Join Akalsukh and the Sangat* to receive these blessings. Sadhana means a daily spiritual practice. The yogic scriptures call for two-and-a-half hours of sadhana before the rising of the sun.

The two-and-a-half hours is determined by the law of karma--everything you give, you receive back tenfold. So, if you dedicate one-tenth of your day to your higher consciousness, your whole day is covered by the returning energy.

And, when a group of us meditates together, the total effect of our sadhana is multiplied by the number of people participating!

Getting up for sadhana is a victory over time and doing sadhana together is a victory over space. Sadhana is a self-victory. You become incapable of being defeated!

(There is no charge for early morning sadhana. However a love offering is encouraged, first thing as you enter the yoga room place your offer at the altar)

After sadhana, please join in for a healthy potluck breakfast.

 SADHANA

"What is sadhana? It’s a committed prayer. It is something which you want to do, have to do, and which is being done by you. … Sadhana is self-enrichment. It is not something which is done to please somebody or to gain something. Sadhana is a personal process in which you bring out your best." ~ Yogi Bhajan

Sadhana or daily spiritual practice is the foundation of all spiritual endeavor. Sadhana is your personal, individual spiritual effort. It is the main tool you use to work on yourself to achieve the purpose of life. It can be done alone or in a group. Sadhana is whatever you do consistently to clear your own consciousness so you can relate to the infinity within you. Before you face the world each day, do yourself a favor and tune up your nervous system and attune yourself to your highest inner self. To cover all your bases, it will include exercise, meditation, and prayer.

Develop a regular sadhana and you take control of your life. Develop a deep sadhana and you open the doors of experience. Commit to meet your higher Self each morning and your decisions and your life become original; your life will bear the signature of your soul; your radiance will express the meaningful intimacy of the Infinite in each moment. Immerse yourself in the joy of victory that comes from starting each day with a powerful sadhana and every challenge becomes opportunity.

During what are called the “ambrosial hours” (the two and a half hours just before sunrise), when the sun is at a sixty-degree angle to the earth, the energy you put into your sadhana gets maximum results. Your world is quieter. It’s easier to meditate and concentrate before the hustle and bustle of the day begins.

excerpted from 3HO.org

"Sadhana means a practice of self-discipline that allows one to express the Infinite within one's self. It is a time each day to notice the patterns that lead away from higher consciousness and to transcend those patterns.

Sadhana is a conscious activity. We consciously choose to rise up, to exercise the body , and to meditate. Each day is different. Each day, we are different. Every 72 hours all the cells of the body totally change. Sickness comes and goes. Motivation waxes and wanes, but through all the flux of life, through all the variations of the mind and heart, we consciously choose to maintain a constant and regular practice" ~Yogi Bhajan  

"Sadhana simply defined is the technique of disciplining yourself. It is a practice, particularly when performed during the Amrit Vela, which resets your cycles and patterns to the rhythm of your ultimate aims, your Soul and the heartbeat of the Universe. It is this time of each day when the "veil" of the ego (limited self) is thinnest and so we can mindfully observe all the negative habits that lead you away from health, physical stamina, wholeness and higher consciousness and neutralize the desires underlying those habits one by one. Sadhana is a conscious activity to access the unlimited potential of your life through relating to and embracing the most mysterious aspects of our deep self - encountering the Knowable UnKnown and the UnKnowable Unknown. It is during the Amrit Vela, the 2 1/2 hours before sunrise, that prana concentrates and cleansing on all levels is more easily accomplished. Simply being aware, vertical and leaning in the right direction at this time has profound effects as the subconscious, which is usually tucked away and suppressed through tensions in the physical body, is right there on the surface and in our conscious awareness.

For the Buddhist, Hindu and for many other spiritual traditions the Amrit Vela is the acknowledged time for deep spiritual practice if you're privy to the monastic approach.
The Amrit Vela, the Nectar Time 2½ hours before dawn, when the world is transitioning and deeply still. It is a time when many souls are born or leave their bodies. From 2am - 6am is the most Satvic time, not being pulled by the Tamasic guna or pushed by the Rajasic guna. There is no better opportunity to overcome inertia and practice stillness."

