Books on Kundalini Yoga - The following are a few excellent reading
companions. Shakta’s book is a great beginner’s book, filled with
photo illustrations, meditations and yogic recipes. The other titles
are each filled with valuable insights and information for more in-
depth study.
Shakti Parwha combines her down-to-earth philosophical
approach with precious anecdotes about her experiences as an
early student of Yogi Bhajan. Gurmukh, who is popular teacher in
Los Angeles, offers a deeply insightful study of the chakras, with a
warmly human touch. Dr. Dharma operates a renowned clinic in
Tucson. His book is replete with the latest scientific findings on the
medical benefits of Kundalini Yoga.
• Shakta Kaur Khalsa, Kundalini Yoga: Unlock Your Inner
Potential Through Life-Changing Exercise, price: $19.95
• Shakti Parwha Kaur Khalsa, Kundalini Yoga: The Flow Of
Eternal Power, price: $23.95
• Gurmukh, Eight Human Talents: The Yogic Way To Restore
Balance & Serenity Within You, price: $20.95
• Dharma Singh Khalsa, M.D., Meditation As Medicine: Activating
The Power Of Your Healing Force, price: $21.50
Visit us on the Internet - Our Toronto web-site has the times and
Welcome to Kundalini Yoga!
locations of Kundalini Yoga classes all over the Greater Toronto
Area and beyond. It also features valuable links for related yoga to heal, uplift & inspire
information, products and services.
Kundalini Yoga is the most powerful and effective form of yoga. It
www.torontokundaliniyoga.com stimulates optimal health and a radiant sense of well being with simple
yogic techniques that can be practised by anyone. Positive effects can be
Give us a Call - If you have a question, need support, or would like help noticed almost right away.
finding a class near you, don’t hesitate to phone us at:
Kundalini Yoga helps to bring the energies of your brain and nervous
and glandular systems into balance, in order for you to function at a
(416) 929-2507 consistently higher level, without exhausting your mind and body. When
the body and mind are at ease, inspiration flows freely and peace of mind is
realized.
Until recent years, Kundalini Yoga was the exclusive and secretive
domain of yogis in the far-off Himalayas. In 1968, Yogi Bhajan (1929-
2004) came to the West and began to teach this powerful, health-giving
science openly. In 1994, he founded the International Kundalini Yoga
Teachers Association (IKYTA) to spread and to serve these teachings.
Nowadays, through the efforts of teachers of the International Kund-
alini Yoga Teachers Association, Kundalini Yoga is practised by tens of
thousands of people in 68 countries, making IKYTA one of the largest yoga
teaching organizations in the world.
We te a c h the world !
Getting Started - As a beginning student, you should participate in the Locks (Bandhs) - The use of locks, created by tensing certain muscles,
class at a pace that suits your flexibility and endurance. Wear serves as a powerful way for you to concentrate and direct the flow
loose, comfortable clothing, preferably made of cotton or other of your body’s vital energy to your higher centres. The four locks
natural, breathable fibre. It is best to remove your socks to are root lock (mool bandh), diaphram lock (uddhiyana bandh), neck
stimulate the vital nerve endings in the soles of your feet. lock (jalandhar bandh) and the great lock (maha bandh).
If you allow at least two hours between eating and practising
Mantras - In both the ancient science of the yoga masters and the
yoga, you will gain the maximum benefits. It is also easier to
theory of modern physics, vibration is central to all existence. In
exercise on an empty stomach. If you must eat, have something
Mantra Yoga, we create certain sounds that have been shown to
light to tide you over.
have natural, healing attributes. When we chant a mantra, it
Advise the teacher beforehand if you have any particular phys- affects us in three ways. One is through the impact of its meaning.
ical limitations or are pregnant. If you are pregnant or Another is through the subtle effect of its sounds on the nervous
menstruating, do not push yourself. Avoid exercises that position system. Thirdly, subtle meridians, at the roof of the mouth are
the legs over the head or put great stress on the abdomen. stimulated, which in turn affect the hypothalamus and the pituitary,
Instead of breath of fire, practise long, deep breathing. the master gland of the body.
A blanket or shawl may have many useful applications. You can
sit on it, cover your body with it during deep relaxations, and use it Hand Postures (Mudras) - According to traditional yogic science, each
to cover your back and shoulders during meditation. area of the hand helps control a specific part of the brain. Western
anatomical science also shows that the hands and fingers are
“Tuning In” - Since Kundalini Yoga is a powerful, life-altering science, widely represented in the brain. Yogic theory says that various
we begin each class with an exercise of attunement, using the discrete neurological effects can be attained by, for example,
mantra “Ong Namo Guru Dev Namo.” touching the fingertips to the thumb, or crossing certain fingers.
By chanting “Ong Namo,” we honour the universal energy of Mental Focus (Dhyan) - Try to stay mindful for the duration of the
change and embrace its role in our life. “Ong” means “Creator” class. Keep aware of the magic of the breath. Be mindful of the
and “Namo” means “I bow”. By chanting “Guru Dev Namo,” we subtle nuances of the exercises you are doing. Be aware of their
honour our highest spiritual authority, our conscience, since change effect on your physical and mental state. Be mindful of your mind,
without some inner guidance is pointless, but with the help of our and try to coax it back to the here and now when you find it
“Guru Dev” a great deal can be accomplished that might not wandering.
otherwise have been possible.
Sadhana - The strengthening, uplifting effects of Kundalini Yoga are most
Posture (Asana) - Kundalini Yoga is called the yoga of angles and pronounced when it is practised on a regular, even a daily, basis.
triangles. The specific angles that make up each yoga posture put Consider setting aside time to invest in your self first thing, or
pressure on the glands to secrete. When the body comes out of an before you sleep at night. You will be glad you did.
asana, the glandular secretions have an opportunity to circulate
freely. With practice, the glands, which are the guardians of our “The Longtime Sun” - Each class comes to a close with a song that
health, begin to function better, relieved of needless stress and affirms our connectedness with each other, the Earth and our
better attuned to the real needs of body, mind and spirit. highest aspirations. It dates from the early days of Kundalini Yoga
classes in 1969.
Breathing (Pranayam) - Exercising the breath is a fundamental part of
yogic practice. The lungs are our largest organs, but most people “May the longtime sun shine upon you,
only use 30 percent of their lungs. Long, deep breathing helps all love surround you,
build patience and endurance. Breathing through the nose has a and the pure light within you
calming effect compared with mouth breathing, which stimulates guide your way on,
the secretion of stress-producing chemicals in the body. Breath of guide your way on,
fire is a rapid, abdominal breath that releases toxins from the body guide your way on…”
and expands the capacity of the lungs. S at N am
