the flow of air) Nadi Sodhana Pranayama: Exhale and inhale on both nostrils, alternating laft/right, while breathing on one nostril, close the opposite with your fingers. Nadi Sodhana with Kumbhaka : Same manner like previously, but holding your breath after inhalation on one nostril, while the other is closed, alternate nostrils. The rhythm of Inhale/ Holding breath/ Exhale is : 1-4-2, measuring the time bt chanting AUM or OM. Example: Inhale for a slow 2 OM, hold your breath for a slow 8 OM, exhale for a slow 4 OM. Knowing how to perform the main yogic bandhas and mudras is also a necessity; Jalandhara Bandha: Pressing the chin on your throat/ on your chest and holding it there. Mula Bandha: Contracting the anus muscles. Uddyana Bandha: Pulling the muscles of abdomen in toward spine, and out. Kechari Mudra: Tongue is positioned with tip touching the palate. Shambhavi Mudra: With eyes closed, you should concentrate in Ajna chakra ( the point in the middle of forehead), or In Bruhmadyia Chakra ( the point between eyebrows) Unmani Mudra: With eyes half close, look in front of you at a short distance (5-6 cm) After you have learned how to perform these techniques with ease, at any time you may be ready to start your Kriya practice safely, paying attention to the technique itself, being able to relax and concentrate easily, in order to achieve fast results.

The First Kriya Talabya Kriya: Is necessary to be done for a period of time in order to be able to perform at any time, with ease, Kechari Mudra. Some of Kriyas cannot be performed without Kechari M. The tongue is positioned with tip touching the upper teeth. Press the body of tongue against the upper palate. Drop – lower the bottom jaw until you feel the stretch in the small fold under the tongue. Relax the tongue with a click sound, then stickit out of the mouth, pointing it toward your chin Repeat 10 times in the beginning, until your reach 50 repetitions. In few month you should be able to insert the tongue beyond the soft palate, into the nasal cavity ie. Kechari Mudra. This technique calms the mind and reduce thinking process. The Second Kriya Om Japa Meditation in Chakras: Start in Muladhara – the 1st chakra, chant OM for 2- 3 seconds, concentrating on the chakra as well as on sound. Continue, move your attention to the 2nd chakra chant Om, after that moving upward to 3rd center manipura Chakra, Anahata, Vishudhha in Medulla Oblongata ( lower back of your head). 1-2-3-4-5 On the ascent of awarness, while chanting OM, concentrate on perceiving the core of chakras. Now from Medulla Oblongata, start the descent of attention and awarness, chanting OM for 2-3 seconds in each chakra. 5-4-3-2-1 On the descent of awarness be attentive to perceive the radiation of chakras. A cycle is approx. 30 seconds, and you will reapeat 6-12 cycles. Chant OM with a low tone ( the sound being as “ONG”) the first 3 cycles. Chant mentally OM in each chakra for the rest of cycles from 4-12. When chanting do not pay attention to your breath. Just breathe naturally ( your breath should be however heard from 4-5 m a distance)

The Third Kriya Kriya Pranayama Meditation or The Spinal Breathing; This is one of the most important technique, as it acts on the energy ( prana) within body Focus in Bruhmadhya – between the eye brows , the attention on Medula Oblongata - the lower back of your head. 1. The first part of Kriya Pranayama Meditation: Tongue is positioned in Kechari Mudra ( in the soft palate of the mouth for beginners) eyes and mouth are closed, be relaxed and focus between the eyebrows ( in Bruhmadhya chakra) but the Attention is in medulla oblongata. Inhale deeply in Ujjayi, making a noise in the throat ( like a pump, Ujjayi wil raise the energy from the base of spine to Medulla Oblongata center – back of the head, and to Bindy center – occipital center. Pause in M.O for 2-3 seconds ( the activity of mind is suspended) An unhurried, gentle exhalation will move the energy back to the base of spine, while the Navel will move inward. Feel the heat in the Navel, rising from the lower abdomen. Pause for 2-3 seconds in Muladhara, at the base of spine . Feel comfort, peace, the mind is still, static and calm. Beginners should perform a Kriya breath in 18-20 seconds, while the advanced will perform in 45 sec/breath. Perform 12 breaths, and as you advance in practice, you can add 2 more breath each week. The light which appears (in pauses) in Bruhmadhya and Ajna will not be seen now at this early stage of practice, but in more advanced stages ie 40 repetitions, weeks of work, longer time 30-40 seconds /breath, etc. Remember the breathing is at all times performed in UJJAYI ( inhale deeply, with a noise in the throat, exhale softly, restrict the breathe in the throat by contracting the muscles, concentrating of the friction of air on its way. 2. The Second Part of Kriya Pranayama Meditation