Hi Oli:
There are as many ways to do these practices as there are teachers and practitioners out there. AYP attempts to present the simplest and most effective methods in each category of practice, sticking with the underlying principles, while at the same time allowing some flexibility. For some discussion on principles and practices, see lesson #204 at
http://www.aypsite.com/plus/204.htmlSome of the things you are suggesting are, in fact, part of other teachings, and diverging pretty far from the simple practices of AYP. I can't cover every variation (I'd be here writing forever!
![[:)]](http://www.aypsite.com/plus-forum/Smileys/akyhne/icon_smile.gif "Smile")
), but can offer a few basic perspectives that I hope will be helpful.
In spinal breathing, the sushumna (spinal nerve) is the "master controller" of energy unfoldment and balance in the entire nervous system. It is not necessary from the AYP perspective to spiral out into the territory of ida and pingala, as these are opened automatically while opening the sushumna. This expansion (the swirling) is not something we have to supervise or worry about. It will happen in due course when ecstatic conductivity comes up. At times, ida and pingala may become very quiet. At other times, very lively. It depends what mode we are in at any given time.
There is much more involved in this process than spinal breathing alone. Particularly important is deep meditation, which is often down-played or even missing completely in the kriya lines of teaching in favor of a singular focus on pranayama.
In AYP, correct use of the mantra in deep meditation is the means by which the sushumna opening is expedited, and everything else along with it. Cultivating inner silence in deep meditation is the first practice we do in AYP, before we even consider working directly with the inner energies. That is why I suggest taking the AYP lessons in order. If we work with the energies first, without deep meditation, there can be that drying up of enthusiastic desire for the divine (bhakti) and clarity (focus). These positive traits are characteristics of rising inner silence, which pranayama alone does not provide for. Man (and woman) does not live by energy alone. It is consciousness that we are, and it is consciousness expanding from within that we need as the foundation of our practice. That is the job of deep meditation.
I do not recommend that we walk around during the day trying to be aware of sushumna, mantra or anything else related to sitting practices. Once we have done our practices, we should go out and engage fully in life's activities. That is the best way to stabilize what we have gained in our sitting practices. As our inner silence, ecstatic energies and increasing flow of love and compassion are coming up, we will find plenty to put our attention on in daily activity along the lines of helping others and doing good in the world. As we engage in the world in accordance with our rising spiritual awareness, that becomes the part of our practice that is action for the benefit of others, or karma yoga.
Well, that is the AYP perspective on what you described. I hope you find it helpful.
The guru is in you.
