During meditation, I have been experiencing swaying back and forth and sideways for the past couple of years. This year in Feb20, on the day of Shivratri, the swaying became almost like a vibration. After that day, I experienced the same body vibrations again only yesterday and now today. Please can you tell me why this is happening and if I need to do something to stop this. I have taken kriya initiation but have been irregular in my practice.
—Rajendran Nair, India
Dear Rajendran,
The swaying during meditation you describe is fairly common. As we go deeper into meditation the Kundalini, the Sanskrit name for the energy at the base of the deep spine, begins to awaken and starts to rise. As it does it can result in the swaying of the body, which is usually temporary.
There is no need to try to stop the swaying unless the feeling is painful, takes the form of searing heat or you are disturbed or anxious. Your body may be becoming more aware of subtle energies.
Awakening Kundalini is essential for spiritual aspirants. “Without such awakening there can be no true spiritual unfoldment,” Swami Kriyananda, the founder of Ananda, wrote in Revelations of Christ.
Keep from deliberately swaying your body, since such an outward movement would not induce Kundalini to rise. Kundalini energy can also rise without any perceptible movement so it is important not to consider swaying as necessary for spiritual progress.
When movement occurs you may continue your spiritual practices or stop for a moment and concentrate deeply at the spiritual eye, making it a magnet to draw this energy all the way up and offer it to God.
Congratulations on taking initiation in Kriya Yoga. As an ancient meditation or energy and breath control technique popularized by Paramhansa Yogananda in his classic spiritual book Autobiography of a Yogi, Kriya Yoga helps the practitioner control the lifeforce by mentally drawing that lifeforce up and down the spine with awareness and will. As you may know, this practice hastens spiritual evolution. According to Yogananda one Kriya, which takes a half-minute, is equivalent to one year of natural spiritual growth.
Offering all of our energy, our aspirations, and our love to God is what we seek to do with every spiritual practice. When we reach enlightenment, the energy once stored at the base of the astral spine and chakras will be lifted and united at the spiritual eye. Consider your experience as an encouragement to make your Kriya practice a regular part of your day!
Many blessings,
Nayaswami Mukti
**********
Updated by Ananda Communications in May 2023
Ananda Course in Meditation
A 10-week online course with in-depth instruction in scientific meditation techniques that bring more peace, deeper relaxation, and focused concentration to every area of your life.
Learn more