I first heard about Kundalini Yoga on a podcast. Actually, I had read “Kundalini Yoga” a few times before outside yoga studios or in other contexts but I always thought it was just another form of “regular yoga.” Boy, was I wrong.
What Exactly Is Kundalini Yoga?
The Yoga Journal describes Kundalini Yoga as a combination of spiritual and physical practice incorporating movement, dynamic breathing methods, meditation, and the chanting of mantras. The goal is to build physical vitality and increase consciousness. By using sound, breath, and different postures/movements, it “aims to develop spiritual awareness by freeing the serpent power (kundalini) that is coiled in the base of the spine and drawing it upward through the seven chakras.”
I’m not someone you would call a “yogi” by any means. I do yoga maybe once a week just to get a good stretch and to work on my headstands (handstand is next, hopefully) but for no spiritual reasons whatsoever. I’m sort of interested in “these things” as well (so “chakra” is not an unfamiliar term to me) but I’m not fully into it (yet?) if you get what I’m trying to get across.
So what are you doing in a Kundalini Yoga class? It’s always different. Teachers draw from thousands of so-called kriyas. 3HO.org describes a kriya as “a series of postures, breath, and sound that work toward a specific outcome.” The very practice is supposed to prompt a sequence of physical and mental changes that affect the body, mind, and spirit simultaneously. Certain kriyas are supposed to support the liver, others balance the glandular system, have a stimulating effect on the pituitary gland or make your spine more flexible just to name a few examples.
Benefits Of Kundalini Yoga
Practicing Kundalini Yoga can help you to:
- Clear your mind
- Get instant inspiration
- Increase your creativity and productivity
- Feel happier
- Relax deeply
- Increase your physical well-being
- Have greater intuition
- Boost your energy levels
All of this sounds great but what initiated my first visit to a Kundalini Yoga class was its supposed effect on ones glands. That is, it can help regulate your hormones. Since I’ve been having problems balancing my hormones for some time now, I thought I’d give it a shot.
My Experience Trying Out Kundalini Yoga
The first class I went to was a community class on a rainy Saturday at Hari NYC. (I remember it was a week or so before we embarked on our trip to Japan last October because we talked about it after class because the teacher had been to Kyoto before as well.). Since I mentioned it was my first class, he explained the purpose of the exercises as we went along. We were only three women, so it was a quite lovely intimate first experience for me.
I remember it was the first time I did the “Breath of Fire”. And I learned quickly that that’s why there were tissue boxes lined up along the wall. If you’re not familiar, Breath of Fire means rapidly in- and exhaling through your nose. So, having a stuffy nose is no bueno here.
My favorite part was at the end in Savasana pose. Lying on the floor with the eyes closed, the teacher started striking the gong. I had seen the huge gong beforehand but it looked more like an accessory at first and I didn’t think he would use it. It was super loud and strangely calming and relaxing. After the class, we chatted a little and drank some tea before everyone went along their way.
After that first experience, I tried another studio (Golden Bridge Yoga NYC) for two weeks because they offer an unlimited deal for new students. So I made it a point to go (almost) every day – eager to see any immediate effects or promised benefits. I spoke with one of the teachers after a class and impatiently mentioned to her that “I’m not feeling anything; I don’t see any results!” And she sort of opened my eyes in saying that it’s like exercise. You have to do it on a regular basis. You can’t expect to see immediate muscle growth after working out for a week or two. Just keep at it and you’ll see results.
And that made so much sense. Of course it would take time! Silly, impatient me. I do consider myself a pretty patient person but sometimes, or maybe more often than I realize or like to admit, I’m more impatient than want to be. It probably happens to me with the things I’m most desperate to see changes or success in (and that logically require the most patience). I guess it makes kind of sense though.
However, I finished the two weeks at Golden Bridge and haven’t practiced Kundalini Yoga ever since. Some traveling happened in-between and somehow I never went back. I’m thinking about getting into it again. I also found that it really depends on the teacher. I found my favorite teacher so far in my very last class. She was a gem and was able to touch my cold heart in a sense I can’t describe and I even thanked her after class. It was a true experience I have to say.
Have you ever tried Kundalini Yoga and if yes, are you into it? Also, are you more of a patient or impatient type of person?
