The 'other' mantra we chant often before we start our practice is called the Mangala Charan Mantra, and I absolutely love the meaning of it. Mangala means 'feet' and Charan means 'happy'. This mantra gives you happy feet; you walk in joy when you surround yourself with this sacred vibration. You will know it as
Aad Gurey Nameh, Jugaad Gurey Nameh, Sat Gurey Nameh,
Siri Guru Dev-ey Nameh
Less time is spent explaining this mantra in class but it's a gem in its own right. It means
I bow to the Primal Wisdom.
I bow to the Wisdom through the Ages.
I bow to the True Wisdom.
I bow to the great, unseen Wisdom
It is a mantra for protection. When we chant these powerful, sacred words, we recognise the ultimate Truth - that the wisdom of the ages guides us, is ever-present and therefore everything is taken care of. And through this recognition, conscious or otherwise, we relax into the natural strength of simply being, and our aura expands, protecting and shielding us.
Yogi Bhajan recommended that we chant it before any kind of travel. We often chant it before practice. I chant it mentally before I dive, and you can use it whenever you feel you need a little extra protection around you - ahead of a big meeting, a confrontation that needs to be had, a challenging sports event, anything. Enjoy - and let it enable you to walk through life with happy feet. :-)
If you are interested in learning more about the sacred technology of Kundalini Yoga or how it applies to freediving, join me at this year's Kundalini Awakening Teacher Training or via my online Yoga for Freediving training programme. Or join us for one of our live freediving events, or private coaching in Dahab or around the world.