Frequently Asked Questions

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Yes, Lahiri Mahasaya directed that initiation into Kriya Yoga must be done in person and one on one.

No most of my students are actually not local. They will travel here for initiation, and then the rest of the ongoing teaching is done remotely. I also provide my students with some ancillary practices to work on before initiation, that way the time waiting for initiation is not wasted. Much progress can be made even with ancillary techniques that can be fully taught remotely.

Please email me and we can discuss any steps we can take without in person travel.

Yes, however I cannot do group initiations into Kriya Yoga. But I can lead other forms of group meditation classes, or do individual initiations as part of a class/retreat if there is a separate isolated room I can use.

Initiation is by donation only, so there is no charge.

• Guru Pronam
• Talabya Kriya
• Navi Kriya
• Kriya Pranayama
• Yoni Mundra
• Mahamundra

Our lineage has a total of 7 Kriyas, so 6 advanced techniques. Lahiri Mahasaya originally passed down 11 total Kriyas. Lahiri Mahasaya's chief disciple Panchanon Bhattacharya took those 11 and passed down to us the 7 he deemed most important. Our advanced Kriyas are very different from most other lineages. Our advanced techniques are extremely powerful, use a great deal of Kumbhaka, and tend to take a long time to build up for. Students are initiated to the advanced techniques one at a time as they become ready.

There are 3 phases to Kriya practice. 

1. Opening the tongue knot. 
2. Opening the heart knot.
   
3. Opening the root knot. 

First Kriya is phase 1. Second and third Kriya are phase 2. Sixth and seventh Kriya are phase 3. Most lineages do not have any techniques to break the root knot therefore in most lineages the Kriya is not complete. This is definitely something important that should be considered. 

Yes I teach a number of ancillary techniques that all are meant to help the student master important parts of Kriya in isolation. Some examples of these techniques are Chakra Dhyana, Chakra Energization Technique, Short Breath Kriya, HRV Breathing, BPV Breathing, and more.

I do not take on every student who asks, as each new student is a large commitment on my part. I teach one on one, so any time I dedicate to one person who is not committed is time that could have went to helping another that is. When you teach fully one on one there are a very finite number of active students you can have at any given moment. I ask a few things of a student prior to initiation.

1. That they do not share these techniques with anyone until they are ordained to teach. If a student has a desire to donate their time to teach others some day please make sure that I am aware.
2. I ask that the student keep in touch after initiation. Initiation alone is not enough to learn these techniques. The techniques have a lot of subtleties that need to be unfolded over time. There must be an ongoing discourse and iteration that needs to happen with periodic and regular checking to help the student master the techniques. I think it is impossible for anyone to stumble into practicing Kriya properly without this ongoing line of communication.
3. That the student commit to me as a teacher. Every new student I take on is a large time commitment on my part. I just ask that the student meet me half way and commit fully to their practice, that way my time is not wasted.
4. I ask that my students do not use any form of drugs while practicing Kriya. Kriya does not mix well with drugs, and it can create many mental health issues. So for their own protection I ask students not to use any drugs. I won't disqualify for past use, but from the point they decide they are interested in Kriya it is important that they abstain from any drug use.

The base routine after first initiation takes most people about 30 minutes. If someone is dedicated and wants to learn and maintain all of the advanced techniques, that can go up to multiple hours per day. So it really depends on the students unique need and desire how long the ideal daily practice will be for them. Once again, Lahiri Mahasaya said the techniques taught in first initiation alone are enough. Everything else does help though. It's up to the student how far they go.

I was ordained to teach by both Ashok Singh and Forrest Knutson. You can see that I am listed on Ashok Singh's website under the "Ordained" section here: http://www.vedickriyayoga.org/ordained.html

Currently I am located near Phoenix, AZ.

In the USA see Vedic Kriya Yoga

In India see Raj Yoga Kriya Yoga Mission

Lahiri Mahasaya stated that all can be attained with the first initiation techniques alone. Therefore, no it is not necessary. It helps, but if it is not possible for your physical body it does not mean you cannot get all of the same experiences as someone who can.