These kriyas(a set of actions towards a specific goal) are custom-assembled from an assortment of asana, pranayama, bandha and mudra - with a specific intention. The kriya may have come from an Aha Moment, a spontaneous stumble-upon, a thought-through process, etc. They're not in the books - it's my own. Sometimes, I assemble a set of different kriyas for a complete yoga class sequence.
Igniting the Fire Within This kriya focuses on the Manipuraka chakra, seat of the Jathara Agni - the metabolic fire. It combines L-Sit, Lolasana, Vajrasana, Kapalbhati, Mandukasana, and Bhramari (bee sound) to achieve this.
Sequence: Do the head-to-foot stretches...always before starting any yoga practice. You can even do a Surya Namaskar to warm up the entire body or just squeeze this kriya within a full yoga sequence.
*** first 3 steps are advanced and optional. You can simply start on Step 4, 'while in Vajrasana')
Pachimotanasana - sit in Pachimotanasana (seated, legs straight and together, body upright and not bending forward, hands by the sides lightly pressing down on the mat)
L-Sit - inhale fully and engage Maha bandha mudra(all 3 bandhas) and press both hands firmly against the mat to lift the body up and transition to Lolasana
L - Sit
Lolasana - hold as long as possible. This is a challenging ABS contraction. Exhale into Vajrasana
Lolasana
Vajrasana - while in Vajrasana, inhale fully (chest, side rib cage, belly, upper back), engage Maha bandha for only 2 seconds (no need to hold longer than that for this exercise). On the exhale, release bandhas, and chant Bhramari slowly (bee sound) until empty
Vajrasana
Kapalbhati - inhale fully and then half exhale. Do Kapalbhati until POF(point-of-failure). Empty lungs on the last exhale.
Mandukasana - on empty lungs, engage Maha bandha mudra(all 3 bandhas), do the Mushtika mudra, get the knuckles to lightly touch each other by the navel (the belly is sucked-in). While still holding breath, gently bend forward so belly presses against the fists (if your lower rib cage presses on your fist or wrists, lower down your fists). Stay there as long as you can while holding the breath and engaging the bandhas.
Uddiyana Bandha with the Mushtika mudra
Mandukasana, holding the breath in Maha Bandha while closed fists are tucked in the belly
Maha bandha / Brahmari - release the bandhas, slowly inhale as you begin to come up. Wth full lungs, engage Mula bandha and Jalandhara bandha for only 2 seconds (no need to hold longer than that for this exercise), release bandhas, on the exhale, chant Bhramari slowly (bee sound) until empty.
Maha Bandha - do Maha Bandha with 1:4:2:3 ratio using Ujjayi breathing (not Nadi Shodhana because it takes resources to keep tabs on which nostril to breathe to). Again, POF.
Bhramari chanting - to wind down, still the mind and relax the body, do Bhramari chanting until POF.
Because you had been doing some sections until POF, you are probably exhausted or winded by now (prolonged breath-holds with full bandha can get you winded).
You're done!
Ending Thoughts The benefit of increasing the internal fire is heightened metabolism, kundalini awakening, activation of the Manipuraka chakra, fortification of the body and mind, and increasing the inherent power that lies within.
People who have activated their Manipuraka chakra are able to use their increased powers to control people and their environment - they are the Jeff Bezos and Elon Musks of the world. They are powerful who can shake and move things around but may not yet be spiritual. The most notorious people who committed the most heinous crimes in humanity (Hitler, Bush, Pol Pot, etc.) are those with activated Manipura chakra but dormant spirituality.
(July 9, 2023) From a deadend career with no way out, I found a new niche in Web Design back in 2000 when the World Wide Web was ushered into the mainstream. I thrived. But so much has happened since - crypto-currency, blockchain, AI, Internet-of-Things, podcasting, etc. So much fortune was made. Now, 23 years later, I look back and somehow feel that I was left behind...perhaps by choice...more »»
(July 12-29, 2023) I read this book in high school and I didn't really appreciate it at that time. Perhaps now is the time. Steve Jobs said that this is the one book he would recommend if he can only recommend one book.....more »»
More on Lazi:
Lazi Local Info
Resorts - Lazi has some beach/dive resorts on its west coast - Gabayan Riviera, Lazi Beach Club, Bahura Dive Resort. However, the popular area for tourist resorts are in San Juan
Transport - Lazi is the junction where the jeeps begin their clockwise route (Lazi-San Juan-Siquijor Port) or the counter clockwise route (Lazi-Maria-Larena Port). Because the jeeps are rare with about 2 to 3 trips/day only in the morning, it's practical to just have a motorcycle here in Siquijor. With its affordability (a brand new Rusi motorbike is as low as P45k), people just buy motorcycles...especially those who live up in the mountains.
The Boulevard - Lazi's main draw is its seaside cobblestone promenade. When the sun goes down, people gather here for eats, drinks, open-air, harbor view and the sunset
Lazi Port - Kho Shipping, the shipping line operating from Lazi Port, has stopped its service to Cagayan de Oro, Iligan, Dumaguete, Tagbilaran and Cebu. Passengers can go to Siquijor Port or Larena Port for boat services out of Siquijor Island
More on Siquijor Island:
Siquijor Island Local Info
Jeeps - there are only 2 routes for jeeps within Siquijor Island - and they are rare. Most people have their own motorcycle transport.
