A gentle approach for beginners with back problems / severe stiffness

02-09-2006, 06:57 AM

Sat Nam,

I would like to hear from other teachers / practitioners about their
experiences for the most helpful way to approach Kundalini Yoga if one
is complete beginner, and has never done yoga before. Particularly if
the beginner is very tight in the body or has specific major health
concerns or back problems.

I once overheard someone say that Kundalini Yoga is not a systematic
form of therapy for the body.

Kundalini Yoga is taught in Kriya. We are taught to practice the
Kriya exactly as it is, without adding or changing. However often one
kriya is not enough to stretch the whole body, and provide balance.

So one can do some warm ups before hand to help with this somewhat.
However for a complete beginner who has just started and suffers from
real tightness or back pain, might it be better to first practice some
more gentle yoga to open up and balance the body in all directions,
before attempting more dynamic kriyas?

A friend of mine is interested in joining my class and has been under
the guidance of a chiropractor for years for severe back pain. I worry
about her hurting her back in the class. I don't want to deny her the
opportunity of experiencing the vast aspects of Kundalini Yoga,
however I feel she may benefit from a more gentle yoga class that
gradually and systematically strengthens and loosens the body in a
balanced way with counterposes and then she could join the Kundalini
class.

However I wonder if there might be another way to approach her
problems with her back in a safe way, without changing the Kriyas??

Some Kriyas include either Bow Pose or Cobra Pose for several minutes,
but may not necessarily be followed with a counterpose such as Childs
pose or a forward bending stretch to help relieve the tension in the back.

I have thought that maybe I could suggest she does a brief counter
stretch if she needs to, but would this be ok? Since it would change
the energy flow of the Kriya?

Does anyone have any suggestions for how to help beginners with these
kind of challenges?

Does Kundalini Yoga include a systematic way to gently open up and
strengthen the body to prepare for the more challenging sets within a
class environment?

Many thanks, Sat Nam,

Krishan Shiva Kaur

02-12-2006, 04:59 AM

Krishan Shiva Kaur,
Lower back issues and many tightnesses and assorted pains have a lot to
do with toxicity - toxicity which is acidic in its pH. This has been my
experience. Many years ago and for perhaps for five years, or so, I was
suffering from a nagging lower back pain and bloating whenever ate anything,
no matter how little ate. My Kundalini practice was as steady as the rising
sun and often was even treating myself to weekly acupuncture treatments
(like your prospective student with the Chiropractor referral), and still
struggled with these problems.

Then I decided to do the Arise and Shine cleanse, based on information from
a trusted friend. All kinds of pains disappeared, including that long
standing lower back pain that years of acupuncture didn't budge. My bloating
stopped and in 3 weeks I lost 15 pounds of intestinal crap, excess fat and
bad feelings. Yes, bad feelings.* Cleansing actually changed my outlook on
my life and what I had to deal with. I felt like dancing in the street!, and
it began with trusting. Frankly, I had no choice, as I was at rope's end.
I automatically encourage new students to lighten their diets during a 10
week course so they can appreciate more deeply the yoga experience but after
doing only the first week of cleansing, I couldn't imagine doing *anything*
until after lightening my toxic load, and I was a vegetarian! Also, let it
be said that diet is only one variable in determining one's pH/toxicity
load. It's been said that our minds/hormonal system manufacture enough
toxins, daily, to kill a small mammal......can you imagine that?!?!

So, in trying not to "over give", and go on and on, I'll say that everyone
is different but most folks don't know a life without some heaviness. And
so, to go into any discipline or exercise program can usually only be with a
lot of heavy lifting and without tangible results.
In closing, yeah, have this person begin working with Nabhi or Abdominal
sets as it will have a positive effect on the lower back and Kidney area.
Make sure they are supporting their lower back and applying Mul Bhand
properly, pushing the lower back into the floor (if on their back) and
tucking their tailbone slightly. The difference is quite perceptible and
actually energizing. Have her play with it and be gentle.

