Kundalini is one of the more spiritually focused styles of yoga and is all about waking up the creative and intuitive energy that lies at the base of your spine.
As well as leading to a greater connection to self and spirituality, Kundalini yoga is also wonderful for spinal health, stress reduction, and a great love of self.
In this article, we will learn about the benefits of Kundalini yoga, what it is, when to practice, and how to practice. We’ll also be sharing a few of our favorite poses and online classes so that you can get started today!
Kundalini Yoga Definition
Kundalini yoga is based on Kundalini. Kundalini is the name of divine feminine energy thought to be located at the base of the spine in the Muladhara (root) chakra.
Kundalini itself means ‘coiled snake’ – the purpose of Kundalini yoga is to uncoil the snake so that the energy can move up through the spine and lead us to expand our consciousness.
We are each born with the life-force energy of Kundalini. It is the source of our creativity, spirituality, and divine feminine energy.
The purpose of Kundalini yoga, and moving Kundalini energy up through the chakras, is to activate the energy so that we can live in greater alignment. Ultimately, it’s hoped that one day, through the practice of Kundalini yoga, we’ll achieve a Kundalini awakening – a particularly powerful and spiritual awakening.
The study and understanding of Kundalini can be dated back to 1000 BC. Yogi Bhajan brought Kundalini yoga to the US in 1968 and made the practice and knowledge of Kundalini accessible to people in the west.
Benefits of Kundalini Yoga
As with any yoga practice, there are some general and some more specific benefits to practicing Kundalini yoga. Here are just a few of the benefits that you may experience from practicing Kundalini yoga regularly:
Less stress and anxiety
Practicing yoga is a great way to bring your body and mind into the present moment and away from the stresses of daily life.
Better cognitive function
Research has suggested that practicing Kundalini yoga regularly can improve memory.
Healthier spine
Because Kundalini yoga is focused on moving the spine and building core strength, regular practice can lead to greater spinal alignment and less back pain.
Greater love of self
Yoga gives you time to focus your mind on being more comfortable in your own skin. By listening to your body as you move through yoga practice and watching your thoughts instead of getting attached to them you learn to be more compassionate and loving towards yourself.
Increased mindfulness
Mindfulness is all about being in the present moment, and practicing yoga is one of the best ways to get there. Committing to an hour-long yoga class is a great way to honor both your body and your mind and spend some time in the now.
A greater connection to your intuition – inspiration
The divine feminine energy of Kundalini is all about creativity and developing a greater connection to spirituality. By practicing Kundalini yoga, you’ll be opening up a channel to connect to your intuition and might find that you find inspiring solutions to problems that you’ve, up until now, been unable to solve.
Greater purpose
Practicing Kundalini yoga will help you to become more aware of your thoughts and where your energy feels stagnant. As a result, you’ll be able to move forward with a greater purpose and understanding of yourself.
When to Practice Kundalini Yoga
Although any student can benefit from Kundalini yoga or Kundalini meditation, it’s particularly suited to those seeking a greater connection to themselves and their spiritual purpose.
Kundalini Yoga Poses
Kundalini yoga poses include:
Seated cat-cow pose
Start by sitting on your mat in a cross-legged position. Bring your hands to your knees and inhale as you come into a cow position – pushing the chest and belly forwards as you draw your elbows behind you. As you exhale, round your spine – all the way from your tailbone to the top of your head – to come into cat pose. Continue moving with your breath for a few rounds. You can speed up the movement by speeding up your breath.
Breath of fire
Sit on your mat in a cross-legged position with a straight spine and one hand on your belly. Inhale through your nose to expand your belly, then forcefully exhale through your nose as you suck your navel in towards your spine. Focus on short and sharp exhales so that your inhales become passive.
You can practice this form of pranayama (controlled breathing) to increase your energy.
To practice breath of fire (sometimes called ego eradicator), lift your arms out to the sides and towards the sky with your hands in a thumbs-up position. Then begin your breath of fire practice.
Shoulder twist
Sit on your mat in a cross-legged position and bend your elbows to bring your fingertips to your shoulders. Inhale as you turn to the left, and exhale as your turn to the right. Allow your head to follow the movement of your spine and increase the speed of the twist by making your inhales and exhales short and sharp.
How to Practice Kundalini Yoga
You can start practicing kundalini yoga by picking a couple of the exercises that we’ve described above. But as a beginner, it can be tough to get started in your kundalini yoga practice alone.
Why not get started with a couple of the poses that we outlined above or follow a YouTube video? We’ve shared a few of our favorites in the next section.
Start Kundalini Yoga at Home
Check out these follow-along videos if you can’t make it to a yoga studio or want to try Kundalini yoga out at home.
Kundalini Yoga in the Morning (For Women)
Easy Kundalini Yoga Practice for Beginners
“Raising Kundalini Energy” Full Kundalini Yoga Practice Class with Salimah
Kundalini Yoga FAQs
How do you practice Kundalini yoga?
If you’re a beginner, your best option is to start practicing Kundalini yoga by following an in-person or online class. Make sure that you’re wearing comfortable clothes and have a comfortable place to sit – a yoga mat is best. Once you’re familiar with the practice, you might like to select a few poses to awaken the spine and finish with mantra meditation.
What religion is Kundalini yoga?
Kundalini yoga is derived from Shaktism and Hinduism. It focuses on using mantras, mudras, and asanas to awaken the divine feminine Kundalini energy that is located at the base of the spine.
Is Kundalini yoga good exercise?
Although working out isn’t the goal of Kundalini yoga, it involves several movements that can be beneficial for the health of your body, particularly the spine. The focus of Kundalini yoga is to activate your spiritual energy – you’ll get the most benefits out of the practice when you approach it with this desire.
Important: Check with your doctor before trying Kundalini Yoga for the first time if you have any injury, illness, pain, or are pregnant.