There aren’t many tranquil havens in New York you can visit every day of the week, but Kundalini Yoga East is that rare exception.
From the moment you walk into the lovely reception room, so open and sunny and cool, with a flowing fountain, you know you’ve come to the right place to relax and renew.
But lest you think this is lightweight yoga, or a spa, let me tell you, if you want to transform your body and mind in only a few short weeks, this is the place for you to challenge yourself to grow, with the help of all of the supportive, nurturing teachers.
The studio is run by a remarkable husband and wife couple who literally have lived the yogic lifestyle for over 37 years, but who would be the first to tell you they were average Americans before they had the good fortune to discover the amazing technology of Kundalini Yoga.
Kundalini Yoga makes you very strong, very fast. Part of the reason is the Breath of Fire, which as the name suggests, gets your trapped energy moving fromyour lower three chakras into your upper ones where you can use them more, especially for your intelligence and intuition. Breath of fire is like panting through your nostrils, with you pumping your abdomen like an old-fashioned bellows to start up the fire, and keep the fire burning.
The abs are actually three layers of muscles, so if you do breath of fire on a regular basis, you will get a six pack in no time, without a single crunch! Seriously! They say also that in terms of a work out, 3 minutes of breath of fire are the equivalent of 15 minutes of jogging.
I was able to drop 50 pounds in less than 3 months, going 3 x per week, and not even changing what I ate. Losing weight is not even the intention, but it is a welcome side effect of this blissful yoga.
There are other kinds of pranayama (breath work) in Kundalini, some more challenging than others. Then there is chanting, and vibrational energy from the sacred gong.
There are no levels in Kundalini yoga, so everyone should feel welcome to go to whatever class they wish. There are no levels because each kriya, or set of exercises and mantras to chant are all designed for a specific task. That task can be anything from cleaning out your immune system, to attracting prosperity, to improving your intuition.
The mantras are fun; they can be both chanted or sung, and you will find yourself getting a wonderful collection of Cds by Snatam Kaur or Sada Sat Kaur, to name but a few. (Kaur means princess, so all Sikh women have Kaur as part of their name).
In some sets we even use lively music, such as Bhangra music, which comes from the Punjab in northern India and is no doubt familiar to you if you have ever seen a Bollywood film.
The center is conveniently located right in the heart of Chelsea/the Flatiron district in New York City, just a stone’s throw from Union Square West, and accessible via the rear of the Union Square train station, with the train lines the 4, 5 6, N R W and Q all stopping there. Or the 14th st and 6th avenue station, where the V and F stop.
If you want to lose weight, gain muscle, improve your concentration, and have energy to burn, and enjoy a musical and spiritually uplifiting experience all at the same time, this is the place for you.
And don’t you dare leave without tasting a cup of caffeine free Yogi Tea-yes, the Master of Kundalini yoga was THAT Yogi, Yogi Bhajan, and this studio is a testament to the legacy he built over nearly 60 years of teaching this incredible technology, a union of mind, body, spirit and energy.
Above all, have fun, meet new friends, and de-stress and rejuvenate yourself in this beautiful space. Visit http://www.kundaliniyogaeast.com for their current class schedule, and all their terrific bodywork, holistic healing, and other special events.
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