IDA NADI

Plain and simple, TONIGHT'S FULL MOON is the PERFECT time to write my blog on this upcoming Thursday night's class which will be all about the MOON ENERGY...AKA IDA NADI.

Last week was all about the Sun (relates to right channel, YANG, positive, inner masculine, expansive, extroverted, concentration, projective, focused, pingala, RA) and this week it's all about the Moon (related to left channel, contraction, introverted, YIN, inner feminine, relaxed, calm, receptive, MA). The Sun and the Moon relate to the shushmana or the central channel in the spine...(ever hear of Lord RA MA?)

The full moon is the time of the month where there is the greatest connection between sun and moon. Therefore, if we meditate on the full moon, it may be easier to direct the PRANA,OR LIFE FORCE ENERGY through the Shushmana or central nerve channel in the spine.

The nadis are the ida, pingala, and the shushmana. The sun nadi is the pingala and the moon nadi is the ida. Ida is a Sanskrit word which means "comfort". It starts and ends to the left of the shushmana. It terminates in the left nostril, but is also connected to the left testicle in males.

Ida Nadi is the feminine energy and has a cooling effect. It is associated with the right side of the brain and the left side of the body. Ida Nadi controls all of the mental processes; purifies the body and the mind". If you want to calm down and "get comfortable", you can breathe out of the left nostril only which accesses the IDA NADI and the moon energy.

The moon has different phases which each possess a certain character. You can find the chart for the Moon cycles on the Kundalink website. The full moon is when your subconscious mind is closest to the surface..therefore it's a really effective time for healing and meditation; a really perfect time for your energy to go into digesting what is laying around your subconscious mind instead of digesting what you eat. You are naturally accelerated on a full moon; at your highest energy level. The new moon is a time to focus your energy on NEW BEGINNINGS. If fasting is not an option for you, or not what you prefer, try to eat sattvic foods and adhere to a spiritual template for your day. The New Moon is when you are at your lowest energy level. It's a good day to fast on lemon and water from sun up to the next sun up.

Yogi Bhajan taught that the 11th day after the New Moon is the day when you are most in balance. The glandular system readjusts itself on this day and your metabolism changes. It's a good time to eat lightly on green foods or just lemon and water. Eating one meal and then lemon and water throughout the day is recommended.

MORE FASCINATING INFORMATION: Women have eleven moon centers throughout their bodies. These eleven centers are sensitive physical areas on the women's body that are responsive to lunar energies and affect how she deals with every day life. During her 28 day cycle, the location shifts every 2.5 days. Each woman has a different sequence, but it remains constant with her and does not coincide with her menstrual cycle. These are the moon centers: arcline, navel center, thighs, ear lobes, clitoris, vagina, back of the neck, breasts, lips, cheeks, and eyebrows. I'll write more about this some other week, but this will have to do for now. Men have a moon center on their chin which corresponds to the trigeminal nerve...and it is reponsible for how men relate to their emotions. That is why men in the Kundalini Yoga community generally grow beards; to help them buffer how they interact emotionally with the outside world.

Thursday night, February 9 we will be practicing Kundalini Yoga exercises, pranayam (breath exercises), and meditations which bring out the moon energy in you. Be prepared to say good-bye to tension and fatigue and say hello to deep relaxation and contentment. Bring a friend, a mat, a blanket and a cushion if needed. There will be yogi tea and cookies served afterwards. Donation ($15 recommended). For more info visit the website.

Sat Nam,

Raghubir