Trying not to BNeg

When my husband was driving me to my first Osho Kundalini, I told him I didn’t feel very “dance-y”. I didn’t know what to expect from moving meditation, but I did know you had to move before settling down with a clear mind. The moving looked like dancing. The truth is, I haven’t felt like dancing for a while now. I used to blast rock music and jump around the house with my sons remembering the days of slam dancing in college, but lately I haven’t been feeling that same sort of joyous release.

My work with the CoreConstellations Center in Rockville has introduced me to many new ideas. Since my Yoga Teacher Training includes learning to teach meditation and breathing techniques, I wanted to explore this type of meditation from India offered by Kuno Bachbauer, the director of the Center.

The session started with a couple of warm-up exercises to music then we were given the ground rules. If at any point something didn’t feel right, we were encouraged to tell everyone. If the group stopped, this would become part of the meditation. Every single action or sound would be the meditation. This is quite different from an emphasis on sitting still for long periods of time.

One thing I will say right off the bat is that although I didn’t know any of the nine other participants, I could tell they were a good, caring, respectful group. This is one of those times you think “Hey, I don’t know anyone here so what does it matter!” I was open to a new experience.

Osho Kundalini consists of four, 15-minute stages with a recorded soundtrack during the first three.

The first activity involves keeping your feet grounded and shaking your legs like you are experiencing a tremor. The upper body is loose so the arms and neck move freely. Constantly moving your legs for that many minutes can be exhausting. I felt heat in my legs, then in my core, then in my shoulders, and finally my cheeks. The movement created great energy in my body. I’d never shaken my legs for that long. Later Kuno told me I could have a completely different experience next time because it always changes.

The second part involves moving your whole body freely around the room. Everyone was doing slightly different but similar movements. As we were told, this wasn’t a disco, so it wasn’t necessarily dancing as you would expect. We all had awareness but were in our own comfortable place. After all of the leg work, I moved the rest of my body, especially my arms. Everyone’s movements encouraged us to continue for the full 15 minutes. I was dancing again.

The third part was more traditional meditation in a seated position with pillows against the wall. I do this all the time but during Osho Kundalini, I felt a pressure on and in my head. This was a new sensation and it was impossible for my head not to be clear. Meditating was very easy and the few thoughts I had were easily dispelled.

In the last part, participants lay flat down on the floor in complete relaxation like Savasana in yoga. There is no music for the fourth part. I didn’t feel my usual endorphic response from yoga. This was calmer, more settled, and clear.

Two hours later when my husband asked how I was feeling, I answered “centered” and “very good”. In my core body I felt an energy, a strength. When I woke this morning, I still felt “grounded”. Usually yoga leaves me with a good feeling like a high for the rest of the day, but this is different. Even now my whole body and thoughts are solidly grounded in a way which is difficult to describe. I have clarity and can avoid the daily pitfalls.

After the Osho Kundalini, Kuno served tea, chocolate, and passion fruit seeds while we talked. The group wished the meditation was offered more frequently because everyone had enjoyed the experience, especially the newcomers like me. Now I understand why going out for a run clears my mind. The concept is the same. You use your muscle then relax repeatedly with every step. Osho Kundalini meditation works. You definitely get out of your head and into your heart.