Heather’s Kundalini Yoga Blog Kundalini yoga, passion, joy, fulfillment - sharing lessons I’ve learned

            In my teaching experience I have found that 95% of the people that walk in the room don’t breath well enough for normal health.  I am baffled at how many people suffer from asthma, allergy, lung disorders, and bronchitis and don’t take the time to address their breath patterns.  Instead they make the choice to go to the doctors , get a pill, come home take it and either you still breath without the proper diaghrapm muscles and still have poor breath patterns or that pill added another health issue to your list.  To me in the end this is NOT a win-win situation.  It is the quick fix and people don’t want to take the time and effort to address a health issue so they depend and blame some one else?  Well, I am tired of cradling people who have enough time in the day to clean their house, car, and work for a company that might not value them, but no time to take care of  their own  body, mind, and spirit.  What do you value most in your life? I know for me the answer is my health and family.

         The first thing I must address in my beginner yoga classes is the breath.  Long deep breathing through one nostril is a great beginner exercise.  Cover one nostril and place the other hand on your belly.  When you inhale the belly expands like a balloon and when you exhale those muscles slowly pull in and up to support the weight of your spine.  Now you try that exercise and see how you do?  Do it everyday for 5 minutes a day and feel the effects of how breathing deep and long  can help you begin the process of being aware of your body.  There are many breathing exercises and it is wonderful to see how they effect ones health in a positive manner. I always love to say our bodies and mind love oxygen! 

         Tune into more information and if you like this blog share it with your family and friends!  As soon as I figure out my web-camera I will be posting short yoga videos! Sat Nam!

I find a few moments in the week where I will turn on the television to see what is happening in the world. I could not help but laugh at a commercial promoting
pain medicine for cramps and fatigue for women. Do you ever really consider all the side-effects medicine has on the body? Immediately I reflected on my own journey with having Thalassemia, a genetic red-blood cell disorder, and what doctors put me through in my early twenties. Every time a doctor took blood the nurses or doctor would react in a panick before reading  my chart that I have a blood disorder. If energy effects us then having that dramatic reaction definately made me not want to go to the doctor’s.
No solutions. Not one doctor ever hinted to a solution for my blood problem, but they were fast to say my life would be slow moving. Well, if you read my bio on my web-site you will learn I had a nice dancing career and I have a ton of energy!  Why do we under-estimate the power of the spirit?

        When I was 25 years old I fell ill and there were no answers to this horrible infection in my body.  I was in bed for about one month and in that time I had the ‘Wake up” call.  I felt like I was dying and the pain was so severe all I could do was pray for it to stop.  I learned a great deal from that time, because I choose to live.  I walked away with the intention to know everything I could about how my body worked, what my blood disorder was about, and how to heal it.  I became a researcher and a healer-I studied from all aspects of eastern medicine and went to India while working as well.  How does the mind influence the immune system?  And I won’t be able to share the last 13 years of discovery in this one story, but I am here to say “nothing shocks me now about what Kundalini Yoga can do and how it heals the body. I have students/stories that should be in a movie. HM, there is an idea? 

        I am now 37 years old and my red-blood cell counts are Normal.  The doctors seem surprised , but I know what a disciplined practice in Kundalini Yoga and organic diet can do. I walk around each day with a vibrant energy and smile because I am enlightened to a science that works on the body. I share and created my business to empower you.  What better gift in life but to give the tools to become healthier, happier, and holier in your own practice and in your own time.

       I woke up at 3:30am and prepared for my morning practice of Kundalini Yoga and meditation. I felt a need to put in one of my DVD’s of the master himself Yogi Bhajan and listen to a lecture and do a set on elementary fundamental stress. Here is what came to mind.  First, in childhood we learn ways in not to be our true selves. A family member may be controlling or manipulative or just not in tune with how to parent a soul.  At a young age we build up an inner level of stress, because we are not free to be who we truly are as a soul.  Through out the aging process our stress levels build up and we don’t have the tools to deal so we RUN.  Our human nature is to leave when we can’t comprehend our stress. People move to another state, get a divorce, or quit their job.  The running or leaving is a tool learned to escape really the underlying issues at heart. One souls purpose in life..and that is where Kundalini Yoga practice can help…we chant Sat Nam-true identity-throughout the class-and we do yoga sets designed from 5,000 years ago to release, renew, and change built up blocks in the personality of a soul.

