Kundalini is the energy of Life. When it is flowing freely throughout the body, you feel happy. You feel alive and excited about Life. Every person you meet seems beautiful, and every moment feels like a precious gift. You walk around feeling both incredibly powerful and completely humbled. Your heart is full of gratitude, and your radiance touches every person you come into contact with.
The aim of Kundalini Yoga is to get to that state and to be able to live there permanently. Gradually, with time and dedication, the practice of Kundalini Yoga will purify your lower, earthly energies, and awaken your connection with the higher, spiritual energies. You will develop power and firmness, and you will start to experience the deep current of Love that underlies every instant and every molecule of this Life.
Kundalini Yoga is the science of awakening. It is so masterfully designed and so effective, it seems magical. It will make you happier than you ever thought possible, and then it will make you happier still.
"You must make yourself so happy that just by looking at you, others become happy." --Yogi Bhajan
Frequently Asked Questions
What does kundalini yoga consist of and how is it different from other styles of yoga?
When people ask me what kundalini yoga is, I sometimes jokingly answer "it's the weird yoga". And it's true; of all the styles of yoga you find in a typical yoga studio, kundalini is the one that's most different from the others.
In kundalini yoga, most of the exercises are dynamic, with a repetitive, rhythmic movement and/or breath that lasts several minutes, sometimes longer. This is very different from most other styles of yoga, where you go through a long sequence of asanas (postures) and stay in each one just a short while.In kundalini you go more in depth into each exercise to find its rhythm, to experience its energy, and to become aware of the sensations, emotions and thoughts that surface as you go through it. As a result, some exercises can be quite challenging, requiring you to go past the resistances of your mind and to dig deeply within yourself in order to keep going. Where other styles of yoga emphasize becoming calm and finding ease in the postures, kundalini yoga aims to stimulate you, to shake you in your core so that your lower energies (resistance, frustration, anger...) can surface and be purified.
Another specificity of kundalini yoga is that it uses the science of naad (sound) more than any other style of yoga. In class, we chant powerful mantras that elevate and purify us; and the exercises are often accompanied by rhythmical mantra music.
Kundalini yoga class always ends with a meditation, anywhere from 5 to 11 minutes or more. Kundalini meditations are very specific, with mudras (hand positions), eye focus points, breath rhythms, and mantras.
Finally, a major difference between kundalini and other styles of yoga is in the variety of exercises and sequences. Kundalini yoga is made up of thousands of completely different sequences (kriyas); you could take a class every day for years and never do twice the same exercises. Some exercises will remind you of regular yoga asanas; others might seem weird (and fun!). When you come to class, you never know what you're going to get.
All in all, kundalini yoga is a complete spiritual path. It will awaken subtle and powerful energies within you that will gradually open, connect and guide you to your goal, whatever it may be. It is by far the most effective and transformative of all the styles of yoga practiced in a typical yoga studio today. Which isn't to say that other styles of yoga are useless; I myself love and practice Ashtanga-Vinyasa and Anusara yoga and I get many benefits from them. But if it's psycho-spiritual transformation you're after, kundalini yoga will work faster and more deeply than any other, guaranteed.
Where does kundalini yoga come from?
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| Yogi Bhajan |
Until then, these techniques had been preciously guarded, and only transmitted from one master to one disciple. They had never been taught publicly, in a class setting. In fact, when Yogi Bhajan was getting ready to leave India, everyone warned him that if he shared these very esoteric teachings openly, he would be cursed and would die within one year.
Fortunately, he didn't die, and he went on to teach kundalini yoga to his Western students for 30-some years, instructing them to become teachers themselves and to pass the techniques along to others.
In all, Yogi Bhajan transmitted thousands of different kriyas (sequences) and meditations, all different, and all specifically designed to purify the body and gradually, safely awaken the kundalini energy. There are kriyas and meditations for every ailment, every goal, every need you could possibly think of.
Nowadays, kundalini yoga is widespread; you can find teachers and classes all around the world... The one place where it is not so well known, ironically, is in India. What is referred to as kundalini yoga in India is the secret, esoteric techniques that lead to kundalini awakenings and must be therefore be practiced with great care and with a knowledgeable master. It's very different from the dynamic, music-infused group classes of kundalini yoga as taught by Yogi Bhajan.
What is a typical kundalini yoga class like?
Each class has a specific theme or intention, for example: opening the heart; experiencing the joy of being alive; detoxing the liver; releasing anger; overcoming fear; becoming a Warrior; reconnecting with the Sacred Feminine; etc.
We start by centering ourselves, taking some deep breaths and tuning in with the mantra Ong Namo Gurudev Namo, to connect ourselves with the creative power of the Universe and to our own Highest Self.
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We then start our kriya, or sequence of exercises. Sometimes it's a lot of short (1-2 min) exercises, sometimes a smaller number of longer (4-11 min) exercises, sometimes a mix of both. The exercises are usually accompanied by mantra music.
We follow with a meditation, usually for 11 minutes.
We lie down for a deep relaxation (5-11 min) with music to let ourselves integrate the work and receive the healing. We come out of the relaxation with some gentle movements.
We close the class by singing the Longtime Sun song and chanting the mantra Sat Nam.
Students are encouraged to keep their eyes closed during class as much as possible (unless instructed otherwise) in order to stay within themselves.
Who can do kundalini yoga? Can I do kundalini yoga even if I am not flexible/ out of shape/ old/ unhealthy or if I've never practiced yoga before? What if I am pregnant or menstruating?
Kundalini yoga is for everyone. There are no levels; no distinction between beginners and more experienced practitioners. It's appropriate for every age, every ability, every body shape.
The class will be more or less challenging for you depending on what energy blocks you are working through. No-one is expected to be able to do every exercise perfectly. In kundalini yoga as in life, you are only expected to do your best.
In class, you will be encouraged to surpass your limits, to push through the resistance of your mind. Some exercises may feel very uncomfortable; for example, if you are doing an exercise in which your arms are held up above your head for a long time, you might feel pain in the shoulders and a strong desire to bring your arms down. But it's important to distinguish that kind of discomfort, which is really created by the mind, from genuine pain. If it is only your mind whining and wanting to quit, then find a way to go beyond it: focus on your breath; chant the mantra; use the energy of the music to help you keep up. Do everything you can to push through the mental resistance. On the other hand, if you have an injury, or if you feel that the exercise is causing harm to your body, then by all means, stop. Listen to your body first and foremost.
This is especially important if you are menstruating or more than 3 months pregnant. In that case, avoid exercises that put a heavy emphasis on the navel or abdomen (for example, stretch pose and all other abdominal exercises); do long deep breathing instead of Breath of Fire; and don't do any exercises that you feel are not appropriate for you at this time (for example, inversions).
Don't hesitate to ask the teacher before class if you have any questions or concerns.
How do I prepare myself for a kundalini yoga class?
- Wear comfortable clothes that you can move in. Many practionners like to wear white or lighter colors and to cover their heads with a natural fiber cloth or a turban because they feel it amplifies and protects their energy field; but this is not at all mandatory.
- During class, make sure you have removed your socks. Wearing socks during yoga impedes the release of energy from the feet.
- Avoid eating a heavy meal less than two hours before class. Since we do a lot of heavy breathing and navel work, having food in your stomach will cause discomfort. But don't arrive hungry or feeling weak, either, as that will distract you. A light meal or snack an hour before class is fine.
- Bring your yoga mat, a cushion to sit on and a blanket (or you can choose to sit on a folded-up blanket).
- Arrive at least 10 minutes early to class so you can settle in and start to quiet down. Make sure your cellphone/mobile is switched off.