Kundalini Yoga - The Yoga of Awareness
Kundalini Yoga is a combination of movement, breath (pranayama), meditation, and chanting. Its goal is not only to make the body stronger and more energetic but also to increase your level of self-awareness and consciousness.
The Kundalini is untapped energy, coiled at the base of the spine. This energy can be drawn up through the body, awakening each of the seven chakras. Full enlightenment occurs when this energy reaches the crown chakra at the top of the head.
While some people practice yoga solely for physical exercise, Kundalini Yoga is more of a spiritual practice. It is meant to quiet your mind while, at the same time, opening your chakras so your energy can freely flow throughout your body.
Life is filled with vibrant energy—everything and everyone we interact with is energy. Kundalini Yoga, which awakens you to the power of internal energy, led us to an expansive spiritual awakening within that touched every aspect of our lives. We’re now on a mission to share this ancient yoga practice with others.
In order to guide people in living this high vibrational lifestyle, it’s imperative to understand what Kundalini is, what it does to your mind, body, and soul, and why it works.
Throughout our lifetimes, we’ll all face triumphs, wins, hardships, and challenges. Kundalini guides us in reacting to the ups and downs from a more neutral headspace. This ancient healing practice was the first yoga ever created, and its technologies have been scientifically proven to activate specific parts of your brain that increase awareness and generate more balanced control. Through breath, specific movements, and timing, this practice works to increase the nervous system on a cellular level and increase your energetic awareness.
What are the health benefits?
There are a lot of reasons why people choose to practice Kundalini—like its effect on both your physical and psychological well-being. Below are some of the most popular health benefits of Kundalini, including a faster metabolism, better mood, and lowered stress levels.
1. Builds strength
Because you hold each posture for an extended period of time (sometimes up to five minutes!), Kundalini yoga is a great way to strengthen and tone your muscles. Some of the more intense breathing techniques—like Breath of Fire—can also build core strength, as you have to engage your abdominal muscles with each exhale.
2. Improves your mood
That “high” you get after a sweaty yoga class is a real thing—research has found that regularly practicing Kundalini yoga increases the production of serotonin (the happy hormone) in your brain.
3. Lowers your blood pressure and heart rate
Studies have repeatedly shown that Kundalini yoga—specifically the deep breathing techniques used during it—can decrease the risk of hypertension. Long, slow breaths calm your autonomic nervous system and reduce stress, thus lowering both your blood pressure and pulse rate.
4. Enhances your memory and focus
According to research, Kundalini yoga can impact cognitive functioning, boosting both your concentration and memory. Even the Alzheimer’s Research and Prevention Foundation recommends a Kundalini kriya for improving memory retention.
5. Boosts your metabolism and digestive system
Through the combination of breath and postures, Kundalini yoga is focused on strengthening your core and diaphragm. This in turn improves your digestion and has been shown by researchers to speed up metabolism (meaning your body processes energy more efficiently).
The bottom line.
While anyone can practice Kundalini (unless you have a pre-existing medical condition, of course), this particular style of yoga is especially good for people who are looking for a spiritual practice as much as they’re looking for a physical workout.
Kundalini yoga is an intense practice, but both its physical and mental benefits make it a great option for beginners and advanced yogis alike. There's a reason the practice has seen a meteoric rise—from die-hard yoga practitioners to celebrities alike.
