Happy New Year

I hope you had a good transition into the NEW YEAR. 

I think I have finally arrived and this brings me to writing a blog post. Although I have been quiet for a while, I was busy!

You might know that I am also creating clothes. I also work with essential oils with therapeutic grade. And then I teach a few adult kundalini yoga classes and a kids one. 

I often think I should go for one direction but after a lot of thinking and being pulled from one to the other I now officially tell you it is all one direction for me. 

The idea of creating clothes established from the urge to feel good in the clothes I am wearing all day long. I want them to fit me, drape nicely on my body. I do not want to feel them and I want them to be made of a healthy organic material. So I designed them myself and i can c u was born. 

I have been a yogi for over two decades now and to be honest yoga is for me about feeling well in my body, about who I am and what I do. Kundalini Yoga especially gives me a tool to be in charge of my well being and work on myself on a daily basis and as much as I wish. It also increases my awareness, reduces my reactivity and calms me down. 

The essential oils do pretty much the same. I can use them to increase my well being, work on emotional issues and they help me to support my system against disease.

All together is my lifestyle. And I could not drop one of them. So I am thinking of fusing my facebook pages and posting more. I want to share what I am doing and what I love doing. If you have liked my clothes page you might find yourself reading about a meditation experience or breathing pattern. If you are into yoga you might see some yoga clothes of my shop or some information about an Aromatouch Technique session I offer, that grounds you and balances your nervous system.

I offer my service to adults, children and in future also to vulnerable people. 

At some point I will also send out newsletters but that is another story......
Much love, 
until the next time......t

ps I have added a new 
subscribe button --->>>

Beginners mind

How to start and end, an introduction

Kundalini Yoga is taught in a chain, called the Golden Chain. This means it is taught from teacher to student, you need a teacher. Saying that I did start on my own, a very long time ago, mainly because I did not know. And I find it to be true and obvious after having practiced with a teacher and experiencing the difference.

I know that there can be reasons why you cannot learn form a teacher right now and I don't mean not enough time. For example, I lived on a remote scottish island for some years. And true, it was tidal and I could have walked off but there was no teacher on the next island that connected our island, eventually, to the mainland.

Funny enough that is not entirely true either, as I actually met somebody much later that told me she held classes on that very island that connected us to the mainland, but that was not at my time.

So in a way it is possible to practice on your own for some time and you will get some benefits of it but if you start like this, I am sure you will also find a teacher sooner or later. If you can, start by taking classes or even do the teacher training yourself. 

In general, what is really important is to tune in and out and follow the given kriyas which means no adding or leaving out or changing, but you can shorten the times. Why would you modify something that made it all the way to our times!

If you ARE living on a remote island or there is another reason that makes it impossible to meet your teacher at this moment, this post is for you. There are many sources out there how to tune in and so on but as I am writing this blog I also think it is important to give a brief summary here or remind the one who reads it. But this can only be an introduction. And if you have practiced for a while it will come automatically, that wanting to show respect for the teachings.

As I mentioned Kundalini Yoga is handed down in a chain and before starting to practice we honor that chain by chanting ONG NAMO, GURU DEV NAMO, the Adi Mantra, in one breath if possible, 3 times. This connects us to this Golden Chain, and you will be guided throughout your practice by the Kundalini Yoga masters but it also means that you bow to the teacher that is within you.

It is important to focus upwards chanting this mantra, also as you call on the Infinite Creative Consciousness! The eye focus would be at the 3rd eye or Browpoint. You sit tall with a straight spine and your hands are together in Prayer position. This means the fingers are together pointing upwards and only the thumbs are apart from the rest of the fingers. The base of the thumbs is pressing into the sternum, at the Heart Center, into the notch of the breastbone (this stimulates the vagus nerve).

Breathe in and out a few times to center yourself and then you start with the ONG, chanted so the cavities of the sinuses vibrate and not chanted through the mouth. So basically you initially start the O through the mouth but the rest of the air and tone come through the sinuses/nose, not the mouth. Vibrating the cavity initiates vibration throughout the body and stimulates the pituitary gland, that affects other glands.