          It’s about 4:15 am and I start doing the physical exercises and surprised to remember most of them require rhythm. Pounding the floor like a drum, moving the upper body in a dance, moving the shoulders to release calcium and magnesuim build -up….then it hit me.. What have we taken out of our children’s lives-especially in public schools…music, dance, exercise…and those that do have programs-are they well put together-I don’t know?  I work  with children every day and it seems like we are missing  some form of the equation to a healthy well-balanced child…the stats show differently that our children are very sick with weight and emotional issues and maybe we just need to get them back to the primal movements of music and dance?

            Reflecting on my past I know there were many times I ran away from a person or problem because my stress level was too high and I didn’t have the tools or inner awareness to know running only makes it worse. Until you address your elementary stress it is not going anywhere.  Tune in for more…if you like this site …share..the more we come together..the better this society will be…Sat Nam!

       I woke up and went into my intimate yoga space to do my morning practice.  Two words came into my mind-love and yoga. I feel through the last 10 years my Kundalini Yoga practice has healed my heart and allowed me to love on a much deeper level.  I reflected on three very special people my brother, grandfather, and first tap teacher who shared unconditional love with me as a child. My first tap teacher, Donna Grove, taught me tap dance until around age 7 ,then I moved to another dance school. I competed all my life in dance and Donna was always at the events with her own student’s, but at the same time sending me positive energy. I would go to the dance events looking for Donna-a child always knows the real deal with genuine energy and love and Donna was pure in her ways with me.  I experienced much control and manipulation in my family system at home that having someone that needed nothing off me and wanted the best for me imprinted my heart.  I sensed last fall that Donna was going to leave this earth , so I wrote her a letter which I felt would be the last one she would receive. Unfortunately, she died the day before the letter came into the mail.  I still feel she knows what it said.  I love you Donna!

            My second great teacher of love was my grandfather, Edward Dombrosky.  He was silent but a strong man that you could call upon and he would show up.  Whenever I got into a mess of trouble my grandfather was the one I called. Why? He never yelled or judged me he just showed up and took care of me.  I was never really a bad child, in fact, I hardly did anything wrong ,but when I fell he was there with open arms.  I could always tell by my grandfather’s eyes the love that he had for me.  He also taught me the character of a man which I feel lacks in some of our society.   It was very difficult to let my grandfather go-but the truth is he lives in my being! 

         The third person is my brother. I adored him as a little girl and I remember waiting on the stairs for him to come home from school every day. I played so much with my brother and the creativity we had together was a Kundalini Yoga practice.  I was born a dancer and lucky enough to have parents that provided that outlet. Unfortunately, dance became a way of getting love and as time went on I lost the love of my true expression in dance.  I remember a moment when my brother received a title that I didn’t get -and his sadness in his eyes revealed to me that love is willing to trade places!  My brother has always been a light in my life.  We are very different , but we are love.

            Love is an act of giving.  It asks for nothing in return.  I am sad when I think of all the years I was not able to truly love, but I am happy that I have opened myself up again to it!  I am grateful for Kundalini Yoga-it is not just about moving the body…it’s about changing your perceptions, opening your heart, and growing….

     I recall 12 years ago walking around New York City searching for a good yoga class.  Being a professional dancer I went from studio to studio, but was not  impressed or inspired by what I experienced.  It was shocking to see a yoga teacher standing outside smoking and talking about others. Hm. I thought yoga was about the state of mind as well as a philosophy of behaviour? I didn’t need to work on my physical body being a dancer.  I was much more concerned with my emotional and mental state at the time.  I started out not being a big fan of Yoga.  Then one day while teaching at New York University I heard  of “Kundalini Yoga East”  which was  in walking distance and provided a more complex variation of breath and meditation work.

          I walked into Kundalini Yoga East a bit nervous and at first I thought I entered into a cult. All the students wore white clothing with a white turban on their head.  I found a spot in the back of the room and found the energy to be very healing.  I left feeling a bit high and decided to give it another try.  In a matter of one month I was going to class 4 times a week and loving it.  The teachers were so clear about what work we would accomplish for the day and why we were doing it.  In fact, in all my years of training I felt these teachers knew more about the body then anything I experienced in my past dance education.  Twelve years later I sit as a teacher watching my students walk into class with the same inner fears and thoughts.