"Sadhana is a test of self-grit. If your sadhana is more important than your neurosis, you are fine. If your neurosis is more important than your sadhana you are not. Doesn't matter how saintly you are, nobody wants to get up in the ambrosial hours. Why you still do it is a mystery. At that time, between 3 and 6 o'clock, the rays of the sun pass at 60 degrees and you want to feel relaxed. You take a cold shower, wake-up and meditate. Why do you repeat the mantra hundreds of times? To create a stamina, an absolute mental stamina. Without that there is no chance for life to be smooth. If somebody refuses to exercise, nobody can force him, but at that one moment in life when that person needs physical stamina, it won't be there. Sadhana is what your mental stamina requires. Love is what your spiritual stamina requires " --Yogi Bhajan 1/22/91.

AQUARIAN SADHANA

Click here to best prepare for group sadhana?
What is Aquarian sadhana?
What are the benefits?  

Sadhana, or more specifically Aquarian Sadhana, is a practice that can help lead to breakthroughs in all areas of your life. Sadhana is any dedicated spiritual discipline that you maintain for a period of time; Aquarian Sadhana is Yogi Bhajan's prescription for a meditation practice that helps us live at our best as we make the transition into the Aquarian age.

Kundalini Yogis frequently just refer to Aquarian sadhana by it's shorter name, although any yoga set can be practiced regularly as “a sadhana.” Sadhana is our time to deepen our connection with spirit, with God, with the Gurus who've given us this technology, and with ourselves. Sadhana is a blessing we can treat ourselves to. Furthermore, it's free! Its blessings have a beneficial effect on everyone you encounter throughout your day.

Here are some things Yogi Bhajan had to say about sadhana:

The greatest reward of doing Sadhana is that the person becomes incapable of being defeated. Sadhana is a self-victory, and it is a victory over time and space. When you get up for Sadhana, you defeat a part of yourself because you don't want to get up. Getting up is a victory over time, and doing it is a victory over space. That is what Sadhana is. Sadhana is only for you - it is a self-victory. Sadhana is not a matter of advantages and disadvantages. It is simply a means through which you can defeat all your miseries, misfortunes and handicaps. It is a very personal thing which does not relate to anybody but yourself.”

What, specifically, is Aquarian Sadhana?

Yogi Bhajan has also said that people think meditation is a blissful, feel-good sort of state, but sometimes it's hell on earth. You may find all your mental garbage rises to the forefront of your mind during meditation, but the benefit is that it isn't likely to stay there throughout your day, instead it will be gradually released in each meditation.

Don't beat yourself up if you decide you want to come and don't make it. It's considered the Guru's will if you're there or if you're not, so give yourself a pat on the back when you do get there.

Click here to Download the text of the Aquarian Mantras in pdf format

These are the seven mantras we chant, and this is what they're for:

Long Ek Ong Kars have the power to cleanse anything, actively purifying the sushmana, the central channel, and connecting the entire chakra system.

Wah Yantee is the mantra of creativity and renewal.

Mool Mantra shows you what is real and what isn't. It connects you to the infinite truth and corrects misleading thoughts and ideas.

Sat Siri, Siri Akaal prepares us for death, helping us take the right course on a day-to-day basis.

Rakhe Rakankaar is an incredibly powerful protective mantra. It strikes down any negativity coming your way.

Wahe Guru, Wahe Guru, Wahe Guru, Wahe Jio is chanted longer than the other mantras, for 22 minutes. After you become bored with it, the true meditation begins, and you are lifted to a state where your mind no longer has domain, to the vibratory frequency of your consciousness.

Guru Guru Ram Das Guru calls upon the healing guru of miracles to help heal, protect, and bless us. It is for self-healing, humility and emotional relief.

Here are some tips to help you make it to sadhana:

Don't eat late in the evening. Preferably, not after 6PM. If you must, eat as lightly as possible. This will make it easier to get to sleep.

Get prepared before you go to bed. Get yoga clothes and anything you need ready.

When you wake up, take a “cold shower”- Ishnaan-Hydrotherapy. This is important. It opens up the capillaries, causes a temperature inversion in the body that gives the immune system a boost and warms our internal organs, getting our circulatory system flowing. Massage your whole body with almond oil in the shower to help this process. You'll find it really helps your yoga practice too. Then you can use a soft-haired bristle brush to stroke body hair in both directions to stimulate the energy flow throughout the body.

