Kundalini yoga is a spiritual and physical yoga practice, releasing the full potential of the practitioner. This form of yoga has been practiced in the east since ancient times and was brought to the west by Yogi Bhajan in the late 1960s. The Kundalini Research Institute promotes the teaching of kundalini yoga in the tradition of Yogi Bhajan.
Kundalini is untapped energy that is located at the base of the spine. According to ancient tradition, kundalini is represented as a coiled snake. The practice of kundalini yoga is said to awaken this energy and move it up through the body, and awakening each of the seven chakras to the crown chakra, which is located at the crown of the head.
The sequences in a kundalini yoga class use asana and breathing to free this energy and move it through the upper body. There is less modification of the poses, compared to Iyengar yoga. For beginning students, the time in the difficult postures is limited and the student is instructed to perform the poses as best they can, or a particular pose can be skipped and the breathing and mantra are done alone.
Sequences vary and include both repetitive asanas in a quick paced vinyasa type flow and sequences in which poses are held for a longer amount of time. In these asanas, the teacher gives instruction for the breath.
In addition to asanas, kundalini yoga uses meditation and the chanting of mantras. These are designed to enhance the spiritual practice and assist in moving the kundalini through the upper body, awakening the chakras. Instruction on breath, meditation and chanting is given by the instructor, or guru.
Classes can vary, but some common elements exist among kundalini yoga classes. The class will begin with a warm up to warm the body, increase flexibility and stretch the muscles and spine. After the warm up, a sequence of poses is used.
Kundalini yoga is one of the more intense forms of yoga. The practice is intense both physically and spiritually. The sequences are more intense than in hatha yoga or beginners vinyasa classes.
Instructors of kundalini yoga classes are trained and certified to use Yogi Bhajan’s method of teaching yoga. While there are books and DVDs on kundalini yoga, most students take a class with a yoga guru. Because this is a spiritual, as well as physical yoga practice, most people agree a guru is needed to assist the student in advancing in her practice.