Over the past several years, I have gone through some amazing, transformational shifts that have led me on a beautiful journey. I have learned how to let go of stress and open up to the divine vibration. This change has allowed me to live the life of my dreams. And meditation has been one of the strongest tools to help me get there.

I recorded this meditation on the tropical island of Koh Phangan, Thailand after trekking deep into the palm tree jungle to a secret waterfall. Thailand is the land where my dreams awakened into reality. I first traveled to Thailand for a yoga and meditation retreat in 2008-2009. There I experienced a spiritual transformation. After that trip, I knew my life as it was before, was never to be again. It was then that meditation became a daily practice for me and I burst wide into my spiritual awakening.

Kiran Kriya is my #1 favorite and meditation. It was one of the first meditations taught by the Kundalini yoga master, Yogi Bhajan back in 1969. He said if all other meditation technologies were lost, this one mediation would be enough to carry us through the Aquarian Age. Which is the age and time we are living in now.

There are so many benefits to this meditation. It works on clearing the psyche and is an incredibly powerful spiritual cleanser. It has the power to break patterns and addictions, lifts brain fog, increases memory and reorients the mind allowing the possibility of transformational change. Whatever you need at the moment, it will readjust and align you, bring balance into your mind and thus your life.

Just last year, during one of my “life storms”, I practiced this meditation for 40 days straight. The results were miraculous. Everything that was going wrong spun on it’s heels. All that needed to be released, gently melted away. I emerged with clarity, vibrance and joy.

How to do it:

This is the 11 minute version. It can also be done for shorter or longer times. During particularly stressful times, it should be done for at least 11 minutes every day.

You chant the mantra

Sa, Ta, Na, Ma while simultaneously incorporating the below mudras (hand positions)

SA, press the thumb and the index finger together
TA, and press the thumb and the middle finger together
NA, and press the thumb and the ring finger together
MA, press the thumb and the pinky finger together

As you do this, visualize the energy coming into the crown chakra from the top of the head and out through the third eye. In an L shape

Do the above series, with the mantra and mudra first for

2 minutes OUT LOUD, then

2 minutes in an audible WHISPER, then

3 minutes chant SILENTLY while continuing with the hands, and mouth moving, then

2 minutes WHISPER and

2 minutes OUT LOUD

Release the mudra. Inhale deeply, suspend breathe 30 seconds

Exhale eyes remain closed, breath normally for 30 seconds

Inhale, stretch arms up over-head and shake

Release

I invite you to try it. Whether you practice it once, occasionally or for 40 days, we’d love to hear from you. Let us know your experience with it.

As some of you know, I have recently committed to expanding my yoga teaching accreditations to encompass Kundalini Yoga. I’m in a 9 month training course studying under some of the best Kundalini Teachers in the world. Guru Singh, Amrit Khalsa, Guru Prem Singh and Simran Khalsa, just to name a few.

Discipline

As part of this intense teacher training, we were required chose and perform a specific 40 day kriya (physical yoga practice) along with a meditation. The direction was to do this practice for 40 days straight. If ya miss a day, ya have to start over. Needless to say, The discipline it took to finish this 40 days was at times extremely difficult and arduous. And being the over achieve that my nature dictates, I chose a rather rigorous kriya. Ugh, what was I thinking???

No Time

Often times when I mention that I’m a yoga teacher, people tell me… “Oh, I wish I could go to yoga, but I just don’t have the time.”

Ya know, life is pretty much always full. We manage our home life, personal life, work life, social life, deadlines and commitments. Most of us have a pretty full plate. But if we don’t take care of the most important aspect of our lives, YOU, what do you have?

But what if…

And what if by doing spiritual practice like yoga or meditation it actually helped you along in your life? Helped things to move in and out more freely, helped you to feel better, be more peaceful and calm. And what if it actually helped to open doorways and opportunities for you? Wouldn’t it be worth it?

That’s pretty much been my experience with my spiritual practice since I first began my yoga journey almost 10 years ago. Oh I’ve gone through sh*t storms just like everyone else. But somehow, when I keep in my practice, I can draw the power to center myself in the eye of the storm. Chaos swirling all around me, but steadily and gracefully I stand. And just if by magic, things turn out just the way they should.

Transformation

During my actual 40 day Kundalini spiritual practice, I have experienced such transformation. I was joking to my fellow students during our last meeting. Saying that with all the change and movement, uncertainty and shedding that I’ve gone through this month, the old me would have mentally broken down or hid in bed. But with the Kundalini yoga and meditation, I was able to keep up and spiral up.

I mean, my plate was full. I had to travel back and forth across the country, pack up and move from my Manhattan apartment I loved and called hOMe for almost a decade, sell all of my furniture, get through Christmas, entertain guests, start a new business, move my life to my new home and still go through 14 hour days of teacher training.

Powering through

I needed to be extremely disciplined and dedicated. Yet during every single aspect of it, I endured. Oh trust me, at times I cursed it. Screaming up to the heavens to the beloved Kundalini yogi master, Yogi Bhajan saying, “I am too tired, can’t I just skip a day?” LOL. And then there were the times that I cruised through the practice with joy and ease.

Victory

I can proudly say, I finished it! And all I can say is, wow. I feel so radiant, so calm and strong. I have a sense of freedom. Like I unleashed the inner warrior within me and I’m ready to take on the world.

I read a lot of books and articles about practices of successful people. And low and behold, ya know one common thread? A daily spiritual practice. Deepak Chopra, Oprah Winfrey, Gabby Bernstein, Dr. Wayne Dyer, Russell Simmons, Arianna Huffington, Russell Brand, Hugh Jackman, Gweneth Paltrow, Richard Gere, Sting, Orlando Bloom, Katie Perry, Howard Stern, I could go on.

I’m telling ya, this stuff is powerful!!!

I leave you with these words by Yogi Bhajan referring to Kundalini Yoga. I find this quote so comforting

“Keep up and you will be kept up”

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What Is Your Experience

I’d love to hear your insights. Do you have a daily practice or ritual that elevates you? The conversation continues below. Something you bring up may help someone else in their journey.

Sat nam,

Jewels Bertrand

Tag Archive for: kriya

11 Minute Life Changing Meditation|Kirtan Kriya

The Power Of A Daily Spiritual Practice