Kundalini Yoga

Kundalini yoga marries a number of different yoga practices including breathing exercises, meditation, mantras, mudras, and different asanas and kriyas with the ultimate goal of unleashing the kundalini energy laying dormant at the Muladhara and pulling it up through our sushumna to the sahasrara chakra to reach full benefits.

The key to opening up one’s kundalini energy is through pranayama, which is a method of pulling in energy through the act of controlled breathing.

The most powerful method of breath control is kumbhaka or breath retention exercises. There is a lot more to it than just holding one’s breath though. There is a specific amount of time one needs to dedicate to each step of inhalation, exhalation, and breath retention. One needs to train and practice to have the correct ratio.

Kundalini yoga is an intensive practice that utilizes many aspects of yoga and involves many years of dedicated practice to even reach a moderate level of its true benefits. This is not to say that one can’t find anything beneficial from only casual practice though.

One of the most exalted benefits of Kundalini yoga is the unravelling of the serpent power in our spine and bringing this energy up through our chakras, with the ultimate goal of bringing it to sahasrara, the highest chakra at the crown of our head. When this happens, it is described as a very blissful state known as samadhi. When this happens, people are claimed to be able to let go of their ego and achieve their true self.

Once one reaches this point, they can move their consciousness through the different planes connected to each chakra. This is not something that happens to all practitioners. In fact, it is quite rare. Some yogi scholars believe that there are other, more effective ways to reach samadhi. Some even think that it is not enough in itself to reach this highest plane of consciousness, but that does not negate this yoga’s power.

Some people may be unable to handle this level of spiritual awakening, and thus it can be dangerous in some cases. It is recommended that kundalini yoga should be done only with the guidance of a master.

Breath control is not always a safe practice. Extreme use of breath control can be harmful to one’s health, so it is encouraged to only practice with the help of an experienced yogi. Even so, it is a very difficult practice.

In addition to the energy goals, the aforementioned abdominal exercises can also strengthen the abs, increase libido, improve digestion and metabolism, and massage the internal organs such as the liver, kidney, pancreas, and spleen. Numerous studies have shown that practising yoga in general is an extremely beneficial form of exercise.

There have been old texts from the sub-continent that claim this energy is connected to certain magical powers. These days, people are a bit more sceptical about these boasts. It could be that these were just listed as either exaggerations or attempts to create a positive PR for this practice.

Still, most yogis say that using the development of these abilities as a goal for kundalini yoga is either pointless or harmful for the true goal of self-realization. Also, this power can be either abused or misused.

Because of its connection to the root chakra, it claimed that this energy has a direct connection to our sexual energy and libido. Therefore, the practice may help one channel this energy into a tantric or sexual practice for the purpose of achieving pleasure. It is also claimed that it can improve relationships by increasing the intimacy between partners.

Specifically, by practising a specific series of intense abdominal exercises, one can potentially bring energy to their third chakra, which is the center of our willpower. It can cause a decrease in negative thought and procrastination, especially if one is able to maintain the practice regularly over time. Naturally, it’s only intuitive that replacing time consuming bad habits with a healthy exercise routine will be beneficial.

Some researchers have even explored the connection between this type of yoga and treating addictions to some success, however, further exploration is needed. In addition, it can bring people out of their comfort zones. Through this it has been thought to spark creative inspiration.

It has been claimed that it can help one detoxify after overeating, namely by raising our blood circulation, increased breathing and sweating, and encouraging digestion. However, many forms of exercise have similar benefits. This is not to say it can’t work.

Different forms of meditation have been found to have a calming effect on most people. In general, any practice that has the effect of lowering cortisol levels in the body is thought to have a positive effect on one’s health. No matter what one’s opinion on the spiritual implication of this type of yoga practice, one cannot deny that any exercise or meditation routine would be overall beneficial.