Kundalini Yoga for flexibility and the spine KY kriyas (From Sadhana Guidelines)

1) Archer Pose: Stand with the right leg bent forward so the knee is over the toes. The left leg is straight back with the foot flat on the ground, at a 45 degrees angle to the front foot. Raise the right arm straight in front, parallel to the ground and make a fist as if grasping a bow. Pull the left arm back as if pulling the bowstring back to the shoulder. Feel a tension across the chest. Face forward and fix the eyes above the fist to the horizon. Hold the position 3 to 5 minutes, then switch legs and arms and repeat.
2) Immediately lie on the back. Put the heels together and lift both legs two feet from the ground. Hold the position 1 to 3 minutes with long deep breathing.
3) Locust pose: Lie down on the stomach. Make fists with the hands and put them on the lower abdomen inside the front hip bones near the groin. Keeping the heels together and the legs straight, lift them up as high as possible and hold this position for 3 minutes.
4) Bow pose: Still on the stomach, reach back and firmly grasp the ankles. Arch the back up from the ground and balance by pulling the ankles. Hold the position for 2 to 3 minutes.
5) Stand up straight and spread the legs two feet apart. Touch the right hand to the floor in front of the left foot. The left arm is pointing back. Switch sides and continue this alternate motion with long breaths. On the inhale, rise up completely; on the exhale touch the toe. Repeat 25 times on each side.

 

 

 

 

 

6) Stand up with the legs 6 inches apart. Bend forward and place the palms flat on the ground and exhale (6A). Inhale and rise up stretching backwards with the arms over the head (6B). Continue 25 times.
 

 

 

7) Stand with the legs 6 inches apart. Bend sideways stretching the arm over the head. Alternate smoothly from side to side, inhaling down and exhaling up. Do not let the body bend forward or backward. Continue 25 times on each side.
8) Sit down and extend the legs out in front, spreading them wide. Grab the big toe of each foot by locking the forefingers around the toe and the thumb pressing the toenail. Keeping a firm grip on both toes, inhale and arch the spine up straight. Exhale and touch the head to the right knee. Inhale to the original position, and exhale down to the left knee. Continue to alternate knee touches 25 times on each side. Inhale, hold the breath and exhale.
9) In this same sitting position, bring the legs together while still holding onto the toes. Inhale and arch up, exhale and pull the head down to the knees. Continue this pumping motion 25 times.

10) Plow pose: Lie flat on the back. Slowly raise the legs over the head until they touch the floor. The arms should be over the head pointing towards the toes. Keep the knees straight and point the toes towards the head, stretching the heels back. Relax in this position for 5 minutes. Slowly lower the legs back down to the ground.

 

11) Shoulder stand: Come into this position by raising the legs straight up towards the ceiling (llA). Support the spine perpendicular to the ground with the hands. Let most of the weight be on the elbows. Hold this position for 3 to 5 minutes.

Then bring the legs down in back of the head as in plow pose, but spread the legs wide apart (11B). Slowly go from this position to shoulder stand 4 times. Lower the legs and spine and rest on the back.
12) Come into plow pose with the arms along the ground in back of the spine (12A). Alternate from plow pose to lying flat on the back (12B). Continue 50 complete times. The hands may be used to lift the legs up and back. Relax for 3 minutes.

13) Sat Kriya: Sit on the heels with the arms over head and the palms together. Chant "Sat" and pull the navel point in, chant "Nam" and release it. Continue powerfully with a steady rhythm for 5 minutes. Inhale, apply mul bandh and draw the energy up the spine to the brow point.

14) Immediately bend forward in gurpranam: Place the forehead on the ground and stretch the arms overhead, keeping the palms together. Meditate at the brow point by silently projecting the primal sounds, "Sa Ta Na Ma." Continue for 31 minutes.
15) Sit in rock pose. Inhale and raise both arms over the head bringing the backs of the hands together (15A). Exhale and lower the arms letting just the fingertips touch the floor (15B). Continue this motion for 5 minutes.

16) Stand up and extend the arms straight forward parallel to the ground (16A). Begin 25 deep knee bends into crow pose, keeping the spine straight and the feet flat (16B).
17) Cat-Cow: Rest on the hands and knees. Arch the spine down and raise the head with the inhale (17 A). With the exhale arch up the spine and lower the head (17B). Continue for 5 minutes.
18) Deeply relax for 15 to 30 minutes on the back. Cover the body with a blanket to keep from getting cold.
COMMENTS:
This set is an example of a series which would not be given in a normal Kundalini yoga class. It is for students who have attained a moderate degree of flexibility and coordination in regular classes and sadhana and who want to eject residual poisons and drugs from the muscle tissue. If the set is done every morning for six months, it adjusts the spine so well that many future chiropractic bills will be unnecessary. Before attempting this set under guidance, be sure you have no major physical problem that will prevent you from doing any of the exercises.
Unlike most Kundalini yoga kriyas, you do not take a 2-3 minute rest between each exercise unless it is explicitly stated. The set can be adapted to a regular class by keeping the time of the exercises to 1-2 minutes and by adding rest periods between the exercises.