The word Mantra is composed of two sounds, Man and Tra. Man refers to mind and Tra is like a bridge allowing a passage to traverse or cross over.
Bija means SEED. Bija Mantras are the seed sounds of the Chakras.
A Mantra allows us to travel beyond thought and focus the mind through our simple technique of listening and feeling.
In Tantric texts, Chakras are describe as seven primary centres of consciousness with two in the centre of the brain and five within the spinal cord. Each centre bears an extraordinary close resemblance to the ganglions and nervous system and can also be understood as places of great potential change and organisation.
In the first video, I explain the terms, why we would practice in this way and the techniques of how to practice.
AN INTRODUCTION TO Bija Mantra PRANAYAMA & MEDITATION
This technique is an effective way to focus on one part of the spine and one Chakra at a time. When we practice, we are not only following the movements of the seasons, the organs from a Chinese Five Elements perspective, but these sequences also take care of how we move through the spine.
Our process through the year: Spring: Muladhara and Svadisthana; Summer and Late Summer: Manipura and Anahata; Autumn: Vissudha and Ajna; Winter: Sahasrara and a descending Nyasa practice.
Bija Mantra PRactice: MULADHARA
Begin by sitting calmly with an upright spine for five minutes.
Imagine Sushumna Nadi as a column of light that starts at your coccyx, runs up your spine and exits through Brahman’s Gate at the top of your head.
Concentrate on the 1st Chakra Muladhara and practice Yin Pranayama extending the breathless pause at the end of the exhalation. Mentally chanting a brief and gently OM with the inhalation and a brief and gentle LAM with the exhalation. We practice for 10 minutes.
Transition to Yang Pranayama in which we begin to smooth and bring rhythm to the breath. Mentally chant a long OOOMMMM with the inhalation, hold your breath for as long as comfortable, and then mentally chant a long LAM with the exhalation. We practice for 14 breath cycles, you can 7 or 21.
Meditate on the rebound for ten minutes.
Bija Mantra PRactice: Svadisthana
Begin by sitting calmly with an upright spine for five minutes.
Imagine Sushumna Nadi as a column of light that starts at your coccyx, runs up your spine and exits through Brahman’s Gate at the top of your head.
Concentrate on the 2nd Chakra Svadisthana and practice Yin Pranayama extending the breathless pause at the end of the exhalation. Mentally chanting a brief and gently OM with the inhalation and a brief and gentle VAM with the exhalation. We practice for 10 minutes.
Transition to Yang Pranayama in which we begin to smooth and bring rhythm to the breath. Mentally chant a long OOOMMMM with the inhalation, hold your breath for as long as comfortable, and then mentally chant a long VAMMM with the exhalation. We practice for 14 breath cycles.
We then Meditate on and in the rebound for ten minutes.
Bija Mantra PRactice: MANIPURA
Begin by sitting calmly with an upright spine for five minutes.
Imagine Sushumna Nadi as a column of light that starts at your coccyx, runs up your spine and exits through Brahman’s Gate at the top of your head.
Concentrate on the 3rd Chakra Manipura and practice Yin Pranayama extending the breathless pause at the end of the exhalation. Mentally chanting a brief and gently OM with the inhalation and a brief and gentle RAM with the exhalation. We practice for 10 minutes.
Transition to Yang Pranayama in which we begin to smooth and bring rhythm to the breath. Mentally chant a long OOOMMMM with the inhalation, hold your breath for as long as comfortable, and then mentally chant a long RAAAM with the exhalation.
We practice for 14 breath cycles, you can 7 or 21.
Take time to Meditate on the rebound for around ten minutes.
Bija Mantra PRactice: ANAHATA
Begin by sitting calmly with an upright spine for five minutes.
Imagine Sushumna Nadi as a column of light that starts at your coccyx, runs up your spine and exits through Brahman’s Gate at the top of your head.
Concentrate on the 4th Chakra Anahata and practice Yin Pranayama extending the breathless pause at the end of the exhalation. Mentally chanting a brief and gently OM with the inhalation and a brief and gentle YAM with the exhalation. We practice for 10 minutes.