I would additionally continue with chanting 3 times Aad Guray Nameh, Jugaad Guray Nameh, Sat Guray Nameh, Siri Guroo Dayvay Nameh. This mantra is for protection and connects the speaker to Infinity.

If you have chosen a set, also choose some warm-up exercises. You would choose some that warm up areas concentrated on in the set or prepare other areas that are not being used. For example if the set is mainly seated, I might choose a warm-up standing. Or if a lot of arm movements are included I might choose to warm-up the shoulders to prepare them. There is a nice choice of warm-ups in the manual Transition to a Heart-Centered World. Choose 2 to 3 and do them each 2-3 minutes, don't swap the order though.

Then start your set. This means make a clear beginning. If you need to shorten times do this proportionally but otherwise leave it all as given. Here again, you will notice the difference between learning from a book or a teacher.

After your set you usually do up to 11 minutes relaxation. This is very important as you integrate all you have done and allow your body to relax which will also affect dealing with stress. So do not skip relaxation and really try to let go. To end relaxation you do stretch your body and rub hands and soles together and rock a few times along your spine to spread the energy.

If your set does not include a meditation, choose one that goes with the set. If it does not mention how to end the meditation you can generally end it like all exercises by holding the breath briefly and pulling the Mulhbandh. But sometimes it is advisable to shake hands above the head as well to ground yourself.

To end your practice you sit tall again, hands in Prayer Pose, eyes focused at the brows and chant 2 times 
May The Long Time Sun Shine Upon You 
And All Love Surround You 
And The Pure Light Within You 
Guide Your Way On.

And finally you end by chanting 3 long SAT NAMs, which means Truth is my identity, and bow your forehead touching the ground.

Please, for your own safety, get to know your body and boundaries and inform yourself about the Dos and Don'ts of yoga prior to practicing, and especially regarding pregnancy and menstruation.

Breathe it all away, a new set

About breathing and clouds

I know I said I would not write about every 40-day-set I go through. And I didn't, really. For example the last one, I even expanded to 90 days as it seemed so very special to me and I never mentioned it!

I was preparing a class, and I think my thoughts were to find a set that doesn't include Breath of fire or any other difficult postures, so it would be suitable also for beginners. And that is how I found this gem. If I want to teach a set I have to have done it myself. And it was one of those days. Maybe I was still stuck in a dream or something else was concerning me, I don't know, could have even been the moon..... I just didn't feel right and very restless. So that is when I first practiced it, it is called Preparatory Exercises for Lungs, Magnetic Field and Deep Meditation (Aquarian Teacher Manual, Sadhana Guidelines).

I am sure I went over this page a hundred times and never saw it, this happened before. And when I finally found it, it seemed like a blessing. Although it is very challenging, it doesn't last too long, the pain, and the results are great and immediate. I came out of the cloud that bothered me all day and it seemed on top of that I felt something like a spark turning into a flame. What is she talking about you might think. It is hard to explain Kundalini Yoga Magic, I am afraid you have to experience it yourself!

So now, as it was time to choose a new 40-day-set, and I find myself in a weird phase too, I thought this one is the one. Expanding the lungs and certain breathing patterns have such a great impact on how I feel and I am grateful to have such a great tool on hand.

First I found the first exercise uncomfortable but now I am really looking forward to whistle every day, and through tilting back the chest area opens up and this is a nice experience. Also in my experience, when I have committed to a 40-day-set, even the most advanced exercise is doable after a short time.

Then a sequence follows, arm pumps, a modified version of arm pumps and pulling the fists towards the chest, all without a break between them. This again is great to open the chest and as it has a certain rhythm it is quite meditative. 

The hands interlaced behind the neck, palms up exercise is not my favorite and I find it hard. But this changed already after a week of doing it and I can stretch my arms better and do it faster.

