Mia Haber

“We call Kundalini the yoga of awareness,” said Mia Haber to Yoga Sleuth and two dozen students packing the 3rd floor studio at Golden Bridge Yoga. We sat in rapt attention as Mia gave a dharma talk to herald our afternoon practice. “This is unlike other forms of yoga because it’s a yoga for this time, now, the information age,” she explained. “It’s not a yoga to go away into the caves with, to never procreate, live or work. This is a ‘householder’ yoga, for a time when the work to elevate the consciousness on this planet is really needed,” she said. Mia explained how we all have obstructions, called samskaras, that are in the subconscious, and they are also in the physical body—“the issues are in the tissues.” And that’s why we do the yoga, she said, “to help release that stuff, so you can be more yourself, and open up into the present reality of peace and loving.” We found our yogic navel point, three fingers below the belly button. “This is the digestive center, where the sense of self comes from,” said Mia, “and it’s why we’re so lost culturally and personally. (Through the practice) we are developing the capacity to act on behalf of the loving consciousness of our hearts. The naval sits below the heart center for a reason. When you claim this naval point by drawing it in, you’ll heal yourself from reacting to other people’s stuff or what’s happening in the world, and you’ll develop the capacity to act on behalf of your truth.” We chanted “Ong, Namo, Guru Dev Namo” then began kapalabhati—a little too rapidly and panicky at first. "It's a breath of fire, not a race to the death!" laughed Mia. She suggested we take it slow and steady, by letting our tongues hang out and literally panting like puppies. Mia then cued us into a full cobra pose. “Make it like your feet are dipped in cement. How much more can you