Ong Namo, Guru Dev Namo
So, in an effort to obtain temporary relief from the stress of my first memo assignment of the semester, I've started taking Kundalini Yoga classes. There's only one class a week, but it's all I have time for anyway. I have some mixed feelings about the system.
On the one hand, in some ways, it seems much more "authentic" than the sort of health club hatha that you get in most places. The attention to the subtle body, the practice of mantra and mudra, and the application of pranayama and bhanda has been pretty impressive. I've picked up a ton of techniques just in a few weeks.
On the down-side is the constant litany of dubious medical benefits of the various postures and practices. It really sorta breaks my concentration when I hear "This posture circulates oxygen in the cerebro-spinal fluid, and where there is oxygen, a virus can't survive," or, "Taking a cold shower in the morning closes the pores which keeps illness from penetrating the skin." Trying to reduce the various practices to simple glandular stimulation and grasping for "scientific" rationalizations for esoteric doctrine is really kind of embarrassing to anyone with even a rudimentary knowledge of biology. It also has a tendency to get a little hippy-dippy for my taste. I could really do without the Long-time Sunshine sing-a-long at the end of every class, for example.
I do like the instructor, though. He has a real passion for the teachings of Yogi Bhajan. The meditation he led us in tonight, he proudly informed us, he learned from the very lips of Yogi Bhajan, himself. I guess I resonate with that because I know what it is to care that deeply about a spiritual figure. That guy just loves Yogi Bhajan in the way that I just love Aleister Crowley. I know how gratified I feel whenever anyone expresses an interest in Crowley, and I have an opportunity to share something he said that has mattered to me. And I suppose I enjoy seeing others have an opportunity to share what is valuable to them.
I also find that I've already gotten to really look forward to the class. It really helps set me straight at the end of the week and allow me to get refreshed for a "once more into the breach."
On the one hand, in some ways, it seems much more "authentic" than the sort of health club hatha that you get in most places. The attention to the subtle body, the practice of mantra and mudra, and the application of pranayama and bhanda has been pretty impressive. I've picked up a ton of techniques just in a few weeks.
On the down-side is the constant litany of dubious medical benefits of the various postures and practices. It really sorta breaks my concentration when I hear "This posture circulates oxygen in the cerebro-spinal fluid, and where there is oxygen, a virus can't survive," or, "Taking a cold shower in the morning closes the pores which keeps illness from penetrating the skin." Trying to reduce the various practices to simple glandular stimulation and grasping for "scientific" rationalizations for esoteric doctrine is really kind of embarrassing to anyone with even a rudimentary knowledge of biology. It also has a tendency to get a little hippy-dippy for my taste. I could really do without the Long-time Sunshine sing-a-long at the end of every class, for example.
I do like the instructor, though. He has a real passion for the teachings of Yogi Bhajan. The meditation he led us in tonight, he proudly informed us, he learned from the very lips of Yogi Bhajan, himself. I guess I resonate with that because I know what it is to care that deeply about a spiritual figure. That guy just loves Yogi Bhajan in the way that I just love Aleister Crowley. I know how gratified I feel whenever anyone expresses an interest in Crowley, and I have an opportunity to share something he said that has mattered to me. And I suppose I enjoy seeing others have an opportunity to share what is valuable to them.
I also find that I've already gotten to really look forward to the class. It really helps set me straight at the end of the week and allow me to get refreshed for a "once more into the breach."