Different people have reported varying things about starting with a warm shower and switching to a cold one partway through. Yogi Bhajan said that's like eating junk food and then eating a healthy meal and viceversa when you take the warm shower after the cold. Ishnaan is a hydrotherapy not a regular shower, it can be short - 5 min+. Read more on Ishnaan.

After your shower, you can brush your teeth and tongue with a mixture of alum and sea salt. This will pull impurities from your mouth and gums. As you gently brush the back of your tongue you will stimulate a gag-reflex that will expel mucous from your system (these are toxins accumulated there overnight), also contributing to a healthy immune system.

If you're up after a long night at 1 or 2AM, you might as well stay up until Sadhana, and then go to sleep.

Sometimes it helps to ask your God or the gurus for help making it to sadhana!

It's not a crime to sleep during sadhana; sometimes it can't be avoided. Yogi Bhajan has reportedly said both that you should never do this and also that if you do, you'll still get half the benefits of those who actively participate throughout the yoga and chanting. You can also rest in Gurupranam throughout (baby pose with the forehead on the ground and hands in prayer pose extended ahead of you). This will help rejuvenate you.  

It may seem hard to get up to be at yoga at 4 or 5 AM, but getting up is always hard, and also it's really only hard when you consider it essential to stay up until late evening. You may find you grow to love and treasure the early morning hours, or even find them essential to your well-being. Give sadhana a try and experience the benefits for yourself.

"The radiance of your spirit can be measured according to how the name of God vibrates within you and around you. If your sadhana is perfect, your spirit will be high. If you have forgotten to chant the name of God, you will be in the doldrums. If you become low and depressed, it is only because you have not warmed up your machine in the morning; you have not done your spiritual practice. Your mind has found the zero point through working the belt of meditation. And if the mortal does not work the belt of meditation, then the electricity is not produced, and the generator does not work. The mortal must work the mind, the mind must become zero, and it must create the experience of Infinity within you. In the Western world where there is such a crisscross of mental thought patterns, you must find a way to bring your mind under control. You must learn to bring the level of yourself to zero, whenever you like. This is the practice of sadhana.

How to best prepare for sadhana?

• Get familiar with Japji by previously reading it or listening to a recording.(download pdf)
• Read and/or chant if possible the aquarian mantras or listen to a recording. (download pdf)
• Sadhana is done in an atmosphere of silence and reverence; please talk only if really necessary and do it in a whisper.
• Bring  your offering to the altar.

• Hold the space, enjoy the bliss of this ambrosial hour. It will fill your days with connection, sweetness, and purpose. Sat Naam~

Question: What is the greatest reward of doing sadhana?

Answer: The greatest reward of doing sadhana is that the person becomes incapable of being defeated. Sadhana is a self-victory, and it is a victory over time and space. Getting up is a victory over time, and doing it is a victory over space. That is what sad­hana is. And when you do a sadhana in the sangat, you enrich yourself in multiple ways. First, the isolation which can hit anybody and make them go totally crazy is defeated. Secondly, when all of you meditate on God, the total effect of your sadhana becomes multiplied by the number of people participating. Sadhana is not a matter of advantages and disadvantages. It is simply a means through which you can defeat all your miseries, misfortunes, and handicaps. It is a very personal thing which does not relate to anybody except yourself.

You are supposed to go through self-evaluation every day. That is what sadhana is. On one side is God, the superiority of you; on one side is you; and on one side is the devil or the inferiority of you. Between the three you have to assess yourself.

A sadhu is a being who has disciplined himself. Sadhana is the technique to discipline yourself. It is a scientific way to live.

Question: I have been having a problem with sadhana. I fall asleep in the same posture every morning.

Answer: Whenever you have a problem with sadhana, you are very fortunate, because it indicates you are working on some­thing. That is the time to conquer it, and get it out of your system.

Question: How can I find out what it is?

Answer: There is nothing to find out. Just go through it. Whenever you have a problem with sadhana, luck is smiling on you. That is what you have been waiting for. There is a chal­lenge-you can challenge it, and go through it.

Question: How do you challenge it?

