Blog - Liv Avtar Yoga

Kundalini Yoga Workshop and Kirtan at Finger Lakes Yoga Festival

So this is exciting – I’ll be offering a Kundalini Yoga Workshop and a Kirtan with Zoe Mullan-Stout on Friday the 18th of August 2017 at the Finger Lakes Yoga Festival. The workshop will be during the day, and the Kirtan will begin at 8:00pm Friday night.

There are some wonderful teachers offering workshops this year from Thursday the 17th – Sunday the 20th. Plus you’ll have two opportunities to experience kirtan as Sonam Targee will be offering Kirtan on the Saturday night!

If you’ve never been to the Finger Lakes Yoga Festival it’s a wonderfully rustic, open air-type of yoga experience (and open air always creates magic when you add yoga as far as I’m concerned). I went for the first time four years ago and then taught at the festival the following year.

We sleep in tents, do yoga under event tents during the day (with grass floors so don’t bring your best mat or put a blanket down first) and sit around the campfire at night. The festival is donation based this year and it’s it’s on a farm in Savona, New York.

Find out more about participating or teaching at the festival here.

Blessings,

LivAvtar Kaur

Kundalini yoga

Using Kundalini Yoga to Move From Fear to Love

Last’s nights Kundalini Yoga class at Mandala Moon Yoga in Marcellus finished a 4 week series on Finding the Light Within. During this class we worked with releasing fear to make way for love. Many people believe that hate is the opposite of love, when in fact it’s fear that begins to create polarity and separateness from each other, our universe and our creator. Once we’ve released fear we can move into love.

Even Jedi Master Yoda knew that fear is the first link in the chain that leads to suffering.

Several people asked for the details of the kryia – and so here it is – Kundalini Yoga Kriya to Relax and Release Fear. Here it is on the 3HO Website. For the music that went with, for the Sitali Pranayam and the exercise directly after, the kriya indicates that we are to listen to the Dukh Bhajan.

I found a version of the Dukh Bhanjani Sahib on Spotify but I also found several on YouTube that would work just as well. I used a keertan version that worked for moving the body in time with the music. Experiment and see what works best for you!

For the Bowing Jap Sahib Meditation I used this from YouTube. Wait until after the Mangala Charan – the preamble or beginning of the Jap Sahib – and at around a minute and 30 seconds the Bhujand Pryat Chund begins and that’s when you start the cycle of bowing. You’ll recognize it because it goes, ‘Namustung akalai, namustung kirpalai’ and so on in rounds of 4 with a rest between – which matches the bowing pattern.

For the last exercise, the kriya asks us to chant along with the Jap Sahib. I instead had us chant to Snatam Kaur’s version of the Guru Gayatri Mantra which is a part of Jap Sahib. My thought was chanting something simpler and more familiar would promote a deeper experience during the class. Learn the words and more about the mantra here. Or ask me for a mantra sheet next class and I’ll gladly give you one.

Our next four week series begins on the 11th of July – our Kundalini Yoga Series for Summer. Make sure you remember to register from the Mandala Moon Website.

All love,

LivAvtar Kaur

The Gong

Full Moon Kundalini Yoga Meditation and Gong Bath – Now Monthly

“The Gong is the first and last instrument for the human mind, there is only one thing that can supersede and command the human mind, the sound of the Gong. It is the first sound in the universe, the sound that created this universe. It’s the basic creative sound. To the mind, the sound of the gong is like a mother and father that gave it birth. The mind has no power to resist a gong that is well played.” ~ Yogi Bhajan

We held our first Full Moon Meditation and Gong Bath at Mandala Moon Yoga in Marcellus, New York just outside of Syracuse on May of 2017. We had such an amazing response that this event will now be offered monthly. Visit Workshops and Events to see future dates.

The gong is one of the oldest instruments. It has been used for healing, relaxation and meditation practices for centuries. All frequencies effect us at a cellular level. A gong bath’s vibrational sound and frequency help reduce stress, alter consciousness, heal body mind and spirit, and create a deep sense of peace and well being.

Because the full moon shines a light on the darkness in our lives we have an an opportunity to see what isn’t serving us and let it go during the full moon. Obstacles, challenges, ‘garbage’ accumulated in our subconscious and our own negative habits and behaviors can be shed making way for joy, abundance and our heart’s desire. We are free to dwell in the realm of possibility once again.

During this hour long experience, you’ll first set an intention around releasing that which isn’t serving you, followed by some some simple stretching and breathing exercises to prepare the body for our meditation and then a period of deep relaxation lying on your back and allowing the vibrations of the gong to wash over you.

It truly is blissful and a different experience every time. We hope you’ll join us soon.

Light and Peace,

Liv Avtar Kaur

Kundalini yoga

New Kundalini Yoga Series June 2017: Connecting to the Light Within

In so much of our lives we look outside ourselves for acceptance, love, answers and guidance. How do we find, listen to and trust our own voice?

On June 6th 2017 we will begin a new 5 week Kundalini Yoga Series as taught by Yogi Bhajan at Mandala Moon Yoga in Marcellus, NY near Syracuse, where you will learn ancient yogic practices that invite you to find and trust your own internal wisdom to define yourself, your relationships and your life.

During each class you’ll be lead though chanting sacred mantra, breathing practices, yoga exercises or kryia, a gong relaxation and a mediation. Often the chanting and meditations are done to live musical accompaniment.

Each week we will focus on an aspect of Kundalini yoga practice designed to increase focus and help us listen to the creative infinite within. You’ll begin to find your center, peace, contentment and joy that’s been your birthright all along

Week 1 – Mantra and Chanting
Week 2 – Pranayama – breathing practices to go within
Week 3 – Meditation – removing self-limiting beliefs
Week 4 – Self Trust – Shifting our Focus from Fear to Love

This series of classes is designed for all levels. Beginners are encouraged to attend.

Kundalini yoga

Why do people wear white in Kundalini Yoga Class? And where can I get me some?

The first time I went to a Kundalini Yoga class I figured I should wear white. When in Rome, right? So I went on the hunt for my white yoga pants in an effort to fit it. These would be the Prana white yoga pants that I bought for my hatha yoga teacher training graduation. The ones I had no intention of ever wearing again. Little did I know.

I told a friend recently that I wear white and tie a turban every morning for my daily yoga practice. She said, ‘Wow! You really are dedicated, aren’t you?’. And it made me wonder why I continue to wear white – even when I’m all alone (except for my sleeping dog, Ike) practicing in the morning and there’s nobody to ‘fit in with’.

I have to admit, for me I feel more etherial and connected to spirit when I wear white. I feel elevated and radiant. White is the colour of light – the direction we are headed. Sometimes I remain in my floaty, white clothes all day and I know I feel lifted as a direct result.

Just to be clear: you don’t have to wear white to practice Kundalini Yoga. Wearing white is just another tool for us yogis to try on and see if it elevates us. If it works for you, you keep it, but if it doesn’t then maybe try it again in the future. Or not. It’s your practice so it’s up to you. It’s also recommended to try wearing cotton or other natural fibers as this allows the body to breathe as we practice.

So here are just some of the reasons we wear white – it’s enough to get us started…

Continue reading “Why do people wear white in Kundalini Yoga Class? And where can I get me some?” →