Kundalini

One of the most recently introduced types of yoga in the West, the actual origin of Kundalini yoga is quite ancient in nature. It was in the yar 1969 that Yogi Bhajan found the 3HO (which is more popularly known as the Healthy, Happy, Holy Organization). The purpose of establishing this organization on part of Yogi Bhajan was to introduce the system of Kundalini yoga to a broader range of population. Although it has an ancient origin, Kundalini yoga was not taught to the public until very recently. It was only the last half of the previous century, which witnessed the spread of knowledge and guidelines about this particular branch of yoga to the general public. This spread of Kundalini yoga amongst the masses was purely because of Yogi Bhajan whose opinion revolved around the principle that the benefits that Kundalini yoga provides should be open to the general public to enjoy as well. In the literal sense of the word, Kundalini is taken in the interpretation of ‘untapped energy’ (also known as prana), which is present at the base of the human spine. This energy could be drawn upwards the body with the help of the awakening of the seven chakras. The peak of enlightenment takes place when this energy reaches the Crown Chakra. The general representation of Kundalini energy is often in the form of a snake, which is coiled at the bottom of the human spine. The Kundalini yoga sequence of poses (which are also referred to as asanas) is known as ‘kriya’. Each and every sequence of the Kundalini yoga poses is done in collaboration with a specific breath, which strengthens the impact of the Kundalini yoga poses. The purpose of breathing Kundalini yoga poses is to free the energy in the bottom part of the spine and allow it to move upward the body. In order to learn Kundalini yoga, one has to get the coordination of the breathing and the sequence of poses right.

Nowadays there are a great many institutions, which provide Kundalini yoga teacher training. Some of these institutes teach other types of yoga, while some others are exclusively Kundalini yoga centers. The last half of the twentieth century saw the growing popularity of Kundalini yoga. As a result, there was a huge demand of Kundalini yoga teachers and instructors, which was catered by these institutions. Besides these institutions, there are many Kundalini yoga dvds and other forms of Kundalini yoga videos, which provide guidelines on teacher training for Kundalini yoga. In addition to teacher training videos, there are also videos for people who want to learn Kundalini yoga. The demonstration of these free Kundalini yoga exercises includes a warm-up, whose main purpose is to stretch the spine and enhance the level of flexibility. Other than the warm-up exercise, there would also be a sequence of poses (which are also known as kriyas), each of which focuses on a specific part of the body. While performing these poses, meditation follows simultaneously with the help of yoga chants. Kundalini yoga works very effectively in terms of weight loss. Basically the Kundalini yoga weight loss is not just about losing weight but it also works every effectively on the energy and metabolic front. It helps you in increasing your lung capacity, enhance the performance of the circulatory system and increases the temperature of the inner body, which results in burning up and eliminating toxins, dead gases and waste products. In addition to that, Kundalini yoga also forms the basis for another type of yoga namely the Sahaja yoga. This type of yoga is a pure meditation process, which is based on the kundalini awakening principle of self realization. Basically Kundalini awakening inspires Sahaja yoga, which is committed to meditation.

All in all, Kundalini yoga, although consisting of different physical poses, it goes beyond the physical performance of those postures and instead more strongly emphasizes on the spiritual healing (which also includes the goal of the union of mind and body) that is achieved through meditation.