Most practices teach us that self realization and inner peace are the long-term goals and end result of several years spent following set beliefs and exercises. Even those that follow those practices are not guaranteed to reach that end goal, either. Sahaja yoga differs from these practices in a most unusual fashion. You start out attaining this self realization and proceed to nurture it through attention and meditation.
Sahaja yoga, which essentially translates to "spontaneous union with one's self", advocates becoming your own guru by achieving this self realization, or self awareness rather than depending on a teacher to guide you through every stage of your awakening throughout the course of your lifetime. By becoming your own spiritual guide and continuing to practice Sahaja yoga meditation you can then continue to live your normal life amongst your friends and family while continuing to grow much faster spiritually and without the penances usually prescribed by traditional religions.
What Sahaja Yoga Stands for
Sahaja yoga translates to mean "spontaneous union with one's self". Sahaja mean spontaneous, while the word yoga comprises the rest of the translation. This term, spontaneous, gives one the impression that little to no effort is required on the part of the practitioner of Sahaja yoga to accomplish this form of self awareness, and as the followers of the practice would have you believe it, this is essentially true.
Little is said to be required to achieve self realization through Sahaja yoga other than the simple, honest desire to attain inner peace. Want it, meditate on it, achieve it, and then keep it for years to come with little more than your own desire to be self aware. Doesn't that sound great? Bear in mind that while self realization is the first step in Sahaja yoga, it is not the only step. As with any practice, you can easily step off the path and lose everything you worked for along the way.
Kundalini
In Sahaja yoga, self realization is the awakening of a compassionate spiritual energy within us that lays dormant in the sacrum bone at the base of our spine. This energy is called Kundalini, and it is said to be able to cure and improve you, as well as remove you from the tedious worries of life. Kundalini manifests itself after self realization, traveling up through the central channel (your spine and central nervous system) to pierce through each of the six chakras and emerge at the top of the head. Those seeking some sort of confirmation as to whether they have succeeded in awakening Kundalini are encouraged to feel just above the top of their head for a soft, cool breeze that is said to be present after self realization is attained.
Shri Mataji Nirmala Devi devised Sahaja yoga to allow an individual to become their own spiritual guide, believing that in order to know truth you must know your spirit. While the belief that spontaneous self realization might seem a little outlandish, what better way to know your spirit than to be your own guide along your spiritual path?
Even children experience stress in their lives what with homework; pressure to compete with other children as well as non-stop after-school activities and over scheduling all making their lives pretty hectic. Kids today, like their parents turning to yoga for relaxation. Yoga for kids is a means of helping them to develop better body awareness, controlling themselves, flexibility as well as coordination. Kids may be able to carry the yoga skills they learn beyond class and into their normal everyday routines.
Strong and Confident as Warriors
Yoga for kids may also help hyperactive as well as attention deficit children who may be craving for movement as well as sensory/motor stimulus and by learning yoga for kids; it helps them channel these impulses in a positive manner. Especially good yoga for kids are the postures that seem to instill calm, confidence as well as balance in them and these are known as the warrior pose and the tree pose. The kids however, need to go beyond just performing the posture and also need to understand the meaning of the posture and to become like the posture - strong and confident as a warrior should be. Partner poses may also be taught to the kids to help them develop trust.
Some children may not be able to close their eyes and relax while others can't seem to get enough and so yoga for kids should inculcate in them visualization and imagining that they are at a beach playing their favorite sport in order to get them to relax. Yoga for kids may also try the approach of teaching the kids a guided visualization that has a calming theme in order to instill a sense of peace as well as help them feel an oneness with nature. The child should also be encouraged to give their own input and their ideas and questions should be addressed to help them to get all the benefits of yoga for kids.
To introduce yoga for kids there are also books that are unique and funny to read and which are suited for young children. One such book is Yoga Bear: Yoga for youngsters, which can be read by two to six year old kids and which includes photos, delightful color illustrations of Yoga Bear and also has instructions for parents. The book retails for about $16 and can be read as a rhyming book or be used by parents along with the child.
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