Kriya Yoga

The Bhagavad Gita - an important Yoga text and considered one of the most important classics of the world - tells a story about a great battle; and though it depicts a historic event, it is actually a metaphor for the human bodymind and the higher self.

Briefly: The mind controls the five senses of sight and sound, touch, taste and smell. As such, the mind is often destracted by these things, like the sight of a action movie, or the sound of rock music, or the touch of a soft fabric, the taste of a delicious meal, or the smell of an intoxicating aroma.

At no time should these be considered 'bad' things, simply distracting ones, for they keep us from focusing on our breath and breathing. Thousands of years ago the ancient Yogins realize that the bodymind is linked to the higher self through the breath, so it is that this has become the cornerstone of Yoga.

The Bhagavad Gita talks a lot about Yoga .. like Karma Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, Jhana Yoga and Kriya Yoga.

Kriya Yoga is the Yoga of action or 'taking charge' of our life. Specifically, in the Bhagavad Gita, this is done through the breath, utilizing breathing techniques. Kriya Yoga then, is a way to accelerate conscious development, and creating a profound sense of tranquility and union with your higher self.

In one example, Kriya Yoga explains the "Cave of Brahman", which is a poetic term for the creative lifeforce within the bodymind, and which radiates outwards into the twenty-four vital centers of the body via the medulla, the cerebellum and the spinal cord.

The pituitary and pineal glands - also inside the Cave - are polar opposites, such as male / female, hot / cold, night / day, morning / night, and the like. These opposites represent the duality we experience as humans, meaning how we feel 'alone' or 'isolated' or not connected to our higher self. Kriya Yoga regulates these opposites - through Yogic breathing techniques - to calm the entire nervous system, which regulates the bodymind fluctuations, and so helps us arrive at a place of self-realization. Which simply means that we realize our true or higher self.

In that peace [self-control and self awareness by mastering the breath] all pains [sense of seperateness] are destroyed, for the intellect of the tranquil-mind [those who meditate] soon becomes steady [calm, blissful, at peace].
-Bhagavad Gita, 2:65

In all, the Bhagavad Gita describes life as a journey of co-creation, where we travel from one breath to the next, learning to not pick-up more baggage - such as worries and concerns - then we can carry. Through Yoga we realize that life's journey can be a pilgrimage or a vacation, one that has a cherished and nurturing goal .. which is nothing less than self-realization.

In a Yoga class we learn that every pose has three parts: a beginning, a middle and an end. So when we reach the end of that pose, we return to the beginning. Yoga then, is a journey that, once achieved, we return to where our journey all began!

Yoga helps us become co-creators of our life, ever re-creating the moments of our existence, helping us choose wisely, consciously, our innate powers of creation.

Om Peace!
Yogini Valarie Devi