Are you interested in modern spirituality? Would you like to activate deep-seated energies and balance your chakras - preferably through yoga? Then you are standing (or sitting) on your mat at Kundalini Yoga .
This style of yoga is about awakening the kundalini energy within you; the aim is to overcome self-imposed limitations and experience a union with the divine. Such goals require regular spiritual practice - but your ambition can pay off. With exercises to purify and strengthen your body and mind, you should clear the way for your deep-seated energy. In addition to physical exercises (asanas), the practice includes mantras and meditations. We will introduce you to the practice and its background in more detail and are looking forward to it: Will you roll out your mat here and awaken your modern spirituality?
Content
2. kundalini yoga - training, basics & techniques
3. kundalini yoga - practice simply explained
4. the effect of Kundalini Yoga
5. is Kundalini Yoga suitable for beginners and everyone in general?
6 What do I need for the practice?
7. your path to deeper consciousness?
What is Kundalini Yoga? Ancient tradition in a modern guise
Kundalini yoga has a tradition dating back thousands of years and originally comes from tantric philosophy, a branch of Indian philosophy. It was brought to the western world from northern India by Yogi Bhajan towards the end of the 1960s. At that time, it was still more of a "yoga insider" - but it is now being practiced in more and more studios here and is also part of everyday life. Why? For many yogis, the practice has a special energetic effect that can trigger a slightly different effect for everyone, from expanded awareness to a great feeling of happiness. What is special about this style is that it is also known as the yoga of energy and the flow of energy in the body.
Did you know? Hatha yoga, which is particularly well-known in the form of Vinyasa or Ashtanga, is also based on the original Kundalini philosophy. So if you have often practiced these styles on the yoga mat, you can gain an even deeper understanding of your practice and the effects of yoga through Kundalini yoga exercises and philosophy. So even if you are a convinced power yogi, Kundalini is definitely worth a detour!
Find your potential, awaken the snake - Kundalini yoga chakras
In order to understand the deep, spiritual background of this type of yoga, we take an excursion into traditional philosophy:
The basic assumption of the Kundalini philosophy is that a great potential of abilities, talents and pure consciousness lies within the human being. This pure consciousness is called Shiva. It is made up of pure being (Sat), pure knowledge (Chit) and bliss (Ananda).
Without movement, Shiva remains passive - it must be activated. This is where the active, creative power within you comes into play:
Shakti. The divine mother who triggers movement, manifestation and change. In a way, she is the consciousness for Shiva and allows it to flow in the right direction.
Back to yoga: the word kundalini means snake power or folded snake. This snake rests within you, in your root chakra (Mhuladara). Think of it as Shakti. Shiva, on the other hand, is in the crown chakra (Sahasrara), your highest center of consciousness.
Through Kundalini practice, Shakti is said to rise to merge with Shiva - the union of consciousness and energy - which leads to enlightenment (Samadhi). When this state is reached, there is no separation, only pure being and bliss. The practice is intended to purify the energy channels in the body so that the energy can gradually flow to the crown chakra.
Kundalini Yoga - Training, basics & techniques
If you have already tried different types of yoga, you know: There is usually a focus. While Power Yoga focuses on physical exercises and Yin Yoga on meditation, Kundalini combines different aspects:
There are fixed series of exercises in Kundalini Yoga called Kriyas. They are practiced dynamically; each asana is held for several minutes. The long hold can create a special energetic effect that you cannot achieve with other styles.
By the way: Traditional practitioners in particular wear white clothing and a turban. You may have noticed this clothing in a yoga studio. The turban is intended to prevent the released energy from flowing out over the crown of the head and being lost.
Elements of Kundalini practice...
The practice combines various elements from styles you may already be familiar with:
- Pranayama - breathing exercises to control the life energy
- Bandhas - locks that prevent the life energy from escaping
- Mudras - hand gestures to awaken and direct energy
- Meditation - Various techniques for clearing the mind
As you can see, the focus here is not directly on fitness, even though asanas are of course practiced. Basically, a session is made up of a set series of breathing exercises, asanas, meditation and mantras. This sequence then results in a kriya.
...and other yoga techniques with a philosophical background
If you want to practise Kundalini not only on the mat, but also philosophically in your life and everyday life, there are other yoga paths to add to your practice:
- Raja Yoga - the discipline for training character
- Karma Yoga - the purification of the heart through selfless service to your neighbor
- Jnana Yoga - the knowledge of the Shiva-Shakti philosophy as the basis of the practice
- Bhakti Yoga - devotion to God and cosmic energy
Kundalini Yoga - practice simply explained
For a practice session, asanas, pranayama, mantras, mudras and meditation are combined to form a kriya:
- Arriving with Kundalini yoga mantra: A session often begins with an attunement for which mantras are recited; this can also be used to set an intention.
- Asanas: A mixture of strengthening and mobilizing postures combined with special breathing techniques.
- Pranayama: Breathing techniques such as fire breathing are used to awaken the energy in the body.
- Kundalini yoga meditation with mudras: These elements are designed to strengthen consciousness and calm the mind.
