Kriya to Balance Internal Polarities

February 26, 1992

This kriya balances the mind and the psyche, bringing the conscious and unconscious aspects of yourself closer together, working toward integrating the divergent forces within. The first movement clears tendencies to flip-flop from polarity to polarity or to be frozen in between the two; it also stimulates glandular secretion, changes the mood, and adjusts the blood chemistry. If you do this exercise strongly, you will feel out of breath in about 3 minutes; in 7 minutes the glandular system will secrete; and in 11 minutes these effects will reach the brain.

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Illustration of Susan doing Kriya to Balance Internal Polarities Exercise 1

1. Angled Forearm Circles

Posture & Mudra: Sit in Easy Pose (Sukhasana) and bend the elbows to bring your forearms pointing straight forward and parallel to the ground at the level of the Heart Center, with your palms facing down. Tilt your palms up and towards each other at a 60 degree angle, so your thumbs are on the high side.

Movement & Breath: Keeping the forearms straight and the angle of the hands, make quick, powerful circles with your forearms up and outward, returning to a full stop in the starting position. Move so fast and forcefully, and stop so abruptly, that the whole body shakes.

Duration: Continue for 16 minutes.

2. Baby Pose (Balasana)

Posture & Mudra: Sit on your heels and bend forward from the hips, placing your forehead on the ground in Baby Pose (Balasana). Extend your arms on the floor beside your body, with the palms facing up.

Mantra:Not specified. Gentle, uplifting music was played in the original class.

Mindful Attention:Let yourself go and deeply relax. Allow your body to adjust and heal itself.

Duration: Continue for 5 ½ minutes.

Ending: 

  • Relax and talk to someone for 1 ½ minutes. If you are practicing alone, talk to yourself aloud.
  • Inhale deeply, suspend your breath for 20 seconds and squeeze all the muscles of your body tightly. Exhale. 
  • Repeat this sequence two more times.

Illustration of Susan in Balasana (baby pose)
Illustration of Susan sitting in easy pose with hands in gyan mudra

3. Breath of Fire

Posture & Mudra: Sit in Easy Pose (Sukhasana).

Breath: Breathe Breath of Fire. Move the navel powerfully, keeping the shoulders relaxed.

Duration: Continue for 2 minutes.

Ending: 

  • Inhale deeply and suspend your breath for 10 seconds. 
  • Feel your system calming down. 
  • Exhale. 
  • Repeat this sequence 2 more times.