|
 |
|
|
|
If you walk into a Kundalini yoga classroom, you might not notice much difference between this yoga practice and other classes, at first glance.
Although it is similar to most yoga practices when it comes to movement linking to breath, it is different because it centers on the use of energy and the use of the chakras to guide an individual through the yoga class. |
|
Kundalini Yoga - Body and SpiritThe purpose of Kundalini yoga is to bring about a flow of energy and consciousness to a person, through the chakras with psycho-motor expression or movement. Basically, the chakras are believed to be seven energy centers that start at the top of the head and go all the way to the base of the spine. In the Kundalini practice, it is believed that there is an eighth chakra present, called the aura, which is meant to be strengthened through this particular yoga practice.
While this type of yoga looks physically similar to other yoga practices it is meant to focus on waking the infinite potential energy within an individual by aligning the energy centers. Some have even coined Kundalini the “Yoga of Awareness” suggesting that it allows enhanced intuition and mental clarity.
This type of yoga was introduced to the United States in the late 1960s by Yogi Bhajan, who arrived on the West Coast from India. Although he did not begin the Kundalini practice, he did make it more acceptable to practice, as it was once considered a dangerous yoga practice in India because of the intense spiritual and energetic connections it draws on. Before being introduced to the United States, most Kundalini masters would only pass down this type of practice to students after a long, drawn out initiation process.
Most sources suggest that Yogi Bhajan never practiced openly in India, but instead spent years travelling the Himalayan mountains to obtain information from spiritual advisors and experienced Kundalini yogi masters. After this, he brought the practice to the United States where he began teaching instructors how to bring the energy filled practice to life in the classroom.
Although Kundalini has been around since Yogi Bhajan came to the United States, it is still not a commonly practiced or commercialized form of yoga. Because of its intense union of the spirtual energy fields, this type of yoga is mainly reserved for the advanced yogi or the true believer. It may even be difficult to find a Kundalini class in certain cities, as there are only a limited number of certified instructors available.
It is often necessary for a yoga practicer to take time getting to know the energy centers of the body, plus the basic yoga poses before they begin practicing. It is necessary to know both basic and advanced poses and pranayama breathing in order to take part in a Kundalini class.
|
|