Torso twists can make me dizzy but again this one really turned into a meditation and works the belly area too. I can forget the time and where I am and it makes me feel good.

The following exercises are just nice and I can enjoy them. And it finishes with camel ride, which is like kissing your spine awake after working hard on arms and breath.

This set also includes a meditation, as the title says, it prepares for deep meditation. First I wondered why there is a meditation included doing nothing at all apart from holding an eye focus, as this is unusual. But after having practiced it, I must say it is great to go so deep. Actually it is so deep that I really have to shake my arms to end and even add a brief relaxation to integrate it all and come gently back. Ah, before you finish the meditation pull Mulbandh, and notice the energy rising!

As it is still a bit challenging and I am not quite used to keeping my arms up so much, I chose some nice music to get me through. The album of Simrit has very a very special song choice and the music arrangement is special too!

All for now, peace and light
Tej Inder

Kundalini Yoga in town

Sat naam! 

Time is a funny thing at the moment. I don't have the feeling I am on top of time at the moment rather somewhere in it or behind? This might be because I have a lot going on? I am not getting stressed about it but I thought it might be a good idea to start my Facebook Kundalini yoga page as well. 

So even if I have the feeling time is running somewhere, I can at least find a minute to post a link, quote or anything else that is happening in my Kundalini Yoga Life.....You can find it here:
https://www.facebook.com/kundaliniyogaintown

Highlights and Highlights

When I turn around and look at 2014 I could easily only see loss. Loss of habits, fears and tears. Although this year had a lot to do with letting go, I am very grateful what this tough tough year had taught me.

Funny, 2014 I spent many hours traveling on the train.....

I have started 2014 with the White Tantric Yoga Day in London. The last time I participated in a course I was half way through my first pregnancy and faced all sorts of things in this Psychosynthesis course. I was thinking, this might be the last chance of doing something for myself, so I grabbed it. Wow that was challenging..... 

So this time, the first time after a quite intense new motherhood, I was looking forward to doing something for myself again, working on my subconscious, and actually never prepared myself for any sort of challenge. And this was an error. Wow, I thought I was fit and disciplined, and wow, I was wrong. And still, this one day changed so much and was the best way of starting the year! Thanks for organizing this magic event every year!

Then straight into the next adventure.... Not sure how but one day in the summer of 2013 I found this link and it felt right after 15 years of Yoga practice to sign up for the Kundalini Yoga Teacher Training which would influence and change my life so much. And I must thank my boys of keeping up with me during this challenging time and most of all supporting me to do it and finish it!!!!

Kundalini Yoga passed my life several times before that, even a teacher moved to the remote island I was living on for a while and I could appreciate the benefits of it for quite some time. But finding a teacher and spending an entire year of intense practice made an enormous change in a very short time. So also a big thank you to my teacher Hari Har Ji!

Out of this grew the habit of taking a cold shower every morning. And I don't believe I am writing this but I really would not want to go back to having a hot shower again. It is very hard to shower in ice cold water every morning, and I admit some days it was rather more towards lukewarm than ice cold. But this freshness it brings is very hard to put into words. Thanks Hydrotherapy!!!!

I would also like to appreciate lemons at this point! Whether starting the day with a hot lemon, soothing various bugs the kids brought home from school or doing the moon/lemon fast every month, this yellow fruit is very special to me and I really started to appreciate it this year. The moon/lemon fast really changed a lot in my life. I have been following a diet or fasting plan all my life but this fast is the easiest and best way to integrate in my life, so far. There are 3 days in the months that support cleansing the body, full, new moon and the 11th day of the moon. While one of those 3 days means spending a day with water and lemon only the other 2 days are fairly easy to go through. So it is still challenging but the effects are so worth it. Again hard to explain but my attitude towards food changed so much and my body did as well. It seems that this short break is enough to lose a lot of waste products stored in the tissue and this feels great!


Who would think that designing this Valentine Cardigan would influence so many following designs throughout the year. I especially appreciate my woolly orange coat which is so warming and the boys christmas presents - a jacket and 2 nightgowns. 