           I am disappointed by all the fitness centers using the word yoga in all the class titles.  It drives me crazy to hear someone say I don’t like yoga.  Then I ask them well was the breathing beneficial to you? What breathing.  Hm. Do you know in Pittsburgh some yoga classes people lift weights? Yes, wow have we really destroyed the 5,000 year old science just to appeal to our fast pace culture.  Many fads and misconceptions due to people not qualified in teaching it.  I wish people would research credentials more and not depend on companies to feed them everything.  I am finding in order to be authentic and come from a genuine place you have to create your own. This is why I gave half my furniture away to create an intimate yoga studio in my home.

           My last thought for today is pay attention to how much the word “wellness” is being used to sell drugs now.  I never imagined wellness would be wrapped around an allergy pill. I thought wellness was taking yoga for 3 months and being able to delete medication from being used.  We must take ownership of our bodies and minds and I hope if nothing else if you stumble across a bad yoga class-you will remember my story and keep trying until you find the “real deal!”

          Six months ago I fell into a deep depression. On Christmas Eve in a matter of minutes my pelvic floor collapsed while menstruating and I was unable to walk.  If you log onto my web-site you will read my journey with menstrual problems and why I created my first DVD.   I knew this wasn’t a physical problem , but more of a spiritual one.  I lost my purpose and faith in our society.  I have a strong will so I began to heal myself and dig even deeper into my meditation practice.  Austin Texas came up one morning. Hm. Maybe I am suppose to move there?  I went online and ordered a tour guide of Austin and decided at that moment I would take a trip. The next day I was invited to a professional tap company audition in Austin Texas.  I have been tap dancing since age 3 and created a Guiness Book of World records in tap shoes while having a great career in New York City.  Hm. Maybe I am suppose to tap dance again. I booked my trip.  It is always helpful to take time out for your self and venture somewhere new and Austin had a great energy for me. I showed up at the tap dance audition. I was deeply disappointed in the experience and felt even a lack of soulfulness that I thought would be there. In the middle of the audition I thought to my guide Yogi Bhajan-master of Kundalini Yoga why did you lead me here.  I walked out of the studio and asked the owner if there is a yoga place in this area. Yes-it’s 2 blocks away and if you walk straight ahead you won’t miss it.  I had my Kundalini Yoga DVD in my bag and thought well let me see if I can drop it off and maybe the owners might think about selling it in their shop.  I entered South Yoga Yoga which had a great vibe and I was able to leave my materials at the front desk and I walked out with a brochure.  I arrived back to Pittsburgh a few days later went onto Yoga Yoga web-site and read about the owners journey. The couple were a  student of Yogi Bhajan and their story hit to the core of my soul. Long story short their marriage was struggling and they were feeling a  tough time with life, so as a last resort they put all their money and energy into learning everything about all styles of yoga . They started a business in their home using one of the bedrooms as a yoga studio. They crammed in 7 students and as time went on they manifested 65 a week and then began the journey of opening their first commercial business. Wow!  Inspired and moved I realized I can do this too-and so I gave away half my furniture in my apartment , painted the walls, and created my own yoga space. The joy and excitement I have lets me know that being lost sometimes is necessary in order to know when something feels right!  keep searching. Keep up!

      Kundalini Yoga as taught by Yogi Bhajan is a 5,000 year old sacred system of yoga exercises and meditation that promotes health, happiness, and awareness.  Combining breathing, movement, stretching and sound, Kundalini Yoga is a safe comprehensive technology that can be practiced by anyone.  You can begin a yoga practice at any age , in any physical condition, and any where you can take a long deep breath!

       Practicing Kundalini Yoga keeps the body in shape, increases vitality, and trains the mind to be strong and flexiblein the face of stress and change.  In the process of learning many chants and meditations it is important for students to understand we have 84 meridians in the mouth that stimulate different glands in the brain when the tongue is placed in the correct position. For example, my cancer patients who have tumors in their brain need to use chants and meditations that work on the lobes /hemispheres that are affected.  I have seen reduction in tumors from all my cancer patients through giving them specific work to do on an everyday basis. 

      Through Kundalini Yoga people have health themselves of the pain of physical illness, mental pressure, drug and alcohol addictions, and more.  Because Kundalini Yoga develops the total person, practitioners also become more intuitive and more sensitive within the shorest time.

         The magic of Kundalini Yoga is in the complexity of breath patterns.  In my teachings I have discovered that very few people breath well enough for normal health.  Once a new student is able to conquer deep breathing, fire breath, and panting they notice a huge shift in their health, mood, and energy level.  When we feel happier we attract better life circumstances.

