The What, When & How of Sadhana

Sadhana is a word you will hear a lot in Kundalini Yoga. It is one of the key aspects of the practice, and is no small accomplishment to establish. Yet once you develop your personal sadhana you’ll wonder how you got through the days without it!

What is Sadhana?

“Sadhana” is a Sanskrit word meaning “daily spiritual discipline” or “spiritual practice.” It is when you set aside time each day to practice techniques that contribute to your spiritual journey, such as yoga, meditation, journaling or reading spiritual books. Sadhana does not have to be any specific kind of practice, it just refers to any practice you are doing daily for your own wellbeing and spiritual growth. It is a conscious decision to let go of the world around you and connect within yourself. It is a discipline of the mind and body to serve the soul.

When is Sadhana practiced?

The simple answer is… anytime! When you choose to do your personal Sadhana is up to you. It can be practiced at anytime of the day or night, whether it’s as soon as you wake up or just before bed. However, it is best to commit to a routine of the same time each day, the natural rhythm of consistency making it easier to stick to.

In Kundalini Yoga sadhana tends to be recommended in the mornings. Practicing before sunrise is beneficial because the angle of the sun to the Earth is very good for meditation. There is also more prana in the early hours and activating the body during sunrise supports the physical cleaning of the body during the rest of the day. Though challenges may arise when attempting a morning sadhana (we’re all familiar with that snooze button!), by committing to this daily discipline you will build your willpower, confidence and ability to concentrate. As you tune your mental and physical rhythms together at the beginning of the day, your entire day will flow better! It’s no small accomplishment to commit to a morning sadhana, but its well worth it once you start to reap the many benefits.

How do you practice Sadhana?

In Kundalini Yoga a sadhana usually consists of a kriya to tune up the physical body and align you energy, before entering into a meditation to settle the mind and connect to your soul. To begin a sadhana practice you can choose any class from the class library and commit to it for 40 days. Be aware that resistance will come up and you will find yourself making excuses for why you cannot do your sadhana, this is completely normal and is part of the practice! Developing strong commitment and discipline will lead you further on your path of discovering your unlimited potential.

The key things to remember when starting your own sadhana…

Little and often is better than nothing at all. Commit to a class length that you can easily fit into your daily routine. 30 minutes is only 2% of your day!
Start with a sadhana series. These series are designed to work on a particular aspect of your life, whether that’s health, abundance, energy or happiness. Choose a series that resonates with you and commit to a daily practice for 11 days!
Choose a practice that you enjoy and commit to it for 40 days. Committing to the same practice daily takes the hassle out of finding a new class and offers you the opportunity to dive deep as you settle into the repetition.
Stick to the same time each day to do your sadhana. This makes it easy to book into your schedule and take the decision making away each day.
Do not expect perfection. If you miss a day don’t be deterred, just keep on going the next day. Consistency is the goal, not perfection!