So what is Kundalini Yoga and why should I spend time finding out about it?The more I learn about the vast topic of Yoga ... the more I'm amazed that it took me so long to become convinced about the immense benefits that I can gain just from following 'a style of yoga' Each and every one of the different styles lay claim to what they can do for you ... if you take away the hype ... and look behind it and try and understand what it is that the particular style of yoga focuses on ... you will have a better chance of determining whether that particular style is for you. Now Kundalini Yoga is a powerful form of yoga and is fascinating to look into in its own right. The effect of practicing Kundalini yoga is a raising of your energy!Now, who doesn't want that? ... it uses particular yoga positions, sound - think chant, ... with breath and meditation to heal your mind, bring about relaxation and 'allow your spirit to flow freely'. It helps to keep the body in shape while training your mind to be strong and flexible, even in the face of stress. Kundalini Yoga was brought to the west by Yogi Bhajan, PhD who formed the 3HO organization. Very simplistically speaking, Kundalini Yoga stimulates your nervous and immune systems, it increases your body's oxygen capacity, balances your glandular system and helps to eliminate toxins that have amassed in the body such as adrenaline and cortisol. If you're asking how did I get toxins in my body .... well, your stress levels play an important role in increasing the toxins in your body. This type of yoga helps with relief of stress, back pain, depression and sleeplessness to name but a few of the benefits.As Kundalini yoga is based on specifically designed exercises, it lets you work on your particular problem areas at any specific point in time. Even if you can only afford 5 minutes a day, you will benefit ...naturally if you can dedicate more time, them you will have a corresponding increase in effectiveness. It doesn't matter what your age is, or what your physical ability is, .... or how far you can stretch, anyone can benefit from Kundalini Yoga.
The thoughts below where contributed by Terry. They give a brief insight into where it comes from. Kundalini Yoga- Some BasicsContributed by: Terry J. Coyier Recently I noticed an online article on ways to boost your energy during winter. Like many people, the cooler dark days can leave me depressed and feeling frazzled. Since good mental health is essential to wellness, I read on. The article listed five things you could do to boost your mood that took only ten to fifteen minutes each. One of the items listed was a Kundalini yoga movement. It looked interesting and easy, so I tried it and it worked. It's based upon Kundalini yoga which is a type of yoga that focuses on breathing, sound and movement. Being someone who used to meditate, this type of yoga seemed like something I might be interested in, so I did a little research on it and found that it is, in fact, a terrific way to enhance your energy level and mood. (I can totally relate to this comment as it has helped me greatly, especially when I'm tried and stressed through work and I'm feeling, "well, what's the use ... I really don't care..." and it's at times like these that Kundalini Yoga can be its most affective ... author's insert) The word yoga comes from the root Yuj which means to join and is often meant to join the conscious with the Divine Spirit. The practitioner of yoga is called a yogin. Many people are afraid to try yoga because they think it involves complicated positions that require extreme flexibility. This isn't true with Kundalini yoga. The word Kundalini comes from the Sanskrit word "kundal" which means "the lock of the hair from the beloved." The hair represents the unlimited potential inside every person. Others state that the energy is like that of a coiled up snake sitting at the base of your spine. It is the breathing, chanting and movement that releases this energy so that you can realize your full potential. To practice Kundalini yoga you must
know something about the spinal column, which is the
location of five of the seven chakras, or energy centers.
The spinal column is part of the Nervous System of the human
body. The Nervous System also includes the brain and nerves.
These things together are responsible for our thought,
imagination, memory and intelligence. Five of the chakras
are located along the spinal column. The other two chakras
are located on the head - one in the middle and one on the
top. As you breathe you visualize the Kundalini energy
traveling up the spine. This energy begins and ends with
you. It is the awakening of the self. Often when you awaken
the Kundalini energy you will feel warmth along the chakras.
Others have reported they feel a tingling sensation. Kundalini yoga is considered the most powerful form of yoga. It is based upon Kundalini energy which is "one's dormant spiritual energy." This energy is visualized as a coiled up snake at the base of the spine (the first chakra). The yogin can harness this energy by using breathing techniques, chanting and repetitive movements. It brings together the masculine and feminine powers of the body. The goal of Kundalini yoga is to move the Kundalini energy up through all seven chakras. When you reach the seventh chakra you experience enlightenment. (This is where I say, you can pick and choose what you need the most at any point in time. It makes it very time efficient, especially if you're the type of person that doesn't allow yourself to have "me time" ... author's insert) Kundalini yoga is practiced with sets of postures and exercises that work on a specific area of the body, mind and spirit. Hundreds of these sets exist that can be used to awaken you to your full potential. They address every aspect of human nature from issues with your physical health to areas of mental health to your general well being. After the sets are completed the yogin then enters a state of deep relaxation often accompanied by spiritual music and sometimes a gong. Finally you end with a breath or mantra meditation. The following
is a sample set used in Kundalini yoga to reduce anxiety: As with any form of exercise, precautions must be taken when practicing Kundalini yoga. You may experience heat developing in the body and may want to go slowly in the beginning. Also, some report a tingling sensation along the spinal column and in the palms of the hands and soles of the feet. It should gradually subside as you practice more. Last, you may experience some negative thoughts or desire to express violent emotions. These feelings also subside as you cleanse yourself of negative energy. To assist with these experiences, the beginner should practice with others and/or take classes. I looked up "Kundalini yoga" on Google and it came up with thousands of hits, many of them being places you can take classes or receive instruction. There are even free online instructions for beginners. Kundalini yoga isn't just a way to
revitalize yourself during the winter; it is form of yoga
that can help you in all areas of your life any time of
year. It certainly, for many people, adds to the overall
quality of their life and their wellness. It is relatively
simple and you don't have to be in great physical shape to
practice Kundalini yoga. If you can breathe, you can do
this! So if you're interested in reading more deeply about what Kundalini yoga is, then I can highly recommend that you read Kurt Keutzer's commentary. It's written in down to earth language which is easy to follow. Just look him up at this url http://www.eecs.berkeley.edu/~keutzer/kundalini/kundalini-faq.html#1a
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