| Taken from Open your heart with Kundalini Yoga - Siri | | | | or Root, Chakra), the densest of all the chakras. But |
| Datta Throughout the ages, in every civilization, there | | | | please note that Yogi Bhajan does not support the |
| has been a hidden pathway, a secret technology of | | | | concept of kundalini as the coiled serpent, but rather as |
| discovery, which enables the individual to reach the | | | | the blueprint for the full potential of humankind. Kundalini |
| ultimate potential. This is a technique that has the ability | | | | is known as the spiritual nerve, seated in the base of |
| to elevate, inspire and awaken the individual to their | | | | the spine, waiting to be awakened. With the practice |
| own greatness. That greatness is within every one of | | | | of Kundalini Yoga this nerve can be stimulated and |
| us, and the technology that can do this is Kundalini | | | | start to become activated as it breaks through the |
| Yoga. As an enthusiastic teacher of Kundalini Yoga, I | | | | blockage at the Muladhara, travelling upwards through |
| am always asked What is it? Is it like Hatha Yoga, | | | | the Sushmana and piercing every chakra along the |
| or Ashtanga Yoga? Is it dynamic or static? Are there | | | | way, until it reaches the Crown, where full |
| meditation or breathing techniques?’ My answer | | | | enlightenment is attained.You do not have to charge in |
| is always the same: it is all of those things, and a | | | | with the intention of raising the kundalini to full |
| multitude more.Yogi Bhajan, the Master of Kundalini | | | | enlightenment, although this is the goal of all forms of |
| Yoga, now living in New Mexico, has explained that | | | | yoga. There is a more acceptable, more gentle, way |
| there are 22 major forms of yoga, each one | | | | of introducing you to the sheer potential that is within |
| expressing a facet of the whole. A good way of | | | | you, and showing you how this potential can be |
| understanding this is that each different form of yoga | | | | released. This method is to gently rouse or stir the |
| is like the facet of a diamond. The diamond herself is | | | | kundalini energy in the Ida and Pingala channels, which |
| Kundalini Yoga, the mother of all yogas.Kundalini Yoga | | | | interweave around the Sushmana, every time you |
| is the most inclusive of all yoga practices as it includes | | | | embark on a kundalini kriya. The general pattern of a |
| all aspects of yoga within its teachings. In this practice | | | | kundalini kriya is to awaken and build up the Pranic |
| there are over 8.4 million kriyas (completed sequences, | | | | energy. This is then guided to the relevant area that |
| or sets). These kriyas are made up of asanas | | | | you wish to work on. For example, if your digestive |
| (postures), pranayama (breathing exercises), mantra | | | | system needs working on, a set to help with |
| (chanting), mudras (hand gestures), bandhs (body | | | | decision-making or an emotional state that is upsetting |
| locks) and meditation.The kriyas are a blend of | | | | you might be helpful. By directing the energy to a |
| dynamic and static postures that deliver a perfect | | | | particular chakra, organ, or issue in your life, this |
| sequence of energy, tones and feelings played upon | | | | blockage will be dissolved and once again you will be |
| the instrument of the body. In the ancient scriptures it is | | | | back in balance. The negative effects will harm you no |
| said that Kundalini Yoga is the fastest way to create | | | | more.There are over 8.4 million kriyas, all designed to |
| the transformation that the individual is seeking. There | | | | deal with the day-to-day challenges we face. There |
| is a certain depth, completeness and timelessness that | | | | are kriyas for physical issues, such as the digestion, |
| is inherent in Kundalini Yoga. Since Kundalini Yoga has | | | | circulation, immune system (disease resistance), lower |
| become so popular in the United States the Kundalini | | | | back problems, glandular malfunctions, menopause and |
| Research Institute (KRI) has been developed. This was | | | | sexuality problems. There are also kriyas for the mind, |
| founded to verify, promote, produce and preserve the | | | | to clear confusion, addictions, haunting thoughts and |
| teachings of Yogi Bhajan, exactly as they had been | | | | creative blocks. Additionally, there are kriyas to balance |
| passed down. There is much confusion surrounding | | | | the emotions, to bring about feelings of ecstasy, to |
| kundalini and Kundalini Yoga. Some experts say that it | | | | dispel fear and paranoia, to bring about stillness and to |
| is the most potent and powerful way to change | | | | attain the empowering ability to accept and forgive all |
| consciousness, while others warn against practising it, | | | | aspects of your life.Meditation is also a very important |
| or veil the entire teaching in secrecy. Yet how can | | | | part of the practice. This allows the body and mind to |
| something as essential to consciousness as kundalini | | | | process the journey of the kriya. The energy has |
| be feared? Some people worry about raising the | | | | travelled along a certain pathway, awakening, dispelling |
| kundalini energy, but teachings from Yogi Bhajan have | | | | and moving your energetic bodies. The meditation |
| dispelled many misrepresentations and myths | | | | process is a lesson in inner awareness. Sometimes the |
| surrounding kundalini and his explicit teachings have | | | | meditation will have a breathing technique to enable the |
| given researchers techniques that can be thoroughly | | | | mind to quieten as you turn inwards into the realm of |
| tested out. Kundalini Yoga is also known as the | | | | feelings and emotions. When this happens you will be |
| yoga of awareness’. Awareness leads to | | | | able to observe your thoughts as they come and go. |
| understanding and understanding gives way to | | | | This is the start of the practice known as becoming |
| acceptance. When you can accept yourself, all your | | | | the watcher’. It is through this method that you |
| limitations fade away. All your fears, insecurities, and | | | | become master of the mind.At other times there will |
| self-belittlement cease to be. In its place are | | | | be a mantra to accompany the meditation. A mantra |
| abundance, hope and