        Kundalini Yoga is much more then a system of physical exercise.  The technology of Kundalini Yoga is aimed at the spirit that has no boundaries.  Therefore, it is universal and nondenominational.  No matter what religious path a person follows, Kundalini Yoga helps practitioners experience what they believe.

        My next post I will share a personal story about teaching my first cancer patient.  If you like this post it is important to share with others so we begin to start a movement on understanding how to heal the body in a “natural way” and begin to decrease health issues and addictions in our society.  Blessings!

     I will always remember the day I watched The Twin Towers go down standing at  the corner of Union Square; and the feeling I had while trying to figure out how to get myself home.  It took about 2 months after 911 to come out of a depression and feel somewhat alive again.  I prayed many nights for an answer on what I should be doing in my life.  The  experience  made me sit back and calculate my values, time, and worth.  I woke up every morning with one thought -and that was I will work in India.  I would laugh at myself and continue on with the day. Each morning for over 3 weeks I had the same thought about India. Then my mind was clear and 2 weeks later I received a phone call to work on a project in India. I had to laugh. God can be direct if we keep the channels open. 

        This trip to India began my spiritual journey and I had a deep longing to experience a new and more meaningful path in my life.  In 2001 I walked into “Kundalini Yoga East” and found myself  cautious of the white attire and turbans, but soon felt relaxed in a non-judgemental environment. I liked the quality of knowledge from the teachers, but also their deep humbleness in presenting what they believed in.  I can say without learning  Kundalini Yoga I may have lost my way in life. It connected me again to my true self and that inner joy that can’t be bought or created by anyone else.  I enjoyed getting to know myself again and even though I struggled at first with meditation; I soon discovered my weaknesses and became more aware within to know that the meditation/chants were what I needed most to develop my true identity.   I studied for about 4 years before I had a calling to move back to Pittsburgh my home town. I think it is common for any one who is on  a spiritual path to find a moment in their life when they need to face their roots one more time.

       Pittsburgh was definately a culture shock for me; but it has allowed me to step up to the plate and become a Kundalini Yoga teacher/healer.  I am surprised at how little people really know about this type of yoga.  I always go back to what the master Yogi Bhajan said,  it is about experiencing the technology. Ten years later I am now committed to receiving my second certification because I have seen the results in my student’s work.  The science of Kundalini Yoga has thus far proven to be accurate by watching how much my students improve in their health-let go of medications-reduce tumors -and conquer what some doctors may say is not possible.  I believe there needs to be a balance in life with western and eastern philosophies. I know with my own genetic blood issues both worlds have helped me live a stronger life. Sat Nam!

        October 24, 2009 - In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month,  Heather Ferri Productions, LLC will sponsor 3 lectures/demonstrations from 1-4pm with Certified Kundalini Yoga teacher Sangeeta Kaur.  Sangeeta Kaur is the spiritual name given to Heather when she recieved her first certification.  These events will be held at 1:00, 2:00, and 3:00PM at Glow located at 663 Washington Road in the heart of Mt. Lebanon.  Reservations will be limited to 35 attendees per session. 

        If you would like more information about this event or yoga DVD’s you can contact Heather at heatherferriproductions@yahoo.com or call 412-276-2466.

        Master Teacher, Sangeeta Kaur, will discuss 3 major health concerns:  Hormones, Stress, and Obesity.  She will demonstrate some basic fundamental exercises regarding breath and posture as well as discuss how Kundalini Yoga flushes out toxins and cleanses the organs by physical movement.  Kaur will focus on Kundalini Yoga sets which not only stimulate the immune system but also encourage better circulation around the breasts and lymph glands under the armpits.  Participants will learn that Kundalini Yoga is a specialized science which plays an important role in both healing the body as well as the mind.

         Sangeeta Kaur trained in New York City for 6 years. In addition Kaur recieved 500 hours of instruction from the masters at the Kundalini Yoga Research Institute in New Mexico. She brings a wealth of information regarding women’s health.  Attendees will have the chance to pre-view segments of Kaur’s “Kundalini Yoga for Women” DVD and hear why she believes all women should practice these simple exercises every day.  Participants will recieve a coupon valid for one Kundalini Yoga class at Glow with Sangeeta for $5.00(regular value is $18)  as well as a raffle entry for a private session at Glow worth $150 ( Winner to be announced at 4pm)

         Each one hour session will feature a guest speaker who will discuss how their life and health have changed as a result of Kundalini Yoga/Sangeeta Kaur.