Siquijor Port to Lazi - last trip leaves at 3pm from station near market
Lazi to Siquijor Port - jeeps depart from the Lazi Port area. 5 jeeps, the last trip at 12:30 pm. Lazi to San Juan, P50.
Larena Port to Lazi - jeeps are unpredictable. As of this writing, there is only 1 jeep plying the Larena-Lazi route. This jeep leaves Larena for Lazi at 9:50am. After that, no more jeep. You'll have to take a tricycle to Siquijor Pob for jeeps going to Lazi
Lazi to Larena Port - 6am (daily) and 9 am (M-Th)
Food - these were suggested by a local to me
Lechon manok & liempo - roasted pork belly and chicken at Joel's in Siquijor Poblacion. I've tried this myself...yummy, even if the chicken was no longer hot
Bibingka - sweetened rice cake by Fidy's Bibingka (P30) in Sawang, Maria. I've come back for this and I buy for other people as well as 'pasalubong' - they love this
Siopao - at the Rosita store near Thrifty (P25) in Siquijor Poblacion
Peanut butter - by Rene. Just ask around in Siquijor Poblacion. It's popular
Torta - sweet cakish bread at the Thrifty story in Siquijor Poblacion
Siquijor Island Map Siquijor - Dumaguete Boat Trips(as of Jan 2023)
Montenegro Lines - at Siquijor Port, P234.00/pax, P169/bicycle, 7:30am/10:00am/2:00pm/4:30pm
Aleson Shipping - at Siquijor Port, 6 am and 6 pm daily, 1:30 pm M-Sat, Regular P200.00/pax, Aircon P250.00/pax
Siquijor - Tagbilaran - Cebu City Boat Trips(as of Jan 2023)
En route to Cebu City, the ferries usually make a stop-over to Tagbilaran (Bohol) to pick-up more passengers or unload.
Ocean Jet - 8:20 am, at Siquijor Port To Tagbilaran: P800/tourist & open air, 2 hours (arrive 10:20 am), P1200/business class To Cebu(Pier 1): P1600/tourist & open air, 4 hours (arrive 12:40 am), P2400/business class
Lite Ferries - at Larena Port, no Senior Citizen discount for online ticket purchase To Tagbilaran: T-Th-Sun, 3 hours, depart 7 pm - arrive 10 pm, P475/standard (Tourist, PHP 750) To Cebu: T-Th-Sun, 10 hours, depart 7 pm - arrive 5 am, PHP 605/standard (Senior P484), Tourist, PHP 770
Apekoptravel - at Larena Port to Tagbilaran: 1:00 pm, xxx hours, P750
Reserve through call or text: Cleare - 0938 283 4760 | Grace - 0936 534 6564 | Jessel - 0961 759 6711,
Pay via G-Cash: +63-917-880-1464, Email: momovillageadventure@gmail.com,
Facebook messenger: Apekoptravel. Enter your birthday and nationality to get discounts:
0 to 3 years old free,
4 to 9 years old will have 20% discount,
10 years old and above full price,
Filipino Senior Citizens will also have 20% discount
Siquijor - Plaridel Boat Trips(as of Jan 2023)
Lite Ferries - at Larena Port, T-Th-Sun, 2:00 am, 5 hours, PHP?
Siquijor - Cebu (Liloan) - Cebu City BUS Trip(as of Jan 2023)
There is only one bus plying this route - Sugbo Urban. Tourist class coach, a/c, comfortable, Sun-Fri (these dates keep changing). P420 for bus, P275 for ferry to Liloan. Larena Port around 5 am, makes a clockwise roundtrip around Siquijor Island - Larena, Enrique Villanueva, Maria, Lazi (stops at Lazi market for breakfast and leaves 6:50 am), San Juan, Siquijor (arrives 8am, P50 from Lazi to Siquijor Poblacion) and catches the 1pm ferry at Larena Port (Sundays at 3 pm) for Liloan, Cebu and resumes its land route. Arrives Cebu City (South Bus Terminal) 10 pm.
Sugbo Urban is the cheapest and most convenient way because it goes around the island (clockwise) along the circumferential road, passing through - Enrique Villanueva, Maria, Lazi, San Juan, Siquijor...and back to Larena where it takes the ferry at 1 pm. This saves you the hassle and high transport cost of a tricycle. Besides, it's a long trip from the other side of the island to be taking by tricycle.
Suggested Destinations After Siquijor Island
These are the nearest popular destinations from Siquijor by boat
Bohol - Bohol is an island northeast Siquijor. Tourist attractions are Chocolate Hills, Tarsier Monkey, Loboc River Cruise, Beaches of Panglao, whale sharks (recent offering), freediving (recent offering)
Cebu - Cebu City is the usual gateway into the Visayas. But in Cebu Island itself, there are many offerings - Whale Sharks of Oslob, sardine run at Moalboal,Thresher Shark of Malapascua
Dapitan (Zamboanga del Norte) - I haven't been there but a lot of island ferries ply this port. There must be something here.
Dumaguete - Dumaguete is a small charming progressive coastal town in Negros Oriental. Cafe and restaurants line the famous Boulevard Boardwalk. Tourist attractions include Japanese Shrine, Casaroro Falls, snorkeling along the southern coastline (Dauin, Masaplod Norte, etc), Balinsasayao Twin Lakes