CHATTAR CHAYA KRIYA

Sit in Easy Pose with a straight spine. Place your right hand on top of your left hand so that the middle segment of each finger of the right hand rests on the middle segment of the corresponding finger of the left hand. Bring the palms toward each other so that both thumbs can touch the middle segment of the Jupiter (index) finger of the left hand. Both thumbs touch each other and the middle section of the left Jupiter finger, but the thumb tips do not touch any part of the right hand. There will be a kind of cavity between your two hands.

Your eyes will close automatically as you become more relaxed. Allow this to happen.

Inhale through the nose and exhale completely through the mouth, directing your breath between the knuckles of the two thumbs and into the cavity between the palms of your hands. It is a requirement that the air be totally exhaled from the lungs. The lungs must be so fully emptied on the exhalation that the moment you relax to breathe in, the air will be automatically and powerfully pulled into your lungs.

No maximum time was given for this meditation. It was taught for 2 1/2 minutes and then Yogi Bhajan told the class to inhale and relax. He then said, "I don't want you to do this too much (in class) because then you will want beds and we don't have that accommodation. It is very relaxing."

"This is a very relaxing kriya and should not be done when you have to work or go somewhere. It can make you sleepy.

You can do it when you come home from work because it will make you un-tired immediately. It makes you feel good. It makes you happy. The scriptures say this kriya will make you young. It can extend your youth. One thing it definitely does: it makes your face innocently and beautifully charming."