/ Kriya
Our brains are incredible pieces of machinery which are made up of two separate hemispheres, the right and the left. When these work harmoniously we find that things seem to run smoothly; we sleep well, we work productively, and we enjoy healthy and loving relationships.
When the two hemispheres are out of kilter, maybe as a result of trauma, illness, or stress, we start to exhibit self-destructive behaviors. This memory elimination kriya has been created to enforce the connection between the two hemispheres of the brain, process traumatic memories, and create healthy and progressive coping mechanisms going forwards.
Benefits of this Kriya
This kriya works as a sort of tidy-up session for the brain. It ensures that both hemispheres of the brain are working together in agreement, enabling us to process memories effectively, and making sure that previous trauma is dealt with in a healthy manner.
When we work to marry up both the left and right side of the brain, we are doing self-care for our mind. We process traumatic incidents, commit new things to memory, and ensure that our future decisions are made with healthy thought processes. Some other benefits of this kriya include:
- Improved sleep quality
- Reduced stress and anxiety levels
- Reduced occurrences of destructive behaviors
- Introduction of healthy coping mechanisms
- Improved memory and concentration
- Boosted creativity in work and hobbies
How to do this Kriya
Before you start, find a space which signifies peace to you. Ensure there will be no distractions, that you have a comfortable, high quality yoga mat, light your favorite incense, and block out the world.
Cat-Cow
Posture: Start on your hands and knees, with a flat back like a table top. The tops of your feet should be in contact with the floor, hands under shoulders and knees under hips.
Movement: Raise your right hand and left foot. Keep the left knee on the floor, so just the foot comes up. Lower the hand and foot back to the Earth. Raise the left hand and right foot, and then lower. Continue alternating hand and foot for the full six minutes of this section.
Chant: You will reach a natural rhythm with this movement. When you do, start to sing a song or chant that you can recall from memory, using the movement as a metronome to keep the rhythm consistent. The song you choose does not matter, as long as it is from memory. This enables the two hemispheres of the brain to work in conjunction, with memory and movement.
Knee Presses
Posture: Turn so that you are lying flat on your back. Keeping the right leg straight, bend the left knee and bring it up so that you can hug it into your chest.
Movement: Hold the left knee into the chest for a second, and then release and straighten the left leg, simultaneously bringing the right knee to the chest. As you squeeze your right knee into your chest, the left knee should be straight and the left foot hovering a small distance from the ground.
Continue alternating bringing each knee to the chest in this way for four minutes.
Criss-Cross Legs
Posture: Stay lying on your back, but this time bend at the hips, bringing your legs up to 90 degrees.
Movement: Part the legs wide and begin to criss-cross them, putting one behind the other and then back out wide, and then putting the other leg behind the other, keeping the legs straight.
As you find your rhythm, start mentally recalling incidents in your life which have made you angry, and work through those memories, maintaining a steady rhythm with your legs. This movement empowers you to leave these upsetting memories in the past. Continuie for around 11-31 minutes, slowly and methodically dismantling these unpleasant incidents in your mind.
Torso 60 Degrees
Posture: Still on your back, lift the body so that it is around 60 degrees from the floor, placing the hands under the lower back. Hold this position for three minutes, and remember to smile and breathe. The weight should be held through the core muscles, not the hands or arms.
Call Someone
Posture: Lay back down on your back, take a deep breath, and call someone. The person can be dead or alive, it doesn’t matter, but call for them mentally, and keep this going for the full three and a half minutes.
Laugh
Action: Remaining on your back, after you have finished calling someone, allow yourself to laugh. Allow the laugh to seep into all areas of your body, and keep this going for at least 30 seconds.
Chant
Posture: Sit up, in Easy Pose or any other cross-legged position that you find comfortable.
Chant: Begin to chant the Adi Shakri mantra “Ek Ong Kaar-a, Sa Ta Naa-ma, Siree Waa-ha, Hay Guroo”. This should be chanted in the half-cycle Laya Yoga manner.
As you chant “Ek” pull in the navel point towards the spine. At “Kaar-a”, “Naa-ma”, and “Waa-ha” create the sounds by pulling sharply in on the diaphragm. On “Hay Guroo” relax this lock, before starting again. Visualize the sound curling and writhing through the body, from the base of the spine and out through the top of the head. Keep going for 11-31 minutes.
To Finish
Continue this mental chant for a further 20 seconds, slowly inhaling and filling the body with energy, and the exhaling for a further 20 seconds. Repeat this two more times, then raise the arms in the air above the head. Shake the arms violently, feeling the whole body vigorously shake, and then relax, allowing your breath to return to normal.
The Takeaway
Our brain, just like our body, requires exercise to get in shape and stay fit and healthy. When we take time out of our week to do a bit of self-care for the brain, we ensure it continues running like a well-oiled machine. Try introducing this memory elimination kriya into your week to give your brain the love and support it needs to work effectively.