Sat Nam,
Dharam

Clck here for info on the Cleanse ( *http://tinyurl.com/awcyx ) or go to the
Files Area at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Kundaliniyoga/files/ and search
for Arise and Shine. If you or anyone is interested they should contact my
contact, and not go directly through Arise and Shine.*

*One other thing I picked up, with all that Chinese medicine, is that lower
back pain most often points to issues along the Kidney and Adrenal meridian.
This situation is often best approached through getting the breath to be
healthy, which means working through the tensions in the diaphragm which
constrict the healthy flow of prana to the heart. Hence, we have blocked
feelings. When these tensions begin to release and often with the cathartic
expression of anger and pain, or sobbing, the heart fills with lots of
healing prana. Then, like a bucket of water when it overfills, this prana
nourishes and bathes the kidney system. This is when the lower back begins
to release.

On 2/9/06, Krishan Shiva Kaur wrote:
>
> Sat Nam,
>
> I would like to hear from other teachers / practitioners about their
> experiences for the most helpful way to approach Kundalini Yoga if one
> is complete beginner, and has never done yoga before. Particularly if
> the beginner is very tight in the body or has specific major health
> concerns or back problems.
>
> I once overheard someone say that Kundalini Yoga is not a systematic
> form of therapy for the body.
>
> Kundalini Yoga is taught in Kriya. We are taught to practice the
> Kriya exactly as it is, without adding or changing. However often one
> kriya is not enough to stretch the whole body, and provide balance.
>
> So one can do some warm ups before hand to help with this somewhat.
> However for a complete beginner who has just started and suffers from
> real tightness or back pain, might it be better to first practice some
> more gentle yoga to open up and balance the body in all directions,
> before attempting more dynamic kriyas?
>
> A friend of mine is interested in joining my class and has been under
> the guidance of a chiropractor for years for severe back pain. I worry
> about her hurting her back in the class. I don't want to deny her the
> opportunity of experiencing the vast aspects of Kundalini Yoga,
> however I feel she may benefit from a more gentle yoga class that
> gradually and systematically strengthens and loosens the body in a
> balanced way with counterposes and then she could join the Kundalini
> class.
>
> However I wonder if there might be another way to approach her
> problems with her back in a safe way, without changing the Kriyas??
>
> Some Kriyas include either Bow Pose or Cobra Pose for several minutes,
> but may not necessarily be followed with a counterpose such as Childs
> pose or a forward bending stretch to help relieve the tension in the back.
>
> I have thought that maybe I could suggest she does a brief counter
> stretch if she needs to, but would this be ok? Since it would change
> the energy flow of the Kriya?
>
> Does anyone have any suggestions for how to help beginners with these
> kind of challenges?
>
> Does Kundalini Yoga include a systematic way to gently open up and
> strengthen the body to prepare for the more challenging sets within a
> class environment?
>
>
> Many thanks, Sat Nam,
>
> Krishan Shiva Kaur
>
>
>
>

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

02-13-2006, 03:50 AM

Sat Nam Dharam Singh!!

I,m really interesting in this cleasing system, for me and my patients and
students ( I am a medical doctor and Kundalini Yoga teacher in Uruguay)
Could you provide me the contact?? I apreciate your colaboration in this case
and in the forum so much.
Sorry about my bad english.

Thank You.

Blessings..................Jiwan Mukta Singh
Montevideo-Uruguay

02-13-2006, 01:05 PM

Sat Nam Jiwan Mukta (liberated while alive) Singh,
Your Ingles is great. I will send contact info offlist, but I will post
below the letter that my mentor (Dharm Kaur, R.N.) send out 11 years ago
that inspired me to give this cleanse a try. Real glad I did.
Also, as I know people will wonder, the cost of the 4 week program is just
under $130. This will not include all the organic carrots, beet, celery,
etc. that you will purchase over that time to support the whole process. If
one tries to cut corners or is not disciplined enough to do the juicing,
that's when cleanses below unpleasant. Plan on drinking a quart, or so, of
organic raw juices everyday. Additionally, I live on Kitcheree (aka Mung
Beans, Rice and Veggies), beet carrot caseroles, etc. during the cleanse as
a staple.

