Relationships

Every challenge, every conflict, every dream, every prayer that you have comes from you and resolves with you. It all comes back to you. Nowhere is this more apparent than in relationships with your partner. Other chapters in this book will help you to become a woman who is solidly prepared for enlightened relationships. This chapter will help you blend the female and male parts of yourself, and strengthen your "energy shield." Partner yoga and meditations allow your energies to blend and your hearts to open to each other. This is also the place to turn to when you are not getting along in your relationships, or when there may be discord, dissatisfaction, or disappointment.

Venus kriyas

Venus (meaning love) Kriyas are exercises that are shared between partners. The internal energy is drawn and directed positively toward subconscious cleansing and the raising of energy through the chakras to higher consciousness. Each of the kriyas is complete in itself; choose just one or two to do and practice each for no longer than three minutes.

Getting rid of grudges

When you and your partner have felt discord between you, whether spoken or not, this exercise helps you both to clear the air between you and start over fresh. All it takes is a willingness to practice.

Sit back to back with your partner with the length" of your spines touching. Put your feet flat on the floor in front of you, bring your knees up and wrap your arms around them. Close your eyes and breathe.

Meditate on your heart - hear it and feel it. Meditate on the sun, bringing it into your heart. Burn out all the bitterness and grudges that you may have been carrying Continue for 3 minutes.

Sending prana

In this exercise you use your hands and eyes to energize each other and build a healing energy between you. Keeping the arms straight increases nerve strength in the arms and pranic energy in the hands.

Sit on your heels in Rock pose. Stretch your arms out at shoulder level so that your palms touch those of your partner Gaze into each other's eyes without blinking. Feel that you are sending prana to each other through your hands and eyes. Experience it. Continue for 2 minutes, then close your eyes and visualize your partner for I minute more.

Crow squats

Crow squats benefit your hips, lower spine, and leg muscles by opening, stretching, and toning them. Energy in the lower chakras is stimulated and circulated to the upper chakras. This exercise can be aerobic and heart-strengthening.

1: Stand facing your partner with your feet shoulder-width apart. You may have to adjust your feet in order to maintain balance while squatting. Join hands and look into each other's eyes with love. Verbally greet each other, then continue talking to each other throughout the exercise.

2: Bend your knees and squat down together so that your buttocks are close to the ground. Ideally your feet will be flat on the ground. Your body will naturally lean forward a bit, but keep the spine as straight as possible. Return to standing and continue for 3 minutes. If possible, each complete up and down cycle should take 4 seconds. Those with medical conditions should exert caution and move slowly. Half-knee bends may be done by those with knee problems.

Heart lotus

This kriya slows you down from your busy daily lives and brings an awareness of the shared heart. Adjust your height using a pillow if you cannot comfortably see into each other's eyes.

1: Sit in Easy pose with your knees almost touching. Put the base of your hands and wrists together and spread the hands to form a lotus flower. The man positions his little fingers under those of the woman. Look into the soul of your partner through their eyes for 1 — 1½ minutes.

2: Then place one hand over the other at your heart center Close your eyes and meditate on your heart. Go deep within to the center of your being. Continue for 1 — 1½ minutes. Then inhale and exhale deeply 3 times, relax the posture, and thank your partner.

Couples' kundalini lotus

This exercise helps channel sexual energy and maintain potency, and brings depth and lightness to your relationship. It requires flexibility, so warm up with Spine Flex and Spread Stretch first.

1: Sit fairly close across from each other and hold hands. With the legs positioned outside the arms, bend the knees and place the bottoms of your feet and your partner's feet together Lean back slightly, straightening the arms.

2: Slowly stretch the legs up straight to a 60° angle from the ground, with the soles of the feet touching. Look into each other's eyes with love and joy See your self in the other person. Lift your partner's energy with your love, and realize that you two are one. Continue for 3 minutes with either Breath of Fire or long, deep breathing. (Decide before you start which type of breathing you do; both partners should do the same.) Then relax.

For internal strength

These individual exercises and poses have been chosen for their ability to build balance, endurance, and auric strength, which is essential for a woman whether she is single or in a relationship.

Warrior

A regular practice of Warrior pose develops an intensity of focus, mental strength, and endurance. It relieves cramps in the calves and thighs, brings elasticity to the leg and back muscles and makes the legs strong, and tones the abdominal organs. To prevent your bent knee from overworking, keep it directly over the ankle to distribute the weight evenly.

1: Stand straight with your feet together bring your hands together in Prayer pose at the center of your chest and inhale.

2: Exhale as you spread your legs apart sideways 4-4½ft (1.2m), with your feet parallel and facing forward. Raise your arms sideways in line with your shoulders, palms facing down and shoulders relaxed.

3: Inhale and turn your right foot 90° to the right and your left foot slightly to the right. Keep your hips and chest facing forward while turning your head to the right. Slightly tighten the muscles around your left knee.

4: Exhale and bend your right knee until the thigh is parallel to the ground and your knee is over your ankle. Turn your head and face to your right palm. Stretch the back muscles of your left leg fully. Breathe deeply for 1-2 minutes.

Varuyas kriya
 
This kriya can cause a cleansing sweat. The amount of time spent practicing Varuyas Kriya can be slowly increased up to 7½ minutes on each side. There is a strong tendency to shake while practicing this pose as it adjusts and strengthens your nervous system. The practice and perfection of this kriya is said to improve the functioning of the pituitary gland, regulate excessive sexual energy, and increase general immunity to disease.

1: Stand straight with your arms at your sides. Place the right leg as far back as you can while maintaining your balance. Bend your front leg so that your knee is bent directly over the foot, but not extended beyond that point.

2: Bring your hands to the ground by your front foot for balance. Place the top of your right foot on the ground so that the leg and foot extend out behind you in a straight line. Take a deep breath in.

3: Exhale and extend the arms forward. The spine is extended slightly forward. Fix your eyes on the horizon and feel centered at the brow point. Begin chanting Sot Nam. Emphasize Sat (Truth) and apply a light Root Lock. On Nam (Identity), relax the muscular pull. Continue for 1-2 minutes. Then inhale, exhale, and relax, bending forward for a few seconds. Repeat with the right leg forward.