What is Kundalini Yoga
Q & A time cuz if you’ve never herd of Kundalini you might be having some. I know I did when I first was launched into this world. And it was quite by accident too, but that’s a story for another time.
Q: I’ve never heard of kundalini yoga, What is it?
It’s this amazing practice that combines ancient wisdom and powerful technology that can center the human being (think “grounding” but deeper , like for the soul in your physical form). Bringing a new inner balance that is uplifting and relaxing, awakening your true potential. Whoa Mar, that sounds super deep. Really its not that complicated.
It’s a practice that challenges the mind and body not because poses are complicated, in-fact it’s quite the opposite, most often you are seated in an easy pose. In kundalini we focus on breathing, sound currents and our minds focus. I think it’s especially helpful for anyone who has ever uttered “I just can’t meditate” because it’s the easy button hack into a meditative state.
The term “Kundalini” it self means a spiritual energy or life force located at the base of the spine. To practice Kundalini yoga you are arousing the movement of that energy up through the 6 chakras, and penetrating the 7th chakra, or crown.
Who can kundalini be good for?
Everyone! Seriously, every human that has lungs and a glandular system can benefit from this practice. You engage your diaphragm to help your lungs breathe more fully and naturally which then calms our overburdened nervous systems. Its beneficial for young and old, wounded and healed.
If it’s so great why haven’t I heard of this before?
Everything comes to you when it’s meant to. Trust divine timing. In truth, you probably have heard of some of the techniques used before but its called something else (Whim Hoff Breathing) and you probably have even engaged with some of the Kyrias before but it was under the umbrella “Yoga.” Perhaps your psyche wasn’t ready to receive kundalini or maybe you haven’t been lucky enough to know a skilled practitioner before.
Do I need to be flexible?
Physically no. Having an open mind is the best form of flexibility anyway. Kundalini is accessible to beginners. It is less about physical capabilites and more about internal, energetic, and mental shifts.
What are the chants about? What do they mean?
Chanting or rather repeating Mantras is a big part of Kundalini is one of the major differences to all other yoga practices and it is one of the most powerful components. When we speak, we are not only exhaling oxygen but we engage our vocal cords making sound currents/frequencies. If you are a person that prays, you know that words carry extreme power. Speaking various groups of sounds set to a rhythm induces deep relaxation, reduces stress, and boosts mental clarity by slowing the heart rate, synchronizing brain waves, and activating the vagus nerve [s]. Chanting vibrates the roof of the mouth, which stimulates meridian points in the hypothalamus and midbrain, encouraging a state of bliss. It can transform mental states by replacing negative thoughts with positive vibrations, fostering emotional healing, and building a sense of connection, spiritual focus, or communal unity.
Does it feel funny? Mostly at first and especially if you have an Air element in your birth chart. I know I was very hesitant to it. I didn’t really know the words I was trying to say (seeing them written really helped me). My teacher explained what they mean and I would focus more on the meaning than than the words I was trying to say. Did I say them wrong ? heck yeah and I’m sure I still do sometimes. Whats more important is your intention behind them, the feeling you have when saying them.
Sat Nam - is something you will hear/say a lot. It means truth is my form, truth is my identity. It’s a greeting, it’s a mantra, it is what we are. Often this is used as a greeting or a closing. And it’s a mantra that can be thought about with your breathing; inhale SAT, exhale NAM
Ong Namo Guru Dev Namo - aka Adi Mantra - This is chanted 3 times at the beginning of each Kundalini Practice. Its said once this chant is done all else is meaningless because it is what alines the student with the golden chain of divine wisdom. It means "I bow to the creative wisdom, I bow to the divine teacher within." It calms the mind, unifies the class and connects one with their higher self. The significance of three times is for alinment our Past, Present and Future.
Aad Guray Nameh, Jugaad Guray Nameh, Sat Guray Nameh, Siri Guru Devay Nameh - A protection mantra meaning "I bow to the primal wisdom, I bow to the wisdom true through the ages, I bow to the true wisdom, I bow to the great unseen wisdom". Its chanted 3 times also at the beginning of most Kundalini classes and it is used to invoke the protective energy of the Universe. It can be done in one breath or one breath for each phrase. Using it or chanting it is like a sign of humility, showing a willingness to bow your head for something greater than you. You open yourself to receive the teachings not with your head, but with your heart and thus bypass the ego.
Ra Ma Da Sa - "Ra" (Sun), "Ma" (Moon), "Da" (Earth), "Sa" (Infinity), "Sa Say So Hung" (I am Thou). This is often used as a healing chant.
Sa Ta Na Ma - Sa (Infinity), Ta (Life), Na (Death/Transformation), and Ma (Rebirth). This one is popular and chanted in Kirtan Kriya, a foundational Kundalini Yoga mantra and meditation used to reduce stress, improve mental clarity, and promote emotional balance. It represents the cycle of life and involves chanting while pressing specific fingertips together to stimulate brain energy. Sa: Thumb to index finger (Knowledge/Jupiter), Ta: Thumb to middle finger (Wisdom/Saturn), Na: Thumb to ring finger (Vitality/Sun), Ma: Thumb to pinky finger (Communication/Mercury).
Ek Ong Kar Sat Nam Siri Wahe Guru (aka The Long Ek Ong Kar): One of my favorite and most effective mantas used for universal connection and awakening.
Wahe Guru: Means "Ecstasy through Divine Wisdom," often used to elevate the spirit and shift energy from fear to love.
What language is this and is this some sorta religion cult thing?
Gurmukhi. It’s roots are ancient Indian traditions, then recorded in Sanskrit. The specific mantras used in Kundalini practice frequently come from the Punjabi dialect and Gurmukhi script. Kundalini yoga as a school of yoga is influenced by Shaktism and Tantra schools of Hinduism[s].
This is also not a cult though many spirtual practices have their cult followers. It is without religion. This is a practice that uses techniques to strengthen the body and calm the mind, and it is suitable for people of any or no faith. If you have a body, you can benefit from this practice,
Have a question I haven’t answered, please comment and lets chat about this
