Kundalini Yoga – A favorite among many Hollywood celebrities like Russell Brand, and former supermodel Gisele Bundchen, Kundalini yoga has gained quite a following in recent years. This ancient yogic technique mainly focuses on breathing and asana practice. The Kundalini yoga style also includes chanting, meditation, and singing. You should enroll in a Yoga Alliance school to learn everything about this yoga style.
Kundalini yoga first came to the west during the 1970s and was introduced by Yogi Bhajan. This yoga style is a combination of deep breathing, body movement, and sound. The word comes from the Sanskrit word Kundal which means coiled energy. The main idea behind Kundalini yoga is to unlock the dormant energy lying at the base of your spine using the seven chakras.
Do you know the Kundalini Yoga offers you numerous health benefits?
Given below are eight benefits of Kundalini yoga.
Do you know that Kundalini yoga strengthens your nervous system? Whether you are doing Downward Dog or Plank Pose, your whole body shakes yet you experience no fear. This is because the nerves of your nervous system are getting stronger, which helps you remain cool under pressure. In other words, whether it is a presentation or family drama, you are ready for anything.
With so much stress and anxiety in your daily life, it becomes hard to rid your mind of the cobwebs of thoughts and feelings. Kundalini yoga clears this fogginess from your mind with rapid breathing and numerous other techniques. In the long run, your mind becomes clear and you feel more alert, focused, and develop the capacity to make sound decisions.
One of the major Kundalini Yoga benefits is it opens up the heart chakra, which is the fourth chakra according to Kundalini yoga. You become calm and do not panic if things are not going your way. Moreover, you become open to trusting the Supreme being. In other words, the world does not end if you are not able to go shopping or eat that burger as you develop an attitude of acceptance and embracing every stage of life.
Regular practice of Kundalini yoga activates the third yoga chakra, which is the Solar Plexus located at the navel point. This helps develop heat in the area and improves your digestion. You also develop the willpower to let go of situations and people which do you more harm than good.
You normally think and do more than you can visualize and imagine. The Alternate breathing in Kundalini yoga through your nostrils balances the right and left hemispheres of your brain. In short, Kundalini activates your inner creativity by helping you let go of unnecessary worries. This opens up the endless possibilities that life has to offer.
Another impressive Kundalini yoga benefits is it activates your fifth chakra, which is the throat center. You become more compassionate, forgiving, and non-judgmental towards others and kindness becomes your second nature. In the long run, you do not become a part of unnecessary arguments but rather believe in expressing yourself with gentleness.
Unfortunately, all of us are guilty of living in our heads which only causes us to overthink every decision taken before or the one we are about to take. We also have a gut feeling which we often ignore most of the time. Kundalini yoga activates this gut feeling and helps you quieten the mind.
Every style of yoga whether it is Hatha or Vinyasa yoga makes us a better human being. Kundalini yoga also does the same. You become aware of harmful lifestyle decisions like alcohol and meat consumption, smoking, and drugs. It helps you develop awareness to protect the environment and not harm any living being for consumption or any other purpose.
With so much to offer, you must practice the right Kundalini yoga poses.
In Kundalini yoga, your breath, eye gaze, mantras, yoga poses, and mudras play an important role. This helps you form a deeper connection with the higher consciousness and together these all are known as Kundalini kriyas or poses. Given below is a detailed explanation of each of these elements.
Kriyas refer to a set of body postures, movement or breathing pattern which helps your mind and body achieve the desired outcome.
Pranayama, also known as conscious breathing helps connect your mind, body, and spirit. Different Kundalini yoga Pranayama techniques have different effects in combination with body movements.
Yoga gaze, also known as Yoga Drishti is when you set your eyes on a particular object which helps deepen your focus and mental awareness.
The mantras help you incorporate sound therapy within your body and mind during the Kundalini yoga practice.
Asanas in Kundalini yoga refer to repetitive movements to help release tension from your body and transfer the energy to strengthen, stretch, and release all stress.
Lastly, the Yoga Mudras are hand gestures you make a part of your practice. These are energy centers located in your hands and fingers.
With that said, let us check out the three best Kundalini yoga poses you can include in your daily schedule.
An effective and detoxifying Pranayama technique that heats your body as you inhale and exhale through the nose. This detoxifies your body, oxygenates the blood, and also strengthens your Solar Plexus chakra.
Remember, due to the detoxifying nature of this Kundalini yoga technique you might experience a little dizziness. You can take care of this by drinking a glass of water afterward.
Steps To Breath Of Fire
A stiff spine interrupts the smooth flow of the spinal fluid. This activates the aging process and restricts the capabilities of your digestive system.
Steps To Spinal Flexes
A great Kundalini yoga poses you should practice for developing mobility in the cervical spine is the Shoulder Twist. This releases tension and stiffness from your neck, upper back, and shoulders. Moreover, the breath recharges your lungs and generates immense energy throughout your body.
Steps To Shoulder Twist
However, for you to experience the full benefits of Kundalini yoga, you should enroll in the Kundalini yoga teacher training to learn this special art in detail.
With that said, given below are some important guidelines to help you practice Kundalini yoga with complete safety.
Given below are the parameters with the guidelines to help you practice Kundalini yoga without any risk.
Avoid eating anything at least 2 to 3 hours before going to a Kundalini yoga session. You would feel a lot of discomfort when doing Kundalini yoga on a full stomach.
This style of yoga relies on Pranayama since every Kundalini technique works with a specific Pranayama technique. Unless instructed specifically, Pranayama is done through the nose only.
Always do a proper warm-up before starting any of the Kundalini Yoga poses as each of these is quite challenging and hard for your body and mind. You should pay attention to spinal warm-ups which help activate the Kundalini energy.
The best time to practice Kundalini yoga is during the early morning as it is a time when the spiritual energy is present in its highest form.
To start the practice of Kundalini yoga, you must sit in a neat and clean space. The most important thing is it has to be well ventilated.
Although you can use a little bit of inspirational music, yet music should never be used especially when doing meditation in Kundalini yoga.
Do not ever try to do the Kundalini yoga style under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Remember, you will activate the most powerful force within yourself and that is not something you want to do on a height.
Also Read: 500 Hour Yoga Teacher Training
Conclusion
Do you want to awaken the divine energy within? Enroll in Kundalini yoga school to learn the secret to unlocking the dormant serpent energy.