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There is a depth to martial arts that both draws us in and makes us look outside of ourselves. The winding of legend and fact is at the heart of the history of kung fu. This practice has been around longer than there have been people to write it down. But from records we see that one of the first instances of this practice was over four thousand years ago.

The first ones to practice this style were not battling on a field but were fighting for their lives not to be the prey of the animal predators stalking them. These animals had defense and offensive moves that made them strong and able to overtake men so the men began to pay attention to what made them so stealth.

Taking those powers and strengths into consideration man utilized them to not only defeat the animal predator but to bring into the arsenal to use in battle against man.

Kung fu had many different styles and techniques that evolved from different ways. But since the basic of the art was the fight with beasts, the practice took on the defensive techniques of birds, insects, and animals. Like the tiger, panther and bear the practice became stealth and wise in attack. The birds like crane, eagle, and chicken used their strength and wit to outsmart their predators. All of these traits of the animals broadened and gave an easy example of how to practice this form of martial arts.

The Buddist monk Bodhidarma or Dot Mor was an intrinsic force in the definition of Kung Fu. With his arrival the practice of Kung Fu became both internal and external. The internal was related to using the energy of the body and spirit that not only brings force to your practice but peace to your life. The breath control aspect of the practice began here. The use of breath to add to the force of your strikes became the core of the practice.

The practice of Jiao Di was the first type of this martial art. Brought to life by the Yellow Emperor he developed the way of fighting where a horn was attached to a helmet and then two men fought each other. This was not just simple physical domination as this Yellow Emperor was a man of learning. He studied astronomy and medicine and incorporated the art of intelligence into a usually typical physical match up.

As happens in a society the philosophical mindset changes and these adaptations were incorporated into the practice of kung fu. The Taoist influence was brought in since it believes in the ying and yang or the soft with the hard. This combined with the art of using your chi to empower your movements and strikes gave a delicate balance that created great force.

The vast amount of time dedicated to the growth and history of kung fu brings much to light. However it changed and grew and whoever influenced the change, kung fu evolved and became more by the people who practiced and defined its being.

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What is Kriya Yoga?

Known throughout India and the world as a meditation technique, the Kriya Yoga was one of the ancient types of yoga that were kept hidden in secrecy for a number of years. It was only made open to the public as one of the yoga practices when it was revived in 1861 by one of its practitioners, Mahavatar Babaji. This man taught the practice to one of his disciples, Lahiri Mahasaya who in turn made the Kriya Yoga widely known.

The Kriya Yoga actually appear in the public as a yoga technique when another disciple of Babaji named, Paramhansa Yogananda published his book entitle “Autobiography of a Yogi”. It was also this man who first claimed that Kriya Yoga is the most effective type of the meditation practices that were made available to mankind. According to him, the practice was developed to attain the main purpose of yoga, which is but union with the divine.

The Kriya Technique

On the most basic, the practice of Kriya Yoga embraces a technique that specifically highlights the bond between mind and breath. This principle is maintained until now believing that breath influences the mind and vice versa. Thus, Kriya Yoga considered breath control as a self control, and the mastery of breath is the mastery of self. Well, it is for this belief that breathing is considered in this practice as an important element that people should consider.

The Kriya Yoga techniques, aside from breathing, are centered significantly on promoting energy. The postures are developed to open the spinal networks in the body for the spine to be energized. And, to help make this possible certain exercises that involve proper breathing is highly considered.

It is further interesting to know that the technique involves in Kriya Yoga are practiced through a form of initiation. The techniques are taught to beginners by an expert as simply a practice, but during the initiation, it is expected that the practitioner’s body will be purified then opening a chance for deep meditation.

How to Become a Kriya Yogi

Unlike the other types of yoga, the Kriya Yoga has established its own paths for its followers to heed in order to obtain a sense of oneness. First, they must undergo the technique maintained by Paramhansa Yoganada which simply involves an spiritual practice of Kriya. Then, they must learn how to open their minds and hearts for certain possibilities. After which, they should follow the Ananda technique which involves energization poses, the Aum meditation technique, the Hong-Sau concentration technique, and finally the Kriya technique.

It is worth noting though that the ultimate effects of Kriya Yoga can’t be obtained in just a matter of days or weeks. The truth is, the process involved in the practice may take for about a year or more, depending on the level of interest paid by the student.

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