Yoga Styles: Kundalini Yoga

By Shakta Khalsa

People who do yoga, or have at least some understanding of yoga, are curious about Kundalini Yoga.  In the past, the Kundalini energy has been referred to as “serpent power” and other exotic sounding terms, but Kundalini Yoga, as taught by my teacher, Yogi Bhajan, is much more simple and close to home than you might think.

Kundalini comes from the root word, kundal, in Sanskrit, which means “the lock of the hair from the beloved.”  The uncoiling of this “hair” is the awakening of the kundalini, the unlimited potential that already exists in every human.

Yoga is the science of the self, and kundalini is the awakening of the self.  It is that simple.

A unique and distinctive yoga form that encompasses elements that are found in all other forms of yoga, Kundalini yoga is sometimes called the “mother yoga.”   Here are a few of the ways that Kundalini yoga shares paths with other traditions of yoga.

  • Links movement with rhythmic breath patterns.
  • Has an introspective quality of listening to the body and releasing emotions, as well as     drawing on inspiration, such holding a pose with fearlessness, etc.
  • Incorporates chanting and singing as yogic technology.
  • Is directly focused on moving the energy through the chakras (your body’s energy centers)
  • Encompasses the eight limbs and all seven branches of yoga.
  • Includes pranayama (breathing) techniques and uses the bandhas (body locks).
  • In addition to yoga and meditation, Kundalini Yoga incorporates teachings for all aspects of life; for example, vegetarian diet, serving others, and yogic life skills such as conscious parenting and partnering.

Often people are afraid to try yoga, and no wonder. Yoga magazines and books are filled with images of rubber-bodied yogis in acrobatic twists, or muscular body-builders in perfect handstands.  Unfortunately this portrayal of yoga can scare folks away, but fortunately, yoga, and especially Kundalini Yoga, is not really like the “macho yoga” image.  Kundalini Yoga meets you where you are, and takes you to your potential.  In fact, I always say that if you can breathe and move your body, you can do Kundalini Yoga.  Strong, rhythmic breathing coupled with fluid movements is one of the strong foundations of Kundalini Yoga.

So what does a Kundalini Yoga class look like?  First we tune in using a centering technique to call upon our inner guidance.  The tune is for Kundalini Yoga is: Ong Namo, Guru Dev Namo, repeated three times, one per each deep breath.  Translated, it means; “I salute the Divine guidance within me and all around me.”

Then we warm-up and stretch out our bodies using movement and strong breathing.  Each Kundalini Yoga class is unique, but each will contain a “set” of postures and exercises that work on specific areas of the body, mind, and spirit.  There are literally hundreds of these yoga sets, or Kriyas,  to choose from: yoga for your back, your radiance, your mind/heart balance, your ability to keep up through hard times, in short, for every aspect of you as a human being.

After the yoga set, a Kundalini Yoga class will culminate with a deep relaxation, supported and uplifted by divine music, and often times, the sound of the gong.  After the restful period, most Kundalini Yoga classes end with breath or mantra meditation--the icing on the cake, so to speak.

Shakta Khalsa is one of the world’s leading experts on children and yoga, having worked with both since the mid-1970s. She is a trained yoga professional at the highest level (ERYT-500) and is an AMS certified Montessori teacher since 1982. Shakta is the author of five well-known yoga books, including the classic Fly Like A Butterfly: Yoga for Children, and Yoga for Women.

Shakta’s two great loves--children and yoga-- are the basis for her life work: Radiant Child® Yoga, an international training program for teaching children yoga and working with/raising children consciously. Visit her site at:  www.childrensyoga.com