 | |
| Adi Singh highly recommends the book Divine Alighment by Guru Prem Singh Khalsa |
Around the middle of March, 2013, Yoga
Phoenix started offering Yogic Lifestyle Teacher Support, which is a series of special
events designed to support Kundalini Yoga teachers. As a teacher myself, I always
feel that it is very important to keep studying and learning about this
wonderful ancient technology, jumped at the opportunity and attended Divine
Alignment by Adi Singh. Little did I know, it turned out to be a great review
of the basics and the refresher was most welcomed.
We began by reviewing the three locks:
root lock, diaphragm lock, and neck lock, covered back in Level 1 Teachers’ Training.
Adi Singh demonstrated some exercises that may help students with the mechanics
of Kundalini Yoga basics. For example, have students lie down on their backs
and then apply root lock. This way, they will be able to feel the spine being
lengthen and become straight. Another good exercise is to combine spinal flex
with root lock. Have students inhale and push lower spine forward while holding
root lock. As the spine flexes to the back, release the root lock. This exercise
is also good for the lower back!
After reviewing the locks, we moved
on to breath work. Adi Singh provided a lot of tips on how students should practice
their breath work and how teachers can provide guidance. For instance, applying
root lock can help students learn to breathe through the belly. Adi Singh
shared a very simple exercise that tests how healthy a person is. First,
breathe long and deep a few times. Then exhale completely and hold the breath
out for as long as one can. Adi Singh said that the ability to hold the breath
out for over 30 seconds is an indicator of good health (I made it past 30
seconds!). If one can hold the breath out for one minute that means this person
is in tiptop shape!
Of all the breath work in Kundalini
Yoga, I think most students will find breath of fire the most challenging to
learn. Adi Singh shared a few ideas on how to teach breath of fire. Most
importantly, he helped me understand how all these techniques help open the
gateway to the central channel (sushmuna), allowing the kundalini energy to
rise to the top of the head and then come back down.
We spent the rest of the evening
doing some meditation and discussing the role of a teacher. Adi Singh pointed out that in a way the
teacher is the ideal that students try to achieve. As teachers, we must
continue our learning and keep refining our practice, but at the same time
remain humble. I want to thank Adi Singh for imparting this piece of wisdom
with me; I was very glad to have attended the event.
Yoga Phoenix will continue to offer
more special events like this to support Kundalini Yoga teachers. Don’t miss
out on these valuable learning opportunities. Yogic Lifestyle Teacher Support
takes place every 4th Tuesday of the month, at 7 pm.