Transition to Yang Pranayama in which we begin to smooth and bring rhythm to the breath. Mentally chant a long OOOMMMM with the inhalation, hold your breath for as long as comfortable, and then mentally chant a long YAMMM with the exhalation. We practice for 14 breath cycles. Again you can mess with this and explore 7 or 21 breath cycles.
We then Meditate on and in the rebound for ten minutes.
Bija Mantra PRactice: Vissudha
Begin by sitting calmly with an upright spine for five minutes.
Imagine Sushumna Nadi as a column of light that starts at your coccyx, runs up your spine and exits through Brahman’s Gate at the top of your head.
Concentrate on the 5th Chakra Vishuddha and practice Yin Pranayama extending the breathless pause at the end of the exhalation. Mentally chanting a brief and gently OM with the inhalation and a brief and gentle HAM with the exhalation. We practice for 10 minutes.
Transition to Yang Pranayama in which we begin to smooth and bring rhythm to the breath. Mentally chant a long OOOMMMM with the inhalation, hold your breath for as long as comfortable, attention on the 5th Chakra Vishuddha and then mentally chant a long HAMMM with the exhalation.
We practice for 14 breath cycles, you can 7 or 21.
Meditate on the rebound for ten minutes.
Bija Mantra PRactice: Ajna
Begin by sitting calmly with an upright spine for five minutes.
Imagine Sushumna Nadi as a column of light that starts at your coccyx, runs up your spine and exits through Brahman’s Gate at the top of your head.
Concentrate on the 6th Chakra Ajna and practice Yin Pranayama extending the breathless pause at the end of the exhalation. Mentally chanting a brief and gently OM with the inhalation and a brief and gentle OM with the exhalation. We practice for 10 minutes.
Transition to Yang Pranayama in which we begin to smooth and bring rhythm to the breath. Mentally chant a long OOOMMMM with the inhalation, hold your breath for as long as comfortable, attention on the 6th Chakra Ajna and then mentally chant a long OMMM with the exhalation.
We practice for 14 breath cycles.
We then Meditate on and in the rebound for ten minutes.
Bija Mantra PRactice: Sahasrara
Begin by sitting calmly with an upright spine for five minutes.
Imagine Sushumna Nadi as a column of light that starts at your coccyx, runs up your spine and exits through Brahman’s Gate at the top of your head.
Concentrate on the 7th Chakra Sahasrara and practice Yin Pranayama extending the breathless pause at the end of the exhalation. Mentally chanting a brief and gently OM with the inhalation and a brief and gentle OM with the exhalation. We practice for 10 minutes.
Transition to Yang Pranayama in which we begin to smooth and bring rhythm to the breath. Mentally chant a long OOOMMM with the inhalation, hold your breath for as long as comfortable, attention on the 7th Chakra Sahasrara and then mentally chant a long OOOMMM with the exhalation.
We practice for 14 breath cycles, you can 7 or 21.
Meditate on the rebound for ten minutes.
Bija MANTRA NYASA: descending SPINE
Begin by sitting calmly with an upright spine for three minutes.
Imagine Sushumna Nadi as a column of light that starts at your coccyx, runs up your spine and exits through Brahman’s Gate at the top of your head.
Concentrating on one Chakra at a time, we descend the spine from the seventh Chakra to the first Chakra supported with Yin Pranayama and each Chakra’s seed sound. Our rhythm is three minutes per Chakra, two minutes of Yin Pranayama and one minute to rebound and transition.
We then Meditate on and in the rebound for three minutes.
Bija Mantra NYASA: Ascending THE SPINE
Begin by sitting calmly with an upright spine for three minutes.
Imagine Sushumna Nadi as a column of light that starts at your coccyx, runs up your spine and exits through Brahman’s Gate at the top of your head.
Concentrating on one Chakra at a time, we ascend the spine from the first Chakra to the seventh Chakra supported by Yang Pranayama and each Chakra’s seed sound. Our rhythm is three minutes per Chakra, two minutes of Yang Pranayama and one minute to rebound and transition.
We then Meditate on and in the rebound for three minutes.