Although a lot of people still do not understand that it makes a big difference wearing clothes that are entirely made by hand without using a machine, this year, some did try and ordered hand stitched clothes by i can c u. Thanks to all my new and old customers and supporters!!!! 

And: there might be arguments against spending that much money and effort but it just feels so different to the body, whether because it looses tension or the organic material just embraces you like a second skin :) And I love making these clothes, how great to be able to work and meditate at the same time!

And last I would like to mention and thank the Gregson Institute. I just happen to find it at the right time and it made Liverpool shine in another light, which was really needed. 

But most of all I started teaching Kundalini Yoga there and this was a magic event in this year. Thanks.




Mmmmh if I spend more time reflecting I might find a hundred more things and people to appreciate but I think they will only end up in my diary. 

So this year only highlights. Love Peace and Light!

If you cannot walk, it is time to dance.

It has been a while. Life was in the way! And then when I think there is more time, life brings something else, even worse.
I guess there is never a right time. Or a wrong one.

I want to share my latest 40 days set. It is really hard to choose a set to commit to for 40 days as there are so many nice ones. 

On a train ride home after having finished my course I had nothing better to do than thinking about a new set and I was also asking myself the question "What now?" so I thought I will choose a set to face my fears. In general I find it uncomfortable and blocking to feel dragged down by fears especially ones that don't seem to have a reason. Not sure why I was thinking of fears, I guess I was feeling some sort of uncertainty as a chapter had finished. Back home I also found an interesting set and was looking forward to starting it. And really interesting, 2 days later I was confronted with very bad news, so facing my fears made actually sense.

The set is called Relax and Release Fear and is found in Youth and Joy and in the I am a Woman Manual. This set is quite long and intense. Even after a week I still ached and some of the exercises seemed almost too hard to endure. 

But funny enough every morning I am looking forward to doing my set. I am on day 20 and I can tell that I am more relaxed. I can see it in how I react to the kids or generally in situations. 

The first exercise, Cat Cow in a forward bend is very powerful and if you do it right it hurts. Exercise 2 and 3 are great. (in exercise 2 it is important to really keep the legs in place and only rotate the torso from the hips) 

And then there is exercise 4. Oh wow. This generates the feeling for me that says, how much longer? But as always it feels wonderful having persevered. I guess after this exercise it all gets a different perspective. In exercise 10 it is easy to get lost in thoughts but it is a nice meditation when you keep the focus and rhythm. And then the last exercise seems so easy but if you keep the pressure applied throughout you come out really refreshed and the relaxation comes easy.

I love this set and find it interesting that working on fear involves a lot of rhythm and dancing. I chose the tracks from Chardikala Jatha and they are so great to go within.

I am looking for a shorter set already, so I have more time to spare for mediation for the next 40 days. I probably did not make Relax and Release Fear very attractive. But it is a great set or I would not write a post. And how great is a life lived without fear.

Sodarshan Chakra Kriya and 31 minutes of peace .....

Mama?

I tried to explain to my kids that doing my set means: don't disturb me!
This goes really well. As soon as I am up and ready to start I can set the timer and about 30 minutes later I have at least one boy sitting on my lap. This is not dependent on time. I tried 4 am and variations up to 8 am.

If they are up already they might watch something and I think YES! but again the demand for breakfast or a fight and it is really important that I react and now.



In the beginning I was very upset, taking it personally. But it does not really make sense to be upset with a crying 3 year old that begs for breakfast at 5:30 am. I still try to make them understand that this is my private time, as they request it for themselves and my oldest gets it already a bit...

So I have started Sodarshan Chakra Kriya and I am at day 20 or so of my 40 days and I discovered something. 

In this meditation the breath is hold in for about 25 seconds while the Navel Point is pumped and a mantra is chanted mentally. And then it is really essential to time the exhale and inhale right afterwards to make it to the next exhale and be able to pump 48 times before that. 

