Yogic Flying is a practice said to enhance brain functioning, improve mind-body coordination and develop Enlightenment—peak mental performance.Happiness, energy, silence, freedom, exhilarating bliss: this is what people commonly experience during Yogic Flying.
And afterward, during the day? Greater energy, positivity, dynamism, joy, fulfillment—greater ease and support in getting things done.
Yogic Flying is an extension of the Transcendental Meditation program—and part of the TM-Sidhi program, an advanced TM practice found to enhance the benefits of meditation and further accelerate personal growth.
The Transcendental Meditation technique is a way of diving within to access the limitless field of energy, creativity and intelligence that resides within everyone, and thereby awaken that untapped potential. The TM-Sidhi program, which includes Yogic Flying, further develops one’s ability to think and act spontaneously from more deeply within oneself, leading to greater efficiency and inner happiness in daily life.
How does Yogic Flying work?
The Transcendental Meditation technique allows the mind to settle inward, to its natural state of full dynamism and alertness, an experience known as “pure awareness” or “Transcendental Consciousness.” Yogic Flying is an effortless, enjoyable practice that is performed on this deepest, transcendental level of the mind. The practice involves introducing a specific intention for the body to lift up—not through muscular effort, but from the power of consciousness.
In ordinarily waking consciousness, such an intention typically yields no results—other than strenuous muscular effort. But during Yogic Flying, when the mind is established in its state of expanded potentiality, the state of pure awareness, such an intention impels the body to rise in a different way: the impulse to lift upward originates from deep within one's consciousness and corresponds with a sharp increase of coherence in brain functioning.
During Yogic Flying, the body typically lifts and moves forward in a series of effortless “hops.” Scientific research has found that daily practice of Yogic Flying develops more holistic, integrated brain functioning, improves mind/body coordination and rejuvenates mental and physical health.
EVERY PERSON ON EARTH has the natural ability to turn inward, letting the mind’s activity settle down, to enter the innermost field of consciousness. What does one experience there? An ocean of pure knowledge, power, and bliss—unbounded pure consciousness.
This inner field of life has been known through the ages by many names. Plato referred to it as "The Good," Aristotle as "Being," Plotinus as "The Perfect," and Emerson as "The Oversoul." Various religious traditions know it as "The Light of God within."
In the ancient Vedic tradition, this transcendental field of consciousness is known as Atma. And from this tradition of knowledge, Maharishi has brought to light the simple, natural, effortless techniques for diving within, for transcending the surface thinking level and experiencing the depth of awareness—one’s true Self.
The experience of transcending is a fourth major state of consciousness—beyond waking, dreaming and sleeping. The natural result of transcending twice daily is development of the brain’s untapped potential—growth of enlightenment, higher states of consciousness—the birthright of every human being.
Yogic Flying cultures the ability to think and act from this deepest level, where thoughts are most powerful and awareness most comprehensive.
Video: Maharishi talks about Yogic Flying —
"Unfolding the field of all-possibilities in one's awareness"
How does Yogic Flying affect your brain?
Neuroscientists have found that during Transcendental Meditation practice, brain functioning becomes highly coherent and orderly. (Consciousness and Cognition, 8, 302-318, 1999) Brain researchers have also found that during Yogic Flying, this EEG coherence becomes even more widespread, with maximum coherence at the point when the body lifts off the ground—indicating greater use of the brain’s potential.
This coherent brain functioning carries over into daily activity, bringing many scientifically verified benefits—increased IQ, emotional stability, improved learning ability, moral maturity and much more. Everything good about the brain depends on its coherent and orderly functioning. (Intelligence 29: 419-440, 2001; International Journal of Neuroscience 13: 211–217, 1981; 15: 151–157, 1981; Cognitive Processing, 11:1, 2010)
So it's supposed to benefit the whole society?
When people practice Yogic Flying in groups, scientific research studies have found that a measurable influence of coherence is created—a “field effect”— which neutralizes stress and negativity in the environment. The result: reduced crime, sickness and accident rates, reduced inflation and unemployment, and overall improvements in the economy. Studies have shown that Yogic Flying groups have dramatically reduced international terrorism and open warfare. It's being quietly implemented by the military in various nations for its peacekeeping effects. To learn about the mechanism of Yogic Flying and the scientific research, check out www.permanentpeace.org
Yogic Flying accelerates human development to unprecedented levels. It has resolved social problems that have defied every other attempt at solutions. In a world sorely in need of help, Yogic Flying works—offering immediate practical benefits for the individual and society.
“The world we’ve made as a result of the level of thinking we have done thus far creates problems we cannot solve at the same level of thinking at which we created them. We shall require a substantially new manner of thinking if humankind is to survive.”
— Albert Einstein
Who practices Yogic Flying?
More than 100,000 people around the world have learned this twice-daily practice of Yogic Flying—business executives and homemakers, teachers and students, teenagers and retired people, military personnel and political and religious leaders. Although the practice has its origin in the oldest continuous tradition of knowledge on earth, the ancient Vedic tradition of India, the phenomenon is understood and explained according to the deepest principles of modern science.
Why is it called Yogic Flying?
Yogic Flying is a dynamic form of yoga practice—yoga on the move, meditation in motion. The Yogic Flyer is performing the dynamic, blissful action of “flying” while established in the state of yoga or inner silence.
During the Transcendental Meditation technique, one experiences the state of restful alertness, or the fourth state of consciousness, unlike waking, dreaming or sleep. Numerous scientific studies have shown that this state has its own unique “physiological signature,” or style of physiological functioning, characterized by reduced respiration, increased alpha EEG brainwave coherence, reduction in stress-related biochemicals, and other indicators of deep relaxation. This fourth state of consciousness is known as the state of “yoga.”
Many people think of yoga only as physical postures—which traditionally are only one of the eight “limbs” or aspects of yoga. The Sanskrit word “yoga” actually means “union” and refers to the state of unified awareness, where the gross, active levels of the mind are integrated or united with the deepest, most silent level of the Self. During TM practice and Yogic Flying, one experiences this true state of yoga—the state of total integration or unity of awareness.
Where did Yogic Flying come from?
The TM-Sidhi program, including Yogic Flying, was introduced in 1976 by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, founder of the Transcendental Meditation program. Maharishi revived the theoretical and practical knowledge of “sidhi” practice contained in the ancient text of Vedic Science known as the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali.
More about Yogic Flying
Above text adapted from "The Complete Book of Yogic Flying"
by Dr. Craig Pearson
Yogic Flying and TM-Sidhi are registered trademarks licensed to Maharishi Foundation USA and used under sublicense
