My body is a temple.

CHAPTER 1

Before You Begin

If any thing is sacred the human body is sacred.

L Walt Whitman
 THE BODY TEMPLE: Kundalini Yoga for Body Acceptance, Eating Disorders, and Radical Self-Love

Many of you reading this book do not have an eating disorder, but some of you
may. If you are in a severe active state of any eating disorder, at risk of self-harm,
or a danger to yourself, please seek professional help. Throw this book into your
bag on your way out the door, but it is imperative that if you are in crisis, you
seek treatment now. Eating disorders are life-threatening, and there is nothing
more precious than you, even if you dont realize it yet. The teachings and tools
within this book are not meant to replace professional medical treatment; they
are intended to support a meditative, spiritual journey that will support you
in the long haul. Recovery from any addiction, including eating disorders, is a
marathon, not a sprint. For some, these tools may be all you need to carve out a
path to self-love and healing; for others they will be a key supplement.

If you think you arent ready for help or dont want it, hear this: You Deserve
to Be Happy. Read that again, because it is entirely true that you deserve a
feeling-good life in a feeling-good body. You deserve to grow, to thrive, and to
live your destiny. Your story may include an eating disorder or negative body
image, but you are so much more than this one chapter. You can heal. You can
emerge through this critical and challenging time and flower into the fullness
of your heart. I know this to be true because it happened for me. I remember
feeling that there was nothing past the cycle of binge and purge and restriction
and self-punishment that I had been stuck in for years, that there was no way
forward in life without it. I was very wrong. There is a whole world on the other
side of recovery; and for me, I have to treat recovery like a close friend. We keep
in touch. I dont just mean recovery from an eating disorder. I mean recovery
from feeling uncomfortable in my own body, recovery from negative thoughts
about my body and myself, and recovery from thinking that my body has to
meet some ideal in order for my life to be good. I have to watch my thoughts
every day, and stay vigilant in my self-love and self-care.

I actively use the teachings of Kundalini Yoga and Meditation to remind myself
of my self-worth and to restore my spirit so that I dont fall back into unhealthy
habits and patterns. To get here, in this healed and happy state, I did a lot of
work, and I continue working. The majority of that work was Kundalini Yoga as
taught by Yogi Bhajan including lots of meditation and mantra. I also relied on
psychotherapy, especially in the early stages of recovery. But in the end, I found
that I couldnt count on anyone or anything outside of myself to heal. Only I could
love myself, and only I could use the power of self-love to change my life. Only I
could put the tools and techniques included in this book to use.

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 CHAPTER 1 | Before You Begin

Some of what you read here might seem strange or different, especially
if you havent practiced Kundalini Yoga before. Some of the language in the
meanings of the mantras might make you uncomfortable if you dont have a
spiritual practice, but the truth is you do not have to believe in God for any of
this to heal or to help. The only thing you have to believe in is yourself.

Let me say this: I believe you can heal, too. Whether you have an eating
disorder or not, if you have ever had an unkind thought about yourself or your
body, I am holding the space for you to thrive. With every word in this book,
I hope to reach out across time and space and give you a hug. I know how it
feels to have an eating disorder, but I also know how it feels to recover. I know
what its like to hate my body and punish it, and I know what its like to love
my body and adore it. Standing in the light feels so much better than keeping
yourself trapped in the darkness.

Take my hand, open this book, and begin a journey to Feeling Good Again.
The path of Kundalini Yoga has secrets to teach you, not the least of which is
this: You are destined to shine.

With all my love, courage, and faith in you,

Ramdesh Kaur

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 CHAPTER 8 | Kriyas

Dancing Your Way to Joy

Sometimes the best thing we can do for ourselves is also the kindest and
gentlest. Dancing and allowing the body to release stored tension and trauma
can be a wonderful way to speed up recovery from an eating disorder or create
a strong practice of self-love. For many people who struggle with self-love,
being present in their bodies is the last thing they want to do. But this gentle
movement relaxation makes the body a peaceful place. It allows our spirits to
feel safe in our bodies again. In order to maintain a long-term relationship of
kindness with ourselves and our bodies, we have to be able to stay present,
feel good, and be at peace. It is one of my absolute favorite kriyas to teach in
groups, especially with people who need to learn to love themselves again
after experiencing trauma and abuse, or people who have been told they are
ugly, worthless, or unlovable and have come to believe it. Its an incredibly
freeing opportunity to redefine your relationship to your body and change the
narrative of your self-worth.

Kriya: Movement Relaxation Series

Originally taught by Yogi Bhajan: August 22, 1986

This gentle dancing series gives you the chance to relax

into your body and make peace with it. Call a truce, shut your
eyes, and allow yourself to feel beautiful. This kriya releases
the stored emotional trauma that we keep in our bodies, that
build up and can turn to mental imbalances.

1 Stand up and close your eyes. Relax your arms.

Become aware of your body and all of its parts. Feel
any tension that is in your body and consciously let
it go. Begin to sway and dance. Allow every part of
your body to move. Dance gracefully, letting the
movement reach every part of your body. Play
high vibrational music in the background and let
your heart dance along with your body. Suggested
practice is 3-11 minutes. This strengthens your heart
and circulatory systems.

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 THE BODY TEMPLE: Kundalini Yoga for Body Acceptance, Eating Disorders, and Radical Self-Love

Ramdeshs Insight: 2 Remain standing and with your eyes closed,

Do not allow yourself begin to move your hands over your body,
to become shy or touching every single part. 3-5 minutes.
shameful. With the
gentle touch of a 3 Lean forward from your waist and drop your
divine lover, touch arms and hands down toward the ground.
every square inch of Hang forward and allow all your muscles to
your body the way relax. Breathe normally. 3-11 minutes.
you always should
have been touched.
Energetically place
adoration and love into
every part of your body
as you touch it. You may
feel energy buzzing
from your palms; this
practice smoothes the
energy of the aura.

4 Inhale and exhale deeply several times, then

Ramdeshs Insight: slowly bring yourself up straight and lean
Feel stress and pain back and hang backward. Your arms should
draining out of your spine, hang loosely at your sides. Breathe normally.
down your hands, and 1 minute.
into the earth.
5 Now come lying onto your back and
completely relax for 10 minutes.
Ramdeshs Insight:
You may choose to
listen to mantra or a
guided visualization
or relaxation.

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