Sat Kriya is fundamental to Kundalini Yoga. It works directly to stimulate and channel the kundalini energy.
It improves physical health with a gentle rhythmic massage of the internal organs, and it strengthens the heart through the rhythmic pumping motion of the Navel Point. The rhythmic contraction and relaxation produces waves of energy that circulate, energize, and heal the body.
If you have time for nothing else, make this kriya part of your daily practice.
The Practice
Posture: Sit on the heels in Rock Pose, knees together.
Eyes: Eyes are focused at the Brow Point.
Mudra: Stretch the arms over the head with elbows straight, until the arms hug the sides of the head. Interlace all the fingers except the index fingers. Traditionally men or male-identifying people cross the right thumb over the left, and women or female-identifying folks cross the left over right. Use whichever configuration feels right for you.
Mantra & Locks: Begin to chant “Sat Naam” with a constant rhythm of about 8 times per 10 seconds. As you pull the navel in and up toward the spine, chant “Sat” from the Navel Point. Feel it as a pressure from the Third Chakra. With the sound “Naam,” relax the belly. The focus of the sound Naam can be either at the Navel Point or at the Brow Point. As you continue in a steady rhythm, the root and diaphragm locks are automatically pulled. The steady waves of effort from the navel gradually enlist the movement of the greater abdomen.
The spine stays still and straight. This is neither a spinal flex nor a pelvic thrust. Remain firmly seated on the heels throughout the motions of the kriya.
Breath: The breath regulates itself – no breath focus is necessary.
Continue for 3 – 31 minutes. To end, inhale and gently squeeze the muscles from the buttocks all the way up along the spine. Hold it briefly as you concentrate on the area just above the top of the head. Exhale completely.
Inhale, exhale totally and hold the breath out as you apply a firm mahabandh – contract the lower pelvis, lift the diaphragm, lock in the chin, and squeeze all the muscles from the buttocks up to the neck. Hold the breath out for 5 to 20 seconds according to your comfort and capacity. Inhale and relax.
Comments:
Sat Kriya strengthens the entire sexual system and stimulates its natural flow of energy. It allows you to control the insistent sexual impulse by re-channelizing sexual energy to creative and healing activities in the body.
If you practice this as a complete kriya in itself, the relaxation is ideally twice the length of time as you practiced the Sat Kriya. (If practiced as part of another kriya, follow the relaxation times specified.)