Sat Nam,
Dharam Singh
Millis, MA

The letter from 3/1995

Modern society has created many unnatural conditions that our bodies were
never meant to handle. Radiation, chemical toxins, water and air pollution,
and other toxic subtances can take a severe toll on our health and
well-being. Even more importantly, processed and demineralized foods, too
much acid-forming foods, herbicides, pesticides, food colorings and
preservatives, etc., severely pollute our bodies. All of these substances
challenge physiology and cause stress. Stress alters attitudes. Any attitude
less than peace, love and joy combined with toxins creates an environment
which supports disease. Usually the digestive system and eliminative organs
are the first organs to become stressed and weakened. Then all other glands
and organs become vulnerable. This has been the pattern that most people
have followed. The result has been a consistent and dramatic increase in the
amount of chronic and degenerative diseases.

The first-step on the road to vibrant health and joyous vitality is to
obtain the proper pH. It is easy, and once you have restored your pH, the
process of detoxification and rebuilding all the vital organs and systems of
your body can begin.

The Clean-Me-Out Program, also known as "The Cleanse," is the most effective
way of removing toxins and unwanted waste materials from the body today. It
is a natural system for detoxifying, nourishing and strengthening the body.
Not only is it highly effective in cleansing the colon, small intestines and
stomach, but it also cleanses at deep tissue levels. The blood, lymph,
liver, kidneys, heart, lungs, skin, and practically every organ and gland
are relieved of toxic accumulations. Perhaps most important of all, the
Cleanse often pulls out deep-seated emotions that may have been the root
cause of disease and other personal problems.

A basic Cleanse program lasts four weeks. This consists of a three-week
pre-cleanse, followed by a one-week cleanse. The pre-cleanse is absolutely
essential, for the following reasons: 1) it allows the herbs time to
chemically prepare the mucoid plaque for removal; 2) it will gently begin
removing incredible amounts of toxic material, including pesticides, drugs,
heavy metals, pathogenic microbes, etc.; 3) it allows time for the body to
eliminate stored acids and acquire alkaline electrolyte minerals which are
vital for a successful cleanse. The length of the pre-cleanse can be
adjusted, based on the individual's prior eating habits, cleanliness of the
body and state of health. Consult the cleansing guide, or better yet, the
book Cleanse and Purify Thyself for specific instructions. We strongly
recommend the book, as it will answer most questions you may have.
Dharm Kaur Khalsa R.N.
Herbal & Nutritional Consulting

On 2/13/06, Dr. Javier de Aramburú wrote:
>
> Sat Nam Dharam Singh!!
>
> I,m really interesting in this cleasing system, for me and my patients
> and students ( I am a medical doctor and Kundalini Yoga teacher in Uruguay)
> Could you provide me the contact?? I apreciate your colaboration in this
> case and in the forum so much.
> Sorry about my bad english.
>
> Thank You.
>
> Blessings..................Jiwan Mukta Singh
> Montevideo-Uruguay
>
>

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

02-13-2006, 02:03 PM

Sat Nam, Dharam:

Could you also send me the contact info? I've been ill for two years with
adrenal exhaustion and heavy metal toxicity and this cleanse sounds like a very
good thing for my health. Thanks!

Yolanda

D H A R A M wrote:
Sat Nam Jiwan Mukta (liberated while alive) Singh,
Your Ingles is great. I will send contact info offlist, but I will post
below the letter that my mentor (Dharm Kaur, R.N.) send out 11 years ago
that inspired me to give this cleanse a try. Real glad I did.
Also, as I know people will wonder, the cost of the 4 week program is just
under $130. This will not include all the organic carrots, beet, celery,
etc. that you will purchase over that time to support the whole process. If
one tries to cut corners or is not disciplined enough to do the juicing,
that's when cleanses below unpleasant. Plan on drinking a quart, or so, of
organic raw juices everyday. Additionally, I live on Kitcheree (aka Mung
Beans, Rice and Veggies), beet carrot caseroles, etc. during the cleanse as
a staple.