Jennifer Daniel, originally from Düsseldorf, now lives in Cornwall running her own business, Supreme Assist. After living in London working as a PA in the Design Industry she discovered yoga whilst at University in Birmingham in 1999. Jen has practiced Kundalini yoga since 2013 and trained as a Kundalini Yoga teacher at the Amrit Nam Sarovar International Yoga School in the mountains of France.
In Sanskrit, Sadhana generally translates to “dedication to an aim”. It can also be a generic term from yogic traditions referring to the time that you invest in yourself and the self-discipline to express and experience yourself. It is the Kundalini yoga meditations, mantras and kriyas you require in order to transcend your habits, blocks and ego, that ultimately make you YOU. It's the very intimate relationship that you have with your soul, the infinite part of you that never dies, connecting you to who you really are.
In essence Sadhana is the process of self-enrichment. This requires dedication and commitment to regular conscious, daily practice.
There are unlimited forms and techniques in various ancient traditions that create the experience that we call Sadhana. As a Kundalini yoga teacher it is absolutely essential to maintain and improve radiance amongst many other aims. As Yogi Bhajan used to say “A teacher who does not have a beam of energy within him or herself cannot teach Kundalini yoga”. I wholeheartedly agree with him. How else can you lift and inspire others? You have to have a spark about you and shine so bright through your expanded aura that others will pick up on it.
My personal Sadhana begins before the sun rises. Known as the amrit vela, this is the perfect pre-dawn time to do your practice. Its special qualities induce physical and mental cleansing and clarity, giving me the vitality I need for the rest of my day.
Upon rising each morning I start by drinking celery juice on an empty stomach - it’s my magic elixir! Then I massage my body with almond oil to nourish my skin and release toxins through the open pores, before taking my cold shower (Ishnaan) as hydrotherapy. Hydrotherapy keeps your skin radiant, opens the capillaries, flushes the organs, stimulates the secretion of the glandular system and keeps the blood chemistry balanced.
After this routine I start my Kundalini practice for up to two and a half hours each day depending on how much time I have available. I tend to go to bed no later than 10pm, my Sadhana really starts at night. This allows me to benefit from a more meaningful practice. Sadhana is not just yoga, it’s a lifestyle!
Even with my busy schedule I try to commit as much time as I can to Sadhana. The time I carve out for myself is so very important in this modern world. Sadhana can happen at any time of day. The important thing is to take time out for your practice if you are to withstand the pressure of life. You need to have something consistent, something that gives you at least as much energy (prana-life force) as is taken away from you by functioning as a human being in today’s society.
Think of all the roles you have to play in life. Think about the electronics, pollution and sensations you are constantly exposed to, the chaos that surrounds you. It’s not a question of whether you have stress in your life, it’s a question of how you deal with and transform these stresses and adversities of life into something devotional in the sense of pure love and compassion.
Sadhana is an instrument to help you to reach your full potential. It gives you calibre and character as well as compassion and kindness; essential tools you need to be happy. Ultimately, we all want sustained happiness. This comes from within. Sadhana is the process, the journey that will get you there, and consistent, conscious daily practice is key. I can promise you it will change your life too.
To contact Jen please email [email protected] and we shall pass it on