It is not a hard meditation but I really have to concentrate a lot - on the timing of the breath, that the pumping is at the Navel Point and not anywhere else and that the chanting happens there as well and to keep the eye focus on the tip of the nose and what to do with my hand before and after breathing - and it might happen that I lose one or the other focus. But still, because it is already very dear to me this meditation, I insisted while inhaling that I can do things after my set or I just signed a no. But only a few days.

As soon as I got used to all the elements and focusing seemed easier, I was not really here anymore, I was within and there was no reason to react on anything anymore. 

I might get one or another attempt but my eyes are almost closed, so no eye contact and the breathing must look like I really cannot talk because it became quieter around me.

And you might think that is what meditation is but believe me I never focused that fast within and could keep it for the entire 31 minutes. The mind can still run but everything else is perfect to stay focused within, I guess that is why it is an easier meditation

If I would have more experience with meditation I would commit to 120 days or maybe longer, but there are so many interesting meditations already waiting, that I might have to come back to it, as Bound Lotus has already part of my daily routine since last October and that for at least 1000 days .......

Nothingness and the mind

Learning how to meditate in a tent...

I mentioned that we just spent some time camping in the Inner Hebrides. And I must say it is not my favorite to stay in a tent but I had good moments. One of them was to realize how calm it can be.

It would have been beautiful to do my set outside watching the Burg and the sea but the midges and rain did not let me. I sat in a separate compartment of the tent, heard my kids playing but really noticed and felt the silence. No distraction, being on a remote Scottish Island, the phone had no signal, the closest building was our friends caravan and the sea just there by our feet.

This nothingness is amazing. I forgot that I used to live like this for 4 years. People ran away because they could not bear this nothingness.

It was weird to sit in a white space, white all around me. But it is so nice to have the full support of this incredible silence to meditate.

Obviously thoughts turn loud and I am all over the place but additionally there is this feeling that there is something bigger out there and I am of it. It feels good.

I do not remember having felt that close anywhere lately, living in a city.

I read so often, Choose a place you won’t be disturbed, feel vulnerable, or get distracted. And I understand why and what. But I don't think I really did understand until I experienced this.

My room is still messy enough and there are a lot of distractions around me but I remember this calm silent space and try to go there whenever I sit down.

And the best part of it is to pretend to have no signal and concentrate on one point.

First & funny moment...

1st blog post - 1st of August - 1st day of a New Set

That was a funny moment this morning when I had the idea of starting a new blog - a Kundalini Yoga Blog. I was in the middle of my kriya in a separate part of the tent while my kids where asking their dad to draw a superman and Ben 10. 


The wind was punching the tent as my youngest son had noticed and I wondered how to accomplish a front bend in this confined space...
I just smiled.

Sometimes I am really puzzled when and how things happen to come into my life.

I have started Kundalini Yoga about six years ago or better a teacher passed my life on a course we visited together in Scotland and she invited me to a morning sadhana. I remember her enthusiasm while I lost my breath doing breath of fire. It was 5:30am and I thought we are mad.

But it seemed really special to me then, maybe too far to reach? Or I just did not know anything about Kundalini Yoga or where to find people involved. But I found a book and started practicing by myself. Time past by, I returned once again back to Scotland to do a course, traveled to an island during this course, met my husband and moved to the island. 

After a while another Kundalini Yoga teacher moved to the very same island and we started to practice together! This was very special living so remote. I learnt a lot and am very grateful for this. And I could continue my practice during and after 2 pregnancies. We left the island after 4 years and we live in the big city now ...

So here we are again, visiting this very corner of Scotland and I remember all this. I am in the middle of my Kundalini Yoga teacher training and today I have started a new 40 days kriya and meditation which I was allowed to choose by myself.

While I looked for a suitable set I had a conversation about Kundalini Yoga music and misunderstanding my friend I found a Wahe Guru track I really liked. It said Sodarshan Chakra Kriya, so that is how I found this new meditation I started today as part of my 40 days set but that might be another blog post ......