Kriyas: series of exercises in Kundalini Yoga
The exercise sequences are less creative than in vinyasa yoga, for example. Nevertheless, it doesn't get boring, of course, as there are many different kriyas. Some of them have been around for several hundred years and are said to have particularly cleansing effects. The effect is always directed towards the energy - it is cleansed, awakened, stimulated or felt. The sequences usually have English names, such as Awakening to Your Ten Bodies, Balancing the Aura or Experiencing the Original You. As you can see, the titles already provide a theme, which mantras, meditations and mudras are also based on in practice.
Differences between other types of yoga and Kundalini
First of all, the similarities between Kundalini and Hatha yoga: both styles involve practising asanas and pranayama - with the aim of promoting awareness and physical flexibility. Both styles share effects and benefits, such as reducing stress and promoting inner peace. In hatha, however, the focus is on the asanas, i.e. the physical practice. You will know this if you have already worked up a sweat in one or two Ashtanga sequences or exhausted yourself on the mat in Vinyasa. The body is the tool here to trigger positive effects in the mind.
In Kundalini, the focus is more on spiritual practice, which is made up of asanas, meditation and more. Here you can discover and live your modern spirituality, release inner blockages and gain energetic experiences. You can easily combine both styles to strengthen your body and release your spiritual energy.
The effect of Kundalini Yoga - awakening energy
This type of yoga focuses on spiritual work and energetic transformation. The energy should originate in the root chakra and flow to the crown chakra. Accordingly, the other chakras also play a role. They are all located in the area of the spine, which is why this is worked on during the asanas by twisting, bending backwards and forwards. The internal organs are also partially massaged and stimulated. On a physical level, Kundalini yoga can stimulate the metabolism and digestion and even have a slightly detoxifying effect. The exercises also improve your flexibility in the long term and loosen your muscles and fascia.
On a psychological level, the practice contributes to stress reduction through breathing techniques and meditation. Anxiety and blockages can be reduced and cortisol levels lowered. Mantras and co. can also help to break through negative thought patterns, strengthen your positive self-image and increase your acceptance of others and yourself. The practice can also improve your concentration and provide more mental clarity.
Have you ever heard of spiritual awakening?
If not, then practice and philosophy could offer you a first point of contact with your own spiritual awakening. This is because many practicing yogis report intense spiritual experiences: an expansion of consciousness and feeling the connection between their own consciousness and cosmic energy. Some yogis report enormous feelings of happiness in their Kundalini yoga experiences, others report a special intuition or a new understanding of their own being. The important thing is that in order to feel such processes of consciousness, you should definitely be open to them. Of course, such effects can only occur if you do not close yourself off from spirituality, but are open to new sensations.
On your mat, you can calm down during your practice, slowly refocus on the essentials and simply leave the stresses of everyday life behind you. The more regularly you practise, the more intensely you can feel the effect on yourself off the mat. By combining traditional techniques and modern spirituality, you can draw out the energy deep within you and rediscover yourself.
Is Kundalini Yoga suitable for beginners and everyone in general?
Basically, there are no specific physical requirements for the practice. Many asanas can be adapted with minor modifications so that you can perform them even without great mobility or experience. In most cases, however, the asanas are less physically demanding and not complex, but achieve their effect through the long duration and the inclusion of breathing.
Speaking of breathing: some pranayama techniques are not suitable for everyone. For example, you should not practise fire breathing in Kundalini yoga if you are pregnant; the same applies if you suffer from chronic inflammatory bowel disease or other abdominal restrictions. People with epilepsy and similar illnesses should also not practise this technique. If you are unsure, seek medical advice before practicing.
As a yoga newbie, it is always a good idea to start by practising under the guidance of a teacher in a Kundalini yoga studio near you. There is also Kundalini yoga online - here you will receive professional instruction, but no help or corrective advice on your posture. In a yoga studio, you can practise under attentive guidance and establish your practice at home on the mat in the long term.
Always remember to start your sessions calmly and slowly and use your breath to support you. Let yourself sink into the practice, but always listen to your body and keep an eye on your circulation, especially during techniques such as fire breathing.
What do I need for the practice?
- Comfortable clothing is important for each of the many types of yoga. As already mentioned, particularly traditional practitioners wear white clothing and often a turban. However, this clothing is of course not a requirement - it is more important that you feel comfortable, can let yourself go and that your clothing does not restrict or disturb you.
- A high-quality yoga mat offers you the perfect base for an intensive practice. The yoga mat from Shakti is perfect for Kundalini yoga, as its soft surface and comfortable thickness provide you with a perfect base - the ideal mix of softness and stability.
- You can modify some asanas with yoga blocks or a belt. Some stretches and Kundalini yoga poses become more intense with the use of the belt - or you can use it as an extension of your arms if you don't want to go as deep into the stretch today.
- A meditation cushion offers you a comfortable sitting position even during longer meditations.
Your path to deeper awareness?
Would you like to gain spiritual experience? Do you want to find a way into your inner self and expand your consciousness? Then Kundalini Yoga could be just the right path for you. The intensive practice can take you into the depths of your consciousness and help you to explore and awaken your (Kundalini) energy. During the practice, you bring your mind and body together - and in the best case scenario, you discover your individual inner energy and develop your full potential.