“There is something more in Kundalini Yoga than the exercises you do. It is the flow of energy, it is the power, it is the excellence.” — YOGI BHAJAN
So, what exactly is Kundalini yoga?
It wasn’t until we first read about Miranda Kerr taking her then boyfriend Orlando Bloom to an early morning class in Hollywood that our ears really started to prick up about Kundalini yoga.
Fast-forward to the now and it is universally recognised as being a therapeutic and hugely beneficial practice for millions of people around the globe.
Sometimes referred to as the “yoga of awareness”, Kundalini is thought to be the oldest of all traditional forms of yoga. It’s a spiritual practice as well as physical one – all tied together with the goal of creating maximum energy and unleashing your full potential.
What happens during a Kundalini yoga class?
Just like Hatha or Vinyasa, Kundalini practice includes pranayama (breathwork), asana (posture), mantra (sounds vibrations), and meditation, but the focus is consistently on energy flow and correcting any imbalances in the chakras. A lot of focus is spent on the Third Eye Chakra, to bring awareness to the mind.
Teachers follow a kriya (a series of poses) as taught by the Master Yogi Bhajan (1929-2004). Each class you attend is likely to consists of a different kriya, designed for a specific purpose. This could be to open the heart, forget about the past or fight off illness.
Very often in Kundalini practice, final relaxation is followed by the sound of a gong played by the teacher.
Is Kundalini yoga for me?
In this modern era of stress, over-stimulation and anxiety, we are constantly in search of ways to calm our mind, switch off from societal pressures and gain some mental clarity.
If engaged in the right way, Kundalini practice can help to achieve all of these things, as well as unlocking a whole lot more…
A Kundalini yoga class is something for any person, of any age, to enjoy, providing they are searching for a spiritual practice, rather than solely a practice for fitness. Although there are elements of physical exertion in this Kundalini, the main benefits are for the mind.
What should I hope to gain from practising Kundalini?
The practice works directly with the glandular system to strengthen the nervous and immune system.
Known to be an effective tool in alleviating depression, aiding addiction recovery and helping with anxiety, Kundalini is an alternative therapy or a complimentary therapy to use alongside prescribed medication. It can also help to ease the pressures of daily life and help to gain a greater sense of balance and perspective.
Even a small practice of regular Kundalini yoga (ten minutes a day) should help to create greater calm, increased relaxation, and a deeper satisfaction with relationships, work, and day-to-day life.
Here at Go Yoga Harrogate, we regularly run Kundalini and Gong Bath workshops. Check out our schedule to find a class to suit you.