What is Kundalini Yoga?

When I tell people I’m trained in Kundalini yoga I’m often greeted with a blank stare. So what is kundalini? Kundalini comes from the Sanskrit root word “kundal” and means “the lock of the hair from the beloved.” I know this isn’t helping much. Wait, there is more. The uncoiling of this “hair” is the awakening of the kundalini, which is the unlimited potential that already exists in every human (Khalsa, 2001).

The kundalini resides in the spine and is a refined energy. You may not be able to see it, but if you practice kundalini yoga you will definitely feel it. Kundalini emphasizes moving energy through the chakra system, stimulating the energy in the lower chakra centers, and moving it to the higher centers.

What does a Kundalini yoga class entail?

Class starts with a tune-in mantra “Ong Namo, Guru Dev Namo.” This mantra means “I call on the infinite creative consciousness. I call on the divine teacher within and without.” Next warm-ups are done to prepare the body and the spine for the kriya (yoga set) that is to follow. The kriya is a group of exercises that work toward a particular outcome.  Relaxation in corpse pose follows the kriya. The class ends with a meditation.

Kundalini, like other styles of yoga such as ashtanga, aerial yoga and bikram depend on individual preference. But you’ll never know your preferences if you don’t break out of your comfort zone and try new things. So what are you waiting for? Find a 3HO (Happy, Healthy, Holy Organization) and take a kundalini class, you may like it.

Reference

Khalsa, S. (2001) Keep It Simple Series Guide to Yoga. New York, NY: DK Publishing, Inc