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How to do the Sa Ta Na Ma Meditation to Improve Memory

March 20, 2011 by Julie Lusk

Instructions on How to Do the Sa Ta Na Ma Meditation – Kirtan Kriya

Sit with a straight spine.
Mentally focus to the brow point.
Repeat Sa Ta Na Ma as follows with the finger movements pictured below
- 2 minutes — OUT LOUD
- 2 minutes — WHISPER audibly
- 4 minutes — SILENTLY. Keep the hands moving
- 2 minutes — WHISPER audibly
- 2 minutes — OUT LOUD
- Sit quietly and listen inside for a few minutes. Listen for the mantra internally and experience energy flowing in from the top of your head (crown chakra) and out through your brow (third eye chakra).
- Either go about your day or go to sleep if it’s bed time.
- Optional: 30 seconds: inhale deeply, raise the arms up in the air and vigorously shake the arms and fingers, involving the whole body and spine. Exhale. Repeat 1 or 2 more time if you desire. This important part of the meditation helps move and release energy in the body.

Notes:

Why are mantras done out loud, whispering and silently and how does it help? When a mantra is spoken out loud, it primarily benefits the physical body. When it’s whispered, it benefits our mental/emotional nature. Our spiritual nature benefits from silent repetition.

If you experience memories of the past or thoughts about the future coming up in your mind. Simply notice them and release them with the mantra. This helps cleanse the subconscious mind.

If emotions come up, you can also incorporate them in the chanting, i.e. if you feel frustration, then chant out the frustration. Whatever you experience is okay. Don’t try to avoid, resist or control your experiences. Just notice what is happening and go through it. This is all part of the process.

SA – touch the thumbs to the index finger

finger position ta — Ta – touch the thumbs to the middle finger

Na – touch the thumbs to the ring finger

finger position ma — Ma – touch the thumbs to the little fingers

Repeat the finger movements throughout the meditation.

More Resources…

Get an audio recording that will help you practice the Sa Ta Na Ma meditation with the correct timing.

Sa Ta Na Ma
Kirtan Kriya Meditation

Click HERE to buy this downloadable digital album
(MP3, AAC, M4A)

$7.99

Sa Ta Na Ma Meditation CD
Sa Ta Na Ma is a powerful mantra. Scientific studies show this 12-minute meditation increases memory, concentration, cognition, calmness & more. Repeating the mantra out loud, whispered & silently while doing simple finger movements (mudras) is done. A beautiful chorus of voices keep track of the time for you. A brief intro gets you off to a successful start. Digital downloads are available.
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Price: $9.99Price: $16.95

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Sa Ta Na Ma Meditation Research for Memory – Kirtan Kriya

March 20, 2011 by Julie Lusk

I just love synchronicity, don’t you? Right when I was looking for Sa Ta Na Ma meditation research – Kirtan Kriya – Amy Weintraub sent me a copy of her newsletter, LifeForce Yoga. My eyes popped out of my head with delight because she had compiled an excellent review of the literature on this meditation technique that improves memory. She generously said that I could share what’s below with you. I highly recommend Amy Weintraub’s website at LifeForce Yoga: Manage Your Mood. You will also benefit from and enjoy registering for her newsletter and going to her workshops.

Sa Ta Na Ma Meditation Research: Kirtan Kriya Effects Cognitive Function, Memory and Stress

In three separate studies published this year and in one that is on-going, Kirtan Kriya, as taught by the Kundalini master Yogi Bhajan, was shown to increase short term memory, cognitive function and to reduce stress. In separate studies at the University of Pennsylvania, and one continuing at the University of California (UCLA), researchers measured cerebral blood flow in the brain (rCBF) using single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) to determine which areas are more active and which are less during the practice. One study compared long-term meditators to non-meditators. Another study compared those practicing the meditation with those who listened to a Mozart violin concerto. A third study compared the more active meditation to a relaxation exercise.

Kirtan Kriya is a 12-minute active meditation that include mudra (hand gesture), mantra (out loud, whispered and repeated silently), and visual imagery,

In the on-going study at UCLA, those practicing 12-minutes of Kirtan Kriya meditation are being compared with those using a 25-minute relaxation tape. Preliminary results from the 39 caregivers who have already completed the study (23 practiced Kirtan Kriya, 16 listened to a relaxation audio tape) indicate:

[Read more…]

Yoga Moon Salute ~ Chandra Namaskar

August 30, 2013 by Julie Lusk

Here’s an amazing yoga posture sequence called the Salute to the Moon (Chandra Namaskar). Like the Sun Salute, it is a wonderful way to link poses and breathing together to enjoy better coordination, build endurance and create relaxed energy. In it, standing postures are done in a way that flows as naturally as the moon moves through its phases.

Julie’s moon salute sequence features the mountain pose, moon, star, forward bend, warrior options, and a standing spinal twist. It’s heavenly!

HANDOUT LINK: Yoga Moon Salute – Chandra Namaskar (pdf) shows photos for each posture with the proper breathing for the Salute to the Moon.

Here’s Sarah Brightman singing Figlio Perduto, the music we often play while practicing the Moon Salute.

Blue Moon Rising CD by Julie Lusk is on sale! It’s great music for listening to while doing yoga or relaxing.

Blue Moon Rising CD ~~ Native American Style Flute Music

Enjoy 16 tracks of beautiful Native American style flute music played by Julie Lusk accompanied by the relaxing sounds of Mother Nature as the backdrop. Digital downloads available.

Friendship Blessing

February 13, 2017 by Julie Lusk

I’m still on Cloud 9 from our recent Yoga Women’s Retreat & Slumber party. What a joy to be surrounded by friends – soul friends! They are the people, whether known a long time or briefly, that have shaped and supported you into being who you are today, and who you’re growing into.

The Celtic tradition calls one’s soul-friend the Anam Cara. John O’Donohue explains “With the anam cara, you could share your innermost self, your mind, and your heart. This friendship is an act of recognition and belonging that did not set limitations of space or time on the soul. It cuts across all convention, morality and category. In it, you are understood as you are without mask or pretension.”

A Friendship Blessing by John O’Donohue

May you be blessed with good friends.
May you learn to be a good friend to yourself.
May you be able to journey to that place in your soul where
there is great love, warmth, feeling, and forgiveness.
May this change you.
May it transfigure that which is negative, distant, or cold in you.
May you be brought in to the real passion, kinship, and affinity of belonging.
May you treasure your friends.
May you be good to them and may you be there for them;
may they bring you all the blessing, challenges, truth,
and light that you need for your journey.
May you never be isolated.
May you always be in the gentle nest of belonging with your anam ċara.

Please tell us about your anam cara by sharing under comments.

Earthing ♥ Grounding is Amazing

April 27, 2017 by Julie Lusk

Guess what? Just like we need air to breathe and vitamin D from the sun, we really need to be in physical touch with our Earth to be healthy and happy. The term is earthing or grounding.

So, kick you shoes off and go barefoot. Not only does it feel great, doing so releases muscular tension and calms your nerves by regulating your nervous system. It’s fantastic for your heart too. That means it will lift your spirits and help your heartbeat and blood pressure. We truly need our Earth more than you realize. Here’s why…

We are bombarded by EMFs (electrical magnetic fields) and RFs (radio frequencies) from WIFI and our devices with no way to discharge this overload of energy. This can cause harmful results. To reverse this for better health, it’s important we spend time earthing, also called grounding.

“The Earth’s surface contains a limitless number of free electrons that are continually replenished through solar radiation and lightning strikes; your body naturally absorbs these particles when you make physical contact with the ground” reports Dr Sinatra, MD.

He says, “In the body, these electrons have an anti-inflammatory effect because they reduce the free-radical activity that causes inflammation and chronic pain. (If you remember your high school science, electrons are negatively charged. Inflammation-causing free radicals are positively charged, which means the additional free electrons neutralize the free radicals.) The energy of the free electrons gained through grounding also helps keep your body’s innate electrical circuitry properly balanced. All of these effects of grounding are extremely beneficial to heart health.”

This disconnection is a result of our modern lifestyle. A big reason is that wearing rubber and plastic soled shoes blocks us from the Earth’s surface and is strongly associated with an increase of inflammation, oxidative stress, and nervous system malfunctions. No wonder there’s been high increases in insomnia, heart disease, diabetes and other problems related to inflammation.

A simple solution is to stand outside on the ground barefoot … actually touching our skin to the ground. More options include standing on cement (not blacktop/asphalt). Brick, stone, or using a specialized pad, or a sheet made especially for grounding work as well.

Dr Sinatra said not to keep smartphones in one’s front pants pocket because doing so for only 20 minutes lowers testosterone by 400% in males. Avoid holding smartphones directly against your ear too. Keep it an inch or so away or use speakerphone. Lower your risk by not using it while it’s plugged in as well. Write your text then set it on a desk before pressing send. Small changes make big differences.

Isn’t it remarkable that our Earth protects us from harm and gives us better health. Let’s not forget that’s really where we get our food and water too. What a connection, eh? So, kick your shoes off and find out for yourself! It’s beautiful out there – there’s nothing to be afraid of.

More resources for you

The Direct Current (DC) circuit of energy flows through every part of the natural universe, including plants, animals, human beings, and the surface of our entire planet, creating a Global Electrical Circuit. This natural DC energy is what the human body uses to function. Everything from the beating of our heart to the movement of our muscles to our brain’s ability to think require DC energy.

Studies suggest that becoming a part of the earth’s global DC circuit enhances our conductive health. This has far reaching implications to all our organ systems that function off of DC energy and conductivity. This includes, but is not limited to our central and peripheral nervous system, our musculoskeletal system, and our cardiovascular system.

Grounding instantly connects us to this natural energy circuit. It plugs us into this healing energy. Learn more in this video.

Reference: The Real Reason Grounding Works by Laura Koniver, MD

15-minute explanation of grounding/earthing called Down to Earth from Big Picture Ranch on Vimeo.

A 7-minute video reviewing the benefits of Earthing/grounding according to medical studies by Dr. Laura Koniver, MD. Learn how long is needed for results.

The Schumann Resonance is 7.83 hertz. This is the frequency of the Earth’s electromagnetic field spectrum, outer space, alpha/theta brain waves (meditative, relaxed, and dreamy), the musical note of C, the Root Chakra /Earth element, and the Sri Yantra. Grounding can connect us to this powerful, healing energy.

Migraine headaches, emotional stress, and other problems can result if we’re ungrounded and shielded from this frequency.

Ancient and modern yogis have said that the Big Bang and deep space sounds like OM. The NASA video below is the sound of a black hole. Amazingly, it is 57 octaves below middle C. Does it sound like an OM to you?