What is kundalini yoga and why?

Kundalini yoga is often referred to as “yoga of awareness”. There is no “perfect pose”. It is the awakening of energy in the body and expanding awareness to our unlimited self. The power kundalini has is the actual experience of it. Kundalini yoga involves mantras, mudras, warm-up sequences, movement, breathing techniques, meditations and relaxation.

It is the science of angles and triangles. Holding your body in different angles corresponds with energy effects. The pressure is created on certain muscles in the body, as the pressure causes the glands and organs to secrete resulting in quick and effective results. Moving the energies up the spine from the lower chakras to the upper chakras and balancing all the chakras (energy centers) in the body. A major part in kundalini yoga is that it balances the glandular system, strengthens the nervous system and enables us to harness energy mentally and physically.

Everything you do in life, every word you speak, every thought you have affects your energy. By raising yourself out of your lower self, you start to see with a different perspective. Yoga helps to discover this.

In daily practice we create the power to listen deeply, improve inner stillness and connect to yourself. We learn to become more aware of our bodies. It helps us to achieve balance, control our thoughts and emotions, and connects the body as a whole system. When you feel good, you do good, no matter what yoga you practice, I encourage you to try whatever you feel called to.

After many years of only practicing hatha and yin yoga, I discovered kundalini yoga. The scoliosis I had, I could only feel so aligned in postures. So, I was finding myself a bit stuck physically and at the time I was living abroad, life was emotionally challenging. I knew I had so much energy and emotion in me that needed to move and be released.

Before I knew about kundalini yoga, I remember putting on some loud music while in warrior pose and just started moving my hands and arms in a dance sequence. I was starting to feel better and knew there had to be something out there to help me, hoping it would be yoga related.

While exploring the Gaia app, I came across a kundalini class taught by Guru Jagat. Kundalini yoga changed my entire yoga practice. I was able to increase my breath capacity, which supported my balancing postures. I felt a new sense of strength and awakening in me. I enjoyed it so much, I wanted to learn more about it.

So, I went and took my kundalini certification through Gloria Lantham online, and later, Rama Institute. Overall, I found myself practicing more kundalini yoga, because I was getting so much more of an experience, but I truly believe that all styles of yoga help us in one way or another as every day is different for our bodies. And when combined, practiced together or separate, yoga is yoga, it’s an ongoing practice, that becomes a school of life on and off the mat. And can be very supportive with what we are going through.

I deeply believe that we are divinely led to certain moments, practices and places in our lives, where we can learn so much, and grow. Yoga practice can increase awareness, create space and stillness, and allow for more presence in our day-to-day lives.

Sat Nam.