Kundalani Yoga is an ancient and synergistic form of yoga practiced for centuries in India and the East. It merges the physical, mental and spiritual aspects of yoga into a cohesive and integrated system. Much about this form of yoga was kept secret from the public until Yogi Bhajan founded the Healthy, Happy, Holy Organization (3HO)® in 1969 and introduced Kundalini Yoga to the West.
According to yogic philosophy, there is an untapped energy, called the kundalini, at the base of our spine. This energy can be drawn up through the body to awaken the seven chakras. A person reaches full enlightenment when this energy reaches the Crown Chakra at the top of the head. In Sanskrit, kundalini means “that which is coiled” and kundalini energy is often represented as a snake coiled up at the base of the spine.
All Kundalini Yoga poses are performed using specific breathing techniques that intensify the effects of the poses, freeing energy in the lower back, and allowing the energy to move upward. Kundalini Yoga sequences, or kriyas, may consist of holding a pose while breathing in a particular way or of rapid, repetitive movements done with breath.
A Kundalini class begins with a short chant followed by a warm-up to stretch the spine and improve flexibility. The main work of the class involves a kriya, a proscribed sequence of poses, and pranayama (breath control) that focuses on a specific area of the body. The teacher typically does not make manual adjustments. The class ends with a meditation, which may be accompanied by the teacher playing a large gong, and a closing song.
Kundalini is one of the more spiritual forms of yoga and it is physically intense. Kundalini Yoga appeals to people who want both a physical and mental challenge.