Posts Tagged ‘Kundalini’
Kundalini Yoga: Unleashing Your Dormant Power
Kundalini yoga is one of several major approaches to yoga that dates back to the Upanishads in ancient India. The practice evolved from within the monasteries in Tibet and India over the course of centuries through systematically studying precise movements and breathing techniques to bring about certain results.
By placing the focus on the Chakras, or energy centers of the body, participants learn to generate spiritual power or Kundalini energy. This energy is often described as being held in dormancy in the spine—not unlike a sleeping snake coiled up at the base of the spine. (Sakti) When you engage in the practice of Kundalini yoga, you awaken and release that once latent spiritual force.
Kundalini Yoga has been defined by the Divine Life Society of India, as the “. . . coiled up, dormant, cosmic power that underlies all organic and inorganic matter within us. . .”
Participants learn special techniques in order to focus on the life force energy and rouse the dormant Kundalini energy bringing it up throughout all of the seven chakras. The first chakra lives at the base of the spine, the second at the lower abdomen between belly button and pubic bone, the third can be found at the solar plexus (between the belly button and the base of the rib cage). The heart chakra is the fourth chakra found in the center of the chest, the fifth is the throat chakra, the sixth between the eyebrows, and the seventh Chakra—the crown Chakra lives on the top of your head. Students learn to raise this sacred force all the way up the body through the use of asana and pranayama techniques.
There are many books and DVDs available to help students learn Kundalini yoga at home. Some of these DVDs contain both lectures and asana practice sequences, which students can follow along with and practice whenever they want to.
You will find several web sites on the Internet that offer free Kundalini yoga asana sequences. Many of these asanas are focused on building and maintaining a flexible spine and core body strength. Sequences begin with specific pranayama (controlled breathing) exercises, which allow the student to relax, get centered and let go of the stress and cares of the day. This is then followed by some chanting before the asana practice begins. A closing chant and a period of meditation typically ends the routine.
The ultimate goal of practicing Kundalini yoga is to achieve an awakening experience, or sahaja enlightenment experience. This phenomena occurs quite spontaneously and is not in the participant’s control. Sometimes there can be a shaking of the body, spinal rocking, or other ecstatic experiences that can be pleasurable.
The Kundalini approach takes the study and practice of yoga to a deeper, more profound level. Students learn to embrace the powerful spiritual forces within themselves to bring about great changes, healing and profound personal transformations.
