Has Yoga Strayed Too Far From Its Hindu Roots?

[dwai]

I also wanted to ask what is your opinion of Kriya Pranayama (Spinal Pranayama) as seen in a few different groups?

 

jijaji

 

I'm not familiar with different Kriya pranayams. Could you describe them to me?

 

The two "Kriya" techniques I've learnt are Sudarshan Kriya (Sri Sri Ravi shankar) and while it's pretty powerful, it didn't do much for me, because I already had a practice that was giving me results. I also practiced Tamil Siddhar style yoga where we had to go through first a spinal purification (called Meru Danda Shuddhi) which was very interesting, in that it caused intense pressure in the head initially. Our teacher would not teach anything else until he determined that the body was ready for asanas.

 

As the practice progressed, it did what I think is natural, ie raise the energy up through the spine. We would hold mudras and do standard pranayam with kumbhak (i was doing 1:4:2 and 1:2:4), following a sequence of asanas with no kumbhak but a certain type of energy stabilization technique. I suspect that it is very similar to the Kriya Yoga of Babaji/Lahiri Mahasaya path (albeit I don't have any personal experience in it)...my teacher said that Babaji was Bogar Nathar's student and he was teaching Bogar's techniques.

[dwai]

Someone more experienced with Taoist techniques like Scotty can chime in, but I would think deep/abdominal/lower dantien breathing with breath-awareness (One Breath as we call in Kunlun school) is much more advisable and safer and more wholesome than a lot of these Spinal/Kriya-like practices - for the beginner. Even in Lahiri Baba's school, Nabhi Kriya was considered pretty important before starting other practices - something that Yogananda seems to have done away with. Hamsa Kriya (or Ajapa Kriya, that SRF calls Hong Sau) establishes breath awareness and Nabhi Kriya establishes awareness on the lower dantien (and also ming men). The Daoist abdominal breathing achieves both. So, IMO, this is a lot safer than most Pranayama techniques - its natural and not forced. It can lead the current up the spine spontaneously and without force at the right time.

 

If one had to pick and choose a Pranayama technique, As Dwai said, Anuloma-Viloma is the way to go as it accomplishes the crucial part of nadi shuddhi. I am not sure working with Sushumna without some level of preliminary practice is very safe.

 

Also, from what I read, Babaji's kriya emphasizes the "thokar" which is subsequent to Kechari mudra. IINM, Guruyoga, you have learnt from Sri Shibendu Lahiri right?

[guruyoga]

Also, from what I read, Babaji's kriya emphasizes the "thokar" which is subsequent to Kechari mudra. IINM, Guruyoga, you have learnt from Sri Shibendu Lahiri right?

 

Dwai, I did talk to Shibenduji and exchange notes, but I did not learn from him. My Kriya teacher was a monk who was a student of H H Keshavananda Brahmachari of Katyayani Peeth. Also studied a bit with SRF initially and Paramahamsa Hariharananda. In my lineage, which traces its yogic roots also to Babaji (haha) - is chiefly Tantric and not yoga-centric, we do practice most of the Kriyas in SRF including the Thokar, but with variation in mantras and ratios. Also, my Thokar is imperfect as I have only accomplished about 85% of Khechari.

Edited January 6, 2012 by guruyoga

[jijaji]

I'm not familiar with different Kriya pranayams. Could you describe them to me?

 

Basically following the breath up and down the spine and touching upon the chakras in the process (some omit this part) and there are various versions of course.

 

 

jijaji

[dwai]

Basically following the breath up and down the spine and touching upon the chakras in the process (some omit this part) and there are various versions of course.

 

 

jijaji

Thx jijaji...

My first thought was, where else will the energy go? It has to naturally rise thru the spine....risig to the crown pt.