Answer: Challenge it by doing it. Sadhana gives fearlessness and a sense of self, as well as projection, polarity combination, equi­librium, respectability, totality, internal and external self-knowl­edge, purity, dignity, divinity, and grace. In addition, it gives you radiance, pranic and auric shakti. Finally, it gives you the quality of metal which is ever shining. You become a shining, living grace. This quality is embodied in loh-iron-which can absorb all the heat. Sarab loh means that which absorbs the entire heat and cold of all the universe, and still remains neutral. That is what sadhana gives you. When you want to be bountiful, do sadhana.

Question: Is leading the yoga exercises in sadhana the same as teaching a yoga class?

Answer: No. There are differences. One difference is the amount of talking that should be done. In an outside class, there is more need for inspiring, coaxing, and explaining. Sadhana occurs in the quiet ambrosial hours. At this time, mostly we should listen to the Infinite.

Question: Should I change the exercises and kriyas every day?

Answer: One part of the sadhana should stay constant long enough for you to master, or at least experience, the changes evoked by a single technique. Each kriya and mantra has its individual effects, although they all elevate you toward a cosmic consciousness. Learn to value the pricelessness of one kriya, and all others will be understood in a clearer light.

There is a natural 40-day rhythm to habits in the body and mind. It takes about 40 days of consistent practice to break a habit. It takes about 90 days to establish a new habit in action and in the subconscious. It is good to take these biorhythms into account when designing your practice.

Question: Is it important to wear a head covering during sadhana?

Answer: During sadhana, be sure to cover your head with a nonstatic, natural cloth like cotton, and keep the hair up. The hair regulates the inflow of sun energy into the body system. To let the solar energy flow without obstruction, let the hair grow to its full natural length, and take good care of it. If this is done, the amount of energy that goes downward from the Seventh Chakra increases tremendously. The kundalini energy is activated by the radiant force of the solar plexus and moves upward in response to the solar energy coming down. This balances the body energy and maintains the total equilibrium. If the hair is down, unkept, or uncovered so that it is electrically imbalanced, this natural process of raising the Kundalini energy will be impeded.

Question: If I have to leave sadhana, what is the best way?

Answer: The same way you entered. Be aware of the presence of the teacher by bowing in your consciousness. Be quiet so nothing is disturbed. Choose a time to leave that is between kriyas and meditations. A sharp noise during a deep meditation is a shock to the total system. Do not come and go as you please, but to please the highest teacher.

Question: Should I wake someone up who is sleeping in sadhana?

Answer: No. God should wake him. The experience of sadhana is between the individual and God. Do not interfere. You can inspire beforehand. If sleeping is a chronic habit, discuss it with the person at a convenient time, but do not abruptly wake someone. He may be at a different level of experience than you think.

It is our intention, of course, to stay alert and awake during sadhana. If you are leading the sadhana, you can lead exercises which can stimulate the brain and supply blood to the brain to help people to stay awake.

Sadhana is to bring physical and mental awareness. Some people pretend to be tired. They are not fortunate enough to catch up with that gap. But it is very unfortunate on the spiritu­al path when, instead of inspiring people, we start criticizing them. That is projecting your hatred.

I feel that in the morning when you go for sadhana, you are going to be sadhus. What does it matter if somebody just gets up to say, "hmmmmmm?" That person is still doing something. At least he is not sleeping. It is far better than a person who is snoring at home in bed. Do you understand? Sadhana is a will­ful effort to prove you are not lazy about your own Infinity. When the sun rises early in the day, even idiots rise. But blessed are those who rise before the sun and prove that they are the chil­dren of the Almighty. Does it sound clear to you? Those who have guts will open the gates of the heart at 3:30 am.

Question: As the leader of sadhana, should I participate in all the exercises?

Answer: As a leader, your responsibility is to set a good example and to give clear instructions for each step of the sadhana. You should do as many exercises as you can without becoming unaware of the group. You must check to make sure that every­one understands the exercise before beginning yourself. Sometimes it will be better not to participate at all. Always join in during chanting, though. When teaching a class outside of sad­hana, you should participate as little as possible in the physical exercise. Concentrate only on inspiring and serving the students.

Question: Is it mandatory for the same person to lead sad­hana every morning?

Answer: In all Kundalini Yoga sadhanas, the same teacher teach­es every sadhana - Guru Ram Das. Anyone who is qualified to teach can lead a good Sadhana. It can be very beneficial for the group to experience the effects of slightly different styles of lead­ership.

Question: When chanting in the morning, the pitch often gets low. What, if anything, should be done to change the pitch?

Answer: Chant at a constant, mid-range pitch as much as possi­ble. If your breath rhythm is not correct, your spine is not kept straight, or you do not take complete breaths in the Adi Shakti Mantra, the chant will lose energy and drop in pitch. If you proj­ect the sound of the mantra from the back of the mouth in a full and roundish way, the power of the chant will increase as you continue, and the pitch will stay constant.

If you are constant and listen to the sound of your chant, you will hear different pitches. These are actually overtones of the basic sound you are creating. The overtones will be high-pitched, subtle, and seem to float around the room. You cannot identify that tone with one person since it is formed by the combination of group sounds. The overtone is a good sign that the sadhana group is tuned in to each other and beyond each other. As you listen to the first overtone and become very calm, you may begin to hear higher and more subtle overtones. This awareness aids meditation on the etheric echo of your chanting, as you sit silent­ly after chanting aloud.

Question: Is it alright to harmonize with the main tone?

Answer: Chanting is not singing. It is vibrating all the cells of the body, all the thoughts of the mind, and the core crystal of the soul to the same shabd. Chanting in meditation is beyond personality. Chanting like a choir with many harmonies turns the group consciousness, which is striving for universality, into individual consciousness responding to social consciousness. Leave vocal harmonizing for kirtan and group songfests. Learn to harmonize the body, mind, and soul while chanting.

Question: When I am sick, should I attend sadhana?

Answer: If you are going to be in bed all day with an extreme sickness, then no. If it is not extreme (this includes most men­strual periods), then attend sadhana and do what you can. If you cannot exercise or meditate well, then at least attempt to medi­tate. Afterwards, lie down and rest in sadhana while mentally lis­tening to the shabd. This way you will get well faster, and maintain the rhythm of a regular sadhana. It also eliminates the tendency to have minor morning illnesses to escape the self-disci­pline of a constant sadhana. In other words, participation in a group effort and regularity of discipline are paramount. But do not be a fanatic to the point of aggravating a serious illness.

Question: I am a beginner and can only spare one hour on sadhana. Will one hour have any effect?

Answer: Always do some sadhana no matter how short, because every effort of the individual mind to meet the Universal Self is reciprocated a thousand-fold. The ideal is a perfect two-and-a-half hour sadhana. But if we are to run, we must first learn to walk. An hour is excellent. As you grow into sadhana, you will find time to extend it if you really want to do so. It is good for some people to start slowly. If you try to climb Mt. Everest without climbing even a foothill beforehand, failure could discourage you from all other attempts. Build slowly and constantly at a pace you can maintain, but definitely do something.

Question: Do we need a special place for sadhana?

Answer: A special place or altar is ideal. The care you give the external environment is a sign and symbol to the mind of your intention. The outer reflects the inner. If the place of meditation is sloppy, it usually means you do not value relating to that Infinite Self, or you value it, but do not believe in it or yourself. When traveling, you do your best to bring a sense of specialness with you to wherever you meditate.

Question: Should I bring my children to sadhana?

Answer: Your children are the future. The future will only be as secure as the foundation that is built into the young generation. It is very inspirational to see the radiance from young children who attend sadhana. There is no restriction. These hours of soothing sleep for them are the best, but they are in good vibrations, and subconsciously they have experienced the sadhana. So you can just bring them with you so they can live in those vibrations. Whether or not your particular child should attend is an individual determination. If he has been raised in the yogic tradition where chanting and exercise are a natural part of his environment, then bring him. If he is disruptive during sadhana, then his attendance should be discussed with the rest of the group.

Question: Is right after sadhana a good time to take a nap?

Answer: Right after sadhana is a time to do anything - even have ice cream. Once right after sadhana I ate pizza--double cheese and triple mushrooms, and I ate it all and never gave any to anybody. I still worry about it, but I did it. Right after sadhana do whatever you want. Sadhana is sadhana. Right after sadhana it is your day. What is God's, give to God through sadhana. Take what you take during the day, but remember, when you have to go to God, the next day you should go with a clear heart and clean face. Naanak te mukh oojale. Mukh oojale--mukh means face, oojale means radiant. (The Oriental Woman, KWTC VI, 1981, pp. 90-91) .