Waking Energy 7 Timeless Practices Designed to Reboot Your Body and Unleash Your Potential

exercise), sweep your arms overhead, linking your thumbs together and stretching your other
fingers straight up to the ceiling as you apply maha bandha, the three locks done simultaneously,
holding your breath as long as you can.
8. When you are ready to exhale, release the locks and let your arms float down with your fingertips
extended, the backs of the hands coming down to touch the floor where we will not pause, but go
directly into Taking Flight.
Taking Flight
The sacred geometry of the Heart Chakra comes alive in Taking Flight, a graceful and demanding
kriya that connects the upper chakras to the lower three, strengthening the will and summoning your
deepest commitment, as it tones and strengthens the arms and shoulders, muscles of the back, and
sides of the waist.
1. In keeping with our aviary theme, we will now take flight. Coming directly from Wings of
Victory, with your arms outstretched down to your sides and fingertips grazing the floor, as you
inhale, raise your arms up and around you, bringing your fingertips to touch overhead, and
immediately exhale and bring the arms back down to barely touch the floor.
2. Inhale and raise the arms strong and straight up overhead as you speak Sat and exhale as you
sweep them back down with Nam. Start rather slowly and deliberately, fully feeling into the
power of your long wings, working your way gradually, over the course of ten or so repetitions,
up to a very vigorous pace, inhaling up, exhaling down, like a bird who is ready for takeoff,
flapping its wings to make real speed for the ascent.
3. When your arms start to get tired, which they most assuredly will, think of how strong you are,
how limitless, how your mind wants you to believe otherwise, but fly past it and ask it to come
along with you—take flight into your greatness!
4. Continue strongly lifting the arms up and down for three full minutes (or fifty-two times), saying
Sat Nam, Sat Nam, Sat Nam, Sat Nam. Know that when the going gets tough in your life, this
very exercise and what you are cultivating here and now will help you to call up the vitality and
grace you need to meet adversity and rise above it.
5. Now, end on a high note. On your final upswing, just as we did with Wings of Victory, link your
thumbs together and stretch your other fingers straight up to the ceiling as you apply maha
bandha, holding your breath as long as you can.
6. When you’re ready, exhale, bringing your hands into Prayer Position overhead and then draw
your prayer down, pressing the flat of your thumbs in front of your third eye, where you’ll rest for
a few breaths meditating on your accomplishment, your dedication to yourself, your power, your
infinite nature, and your great flight.
Kundalini Rising: Standing Practice