What is Kundalini Yoga?
In this article, you’ll discover what is Kundalini Yoga, its origins, its masters, its benefits, and much more. Find out if Kundalini Yoga is for you.
6 years later, I still remember this troubling episode… That afternoon, when I arrived a little earlier at the studio where I usually practice hatha yoga, I saw a strange scene…
The students of the previous class, sitting in lotus on the floor, make hand movements from front to back, as if they were throwing something over their shoulder.
The teacher, dressed entirely in white and wearing a turban on her head, sings a mantra as melodious as it is hypnotic. A strong, indescribable energy emanates from the room.
I am fascinated…
When it’s time for my class, disturbed, I can’t resist asking my teacher for explanations… What are the students in the next room doing?
That’s how I first heard about Kundalini yoga.
WHAT IS KUNDALINI YOGA?
Etymologically, yoga means union, and kundalini means consciousness.
Kundalini is called the “yoga of consciousness”, or “original yoga” because it is at the essence of all the forms of yoga that have emerged over time. Kundalini yoga alone brings together all the techniques present in the other forms of yoga. It is a rich, complete art, a supreme technology to awaken consciousness and lead us to our original Self. It can be said to be the fastest way to establish a link between body, mind and soul.
In this article, I return to the origins of Kundalini Yoga, its founder, the techniques used, the benefits.
Also, I will give you an overview of a typical class and you will finally discover if this style of yoga can suit you.
Let’s get started!
What is the origin of Kundalini Yoga?
“The Power of Kundalini Yoga lies in the actual experience.
It goes right into your heart and extends your consciousness so you may have a wider horizon of grace and knowing the truth.
In the end you understand that you are in connection with the Universe” – Yogi Bhajan.
Yoga kuṇḍalini is listed among the 22 schools of yoga.
It belongs to the Indian tradition and belongs to the group of upanishad yoga.
It has also been called rāja yoga (even if nowadays this term refers to another yogic school), because it was originally reserved for the nobility, the elite (from the Sanskrit root rāj for “king”, “royal”), it was seen as the “royal way” to the blossoming of consciousness.
In the Indian yogic tradition, kuṇḍalini yoga is considered a powerful practice to achieve the extinction of the cycle of successive existences (saṃsāra).
Kuṇḍalini yoga is associated with the most experienced sidhas (or sâdhus), and taught in a confidential manner.
Kuṇḍalinī yoga was introduced in Europe through Carl Gustav Jung during his lectures on the subject in 1932 at the Psychological Club of Zurich (Switzerland), when the discipline was still totally unknown in the West (C.G. Jung, S. Shamdasani, ed.: The Psychology of Kundalini Yoga: Notes of the Seminar Given in 1932).
However, this discovery remained purely theoretical and did not give rise to any practice of Kundalini Yoga.
After centuries of secret transmission from carefully selected masters to disciples, Kundalini Yoga was introduced to the Western world by a master of Indian origin, Yogi Bhajan, who decided to bring it to the public and to all people, believing that it was high time that these techniques were made available to as many people as possible.
Keep reading…
Who is Yogi Bhajan?
“Don’t love me, love my teachings. Become ten times greater than me” – Yogi Bhajan.
If you drink yogi tea, you must have seen his picture on the packaging!
Originally from Punjab and a Kundalini Yoga Master since the age of 16, Yogi Bhajan moved to California in 1969 and taught yoga primarily to hippies to get them off drugs.
He created the Organization Healthy, Happy, Holy (3HO), a foundation which aims to harmonize beings on the physical, mental and spiritual levels, thanks to the age-old technique of Kundalini Yoga (SuperHealth program, founded in 1973, which earned him recognition from the American Senate – The Library of Congress – Honoring the life and contribution of Yogi Bhajan).
He spread his teaching throughout the world for 35 years, with the aim of training teachers…
What is kundalini?
“It is when the energy of the glandular system combines with the nervous system to become more sensitive so that the whole brain receives the signals and interprets them” – Yogi Bhajan
In fact, the kundalini is a latent energy that is found in each of us and that slumbers like a snake coiled in our first chakra at the sacrum level.
It is also called Shakti and represents the feminine principle of universal energy.
This powerful energy, once awakened, would bring a kind of Awakening, a connection to our Higher Self.
It is a state of consciousness that is lived and manifested with continuous spiritual practice and yoga exercises that increase the pranic level in the navel center, while remaining in devotion to others.
The postures and techniques used for Kundalini Yoga
“There are 84 yoga postures, and everyone, whether Western or Eastern, has done them all in the womb during gestation. So you are yogis anyway” – Yogi Bhajan.
Kundalini yoga is an emanation of more than 8.4 million kriyas, each resembling a piece of music, a perfect sequence of energy, tones and feelings played with the body’s instrument.
This style of Yoga consists of body postures (asanas), breathing techniques (pranayama), visualizations, and the use of closures (bandha and mudra).
It also integrates relaxation as well as a very wide range of meditations, sacred chants (mantras).
- Asanas: static or dynamic body postures.
- Bandhas or closures: very precise muscular contractions used to channel energy (prâna and apâna).
- Pranayama techniques: fire breathing (which is specific to this yoga), yogic breathing, dynamic breathing, controlled breathing, but also apana in full or empty lungs.
- Mantras: They are the creative projection of the mind through sound, a form of energy that has a predictable structure, power and effect on the chakras and the human psyche.
- Mudras: The position of the hands that guides or seals the flow of energy and reflexes to the brain.
What are the benefits of Kundalini Yoga?
“One kriya of kundalini yoga will take you through all the steps of movement, breathing, concentration and connection. At that moment when your energy is high, reach out like a lotus open to the Inner Sun.” – Yogi Bhajan
Kundalini yoga opens paths to change and healing that seem to go beyond limits and blockages.
It harnesses the practical energy of breath, body and mind.
Each kriya is developed to stimulate and release the energy in the body and chakras and will thus facilitate fulfillment on all planes of Being:
- On the physical level: improves flexibility, tones, stimulates and strengthens certain body systems (lymphatic, blood, hormonal, immune, glandular, endocrine, brain functions), promotes resistance to disease.
- At the psychological and emotional level: helps to release and control negative emotions and energies, stress management, helps to take a step back from difficulties, soothes the mind, purifies the subconscious, helps to refocus, to find inner peace, improves creativity and self-confidence.
- At the energetic level: stimulation of the chakras, stimulation and transformation of energy to higher levels.
- At the spiritual level: connection and alignment with the highest consciousness of Being.
Wanna know more? 👉 In this article we explain the difference between Kundalini Yoga and Kriya Yoga, check it out!
How does a Kundalini yoga class work?
“Each kriya is a perfect jewel that acts to create a flow”. – Yoga Bhajan
In general, a Kundalini yoga class lasts about an hour and a half and goes like this:
- Awareness of the breath.
- Chanting the opening mantra “NGO NAMO GURU DEV NAMO” 3 times, (I salute the creative energy, the divine wisdom).
- Warm-up (if kriya is in progress).
- A kriya: sequence of postures or asanas.
- Relaxation.
- A silent meditation, or with a chanting mantra.
- We close the class by chanting 3 times the mantra “SATNAM” (Truth is my Identity).
Who is Kundalini Yoga for?
“Kundalini yoga is the yoga of consciousness. There is no human being who does not have an innate aptitude for consciousness. Some people have greater blocks to this, others less. With some people, it will take time to unblock the blockages, and with others it will be quick. That’s the only difference, a matter of time!” – Yogi Bhajan.
There are no prerequisites to practice kundalini yoga. There is no level and it is for everyone.
It’s a complete yoga, both gentle and powerful, and it meets everyone’s expectations perfectly.
Can Kundalini Yoga be dangerous?
Is a knife dangerous? It all depends on how you use it!
The same goes for the practice of Kundalini Yoga.
There are many myths about awakening Kundalini…
But Kundalini Yoga is first of all a way of life, as Yogi Bhajan’s doctrine: Happy, Holy, Healthy. On such a path, one must first and foremost practice RESPECT and LISTENING.
With that in mind, one will sometimes be confronted with one’s physical and psychic limits, and this is quite normal.
But, it is not a question of going beyond these limits (strength), or staying within them (weakness), but of marrying them (union).
It is up to the practitioner to apply his free will, to get rid of his dualistic tendencies, and to adapt the practice to his possibilities.
This is why it is important to choose a teacher who guides us towards this kind of attitude.
The teacher may not be suitable. In this case, we should question the teacher, not the yoga.
Finally, the student must understand that kundalini energy awakens at his own pace.
Therefore, it should not be rushed or it will have effects that we will not be able to control and that will lead us to discomfort.
For more information on Kundalini Yoga, and to find a class near you, you can read about it on the website of 3HO (association founded by Yogi Bhajan) located in the United States.
Read also:
- 7 highly sought-after questions about Kundalini yoga (Answered!)
- How to Awaken Kundalini Energy Safely (The Ultimate Guide)
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