meditation for a calm heart { new 40-day kundalini kriya! }

artwork credit: yogibhajan.org { with enhancements by YIFY }

I feel like when we put a hand over our hearts, we tap into something so very still and interminably deep. Our hearts are the home for prana. Somehow, right now, this meditation feels absolutely perfect. It brings deep stillness, the ability to act with your whole heart, and clear perception of the self and others.

If you've been here very long, you know that I am always in the middle { or beginning or end } of a 40-day Kundalini kriya. If you are new here, you're in for a treat and I hope you'll join me. It is often recommended that you do kriyas/meditations in the morning to set the tone for your day. I like to do mine at night, because I'm a night owl. :) You'll know what's right for you.

Meditation for a Calm Heart ♥

1. Begin in Easy Pose/Sukhasana.
2. Place your left hand over your heart center, palm flat.
3. Bend your right elbow, raise the right hand, and take Gyan Mudra { i.e., making the a-ok sign with your hand + fingers }. Palm faces forward.
4. Roll your shoulders down your back and relax them.
5. Close your eyes.
6. Focus on your breath.
7. Inhale slowly and deeply through your nose. At the top of your inhale, suspend the breath, and retain { hold } it as long as possible and comfortable. Please do not strain.
8. Exhale slowly and smoothly out your nose. When the exhale is complete, suspend the breath out as long as you are comfortably able.
9. Continue this method of inhalation and exhalation.       { beginners: 3 minutes or more (work your way up gradually); Kundalini practitioners: 11 minutes or more (working up to 31 minutes) }.
10. When complete, inhale and exhale normally 3 times, then relax.

Notes:

• This is an excellent meditation for beginners. It heightens your awareness of your breath and conditions your lungs.
• Please be sure that you don't strain when inhaling, exhaling, or retaining. Our goal is to create and preserve calm, peace, and serenity. We don't want to create any stress. 
• The left hand over your heart creates deep stillness within.
• The right hand in Gyan Mudra brings receptiveness, relaxation, and peace.

For the visual learners:

• A yogini demonstrates this meditation. { skip to 3:53 for actual demo }
• A second yogini's video demonstration. { skip to 2:09 }

We will begin Meditation for a Calm Heart on Sunday, March 27th and continue for 40 days. I would love for you to take this journey with me! Your heart will be so happy you did. :) If you have any questions at all, you can always comment here, email me, or tweet at me/direct message me on Twitter.

Sending you love and the calmest of hearts. xo

Comments

[Emmanuelle]

Oh yeah count me in! :D

[Ksphotos22]

oh this is fantastic. i would love to join you. thanks for sharing this.

[MeredithLeBlanc]

I love me a kriya!

[Tasty M @dailydownwarddog]

Yippee - I think this one sounds great Lo. Totally agree about having the hand on the heart - it just feels yummy. I am going to set a goal to do this every morning as I'm seeking a little more peace and relaxation in my life and also trying to get in the habit of daily meditation. Thanks for leading the way! I'll check in throughout the 40 days :)

[Amanda]

Ahhh, I really needed to see this today. Thank you! Calm heart's a comin' ♥

[Becca @ Peace, Love & Bagels]

this is awesome! I will definitely be joining you

[Lisa]

Beautiful!! I'd love to join!

[Beth]

I am grateful on clicked on this today as I neeeded to be reminded to breathe.

I would like to try to work to be to breathe for more minutes...which will be a challenge for me.

[liz]

i need this! oh my love, i need this and i think i'll teach it too!

[Anna Guest-Jelley]

I'm in! ♥

[keishua]

yeah! I love when you do these. may be just what I need to get my meditation back on track...again.

[River Fairy]

Yum! Can't wait to start this one - very timely!

[MegP4]

I'm joining. This is exactly what I need right now. How did you know? ;)

[thehipyogini]

FASHIONABLY LATE! But, I'm in!!! xoxo

[lissabliss]

beautiful kriya. love the way i feel afterwards whenever i do it.

[Bamboo Cyclist]

I meditate daily both morning and night but have not done it in this fashion. I will begin tonight and I look forward to the journey over the next 40 days. Thank you for helping us to be better.

[Rae M]

The perfect time to have found this post, love it!