think, work, share, love and exercise better ... in just 15 minutes a day

090610.  Happy Labor Day, everyone!

In honor of this holiday that marks the official end of Summer, the start of the new school year, and the beginning of a new financial quarter, I’m going to share a meditation that Yogi Bhajan taught for more than 30 years so we can experience stress-free sleep. 

I know I’ve been writing a lot about stress these days … maybe it’s because I’m feeling a bit more than usual, lately.  Starting a new job (tomorrow!).  A change in living situation (the Cowboy’s finally home!).  Construction on the house (workers are here most days).

But I think we’re all under a tremendous amount of stress these days.  Every day there are new challenges, new changes, new stresses being added to the docket.  And not just personal stresses (like keeping your job and paying the bills) … it’s a time of major universal shifts: environmentally, financially, globally and locally. We can't pretend anymore that it's not happening ... so we need the tools to deal it.

For me, some of the changes that happen when I just START to feel stress include: 

My breath gets shallower.  Breath (Prana) is life.  I have to consciously remember that it’s not enough to breathe into my chest.  I need to feel the air fill my abdomen.  I need to feel it tingle in my finger tips and toes.  I need to exhale completely.  I need to fill my body with Prana to have the vitality to face the challenges ahead.

I get hungry.  Not really.  But I am constantly searching the cabinets for something sweet or salty to eat.  Food converts to energy.  But not all food is good.  Too much sugar, too much salt, too much fat and the body doesn’t convert to energy.  It makes one lethargic and can cause depression.  I need to consciously make the choice not to eat bad food.

And I forget to set aside time for myself.  I worry only about getting done for others what needs to get done.  What I forget is that if I'm not on top of my game, no one wins. So I need to find time for myself (to sweat, laugh and meditate, everyday) – which can be challenging when you have the demands of children and work and family calling.

And I need to sleep.  Because when I get overly stressed my sleep gets disrupted.

So today … I’m offering up “Shabd Kriya” – a meditation to bring about a stree-free sleep.  It is apparently best practiced right before bed.  YB said that this meditation can give one radiance and patience.  He said that done nightly, it can make you “think, work, share, love and exercise better.”  It can make your sleep deep and relaxed and can help regenerate your nerves.

I’m going to give it a try.

I don’t know about you, but I’d be happy to have some good sleep and regenerated nerves.

So here goes (from The Aquarian Teacher: Vitality & Stress, p. 195):

 

POSTURE: 

Sit in any comfortable posture with the spine straight.

 

MUDRA: 

Place the hands on the lap, palms up with the right hand over the left.  The thumb tips are together and point forward.

 

EYES: 

Focus the eyes on the tip of the nose, the eyelids half-closed.

 

BREATH & MANTRA: 

Inhale in 4 equal parts, mentally vibrating the mantra Saa Taa Naa Maa.

Hold the breath, vibrating the mantra 4 times for a total of 16 beats.

Exhale in 2 equal strokes, projecting mentally Wahe Guru.

 

TIME:  15 to 62 minutes

  

Q:  What is your stress response and how do you manage it?

 

Comments

[Henrietta Cosentino]

Just catching up with your blogs, dear Rajdev, and must tell you that this particular Shabd saw me through many a sleep-challenged night in Istanbul, and a few this summer as well. Eleven minutes works, too.

[yogini cowgirl]

Thanks for reading, Avtarjot! I've only done the meditation twice now, but it seems pretty powerful. Glad to know you found something that helps with your insomnia! Hoping to see you, soon.