Sufi grinding is one of my favourite exercises. When I circle my spine I feel my entire upper body open up, stretch, relax and release tension. All of my internal organs get a great massage (it's great if you're a bit constipated!) and the deep breathing totally cleanses and refreshes my system. Three minutes is all it takes for a total mental, emotional and energetic re-set! It's incredible.
But why is it called Sufi Grinding? To be honest, I'm not sure; Yogi Bhajan came to the West in 1969 bringing the sacred technology of Kundalini Yoga to a public audience for the very first time (it wasn't even taught in India!). Kundalini Yoga has its roots deeply entwined with those of Sikhism, which in turn recognises all faiths and teachings of Universal truth, including Sufism. The Siri Guru Granth Sahib, the holy book of the Sikhs, recognised by Sikhs as the last guru, mentions great teachers throughout the ages, including Jesus, Mohamed and great Sufi teachers such as Shams of Tabriz and Rumi.
Rumi's tomb in Konya, Turkey
And of course you may recognise the circling motion of this exercise in the spinning of the Sufis, who spin in their devotional dance, one hand reaching to the heavens, one pointing down to earth, creating a spinning vortex of energy that connects heaven with earth. We humans are that connection; depending on how we think, live and love here on earth we are the manifestation of either heaven - or hell.
I invite you to sit, sufi grind, and reflect on the great teachings of love and inner purification, and what you are manifesting through your life here on earth. Sat nam.
If you want to discover more about the technology of Kundalini Yoga, join my classes here in Dahab or to dive really deep, we welcome everyone to the Kundalini Awakening Teacher Training here on Sinai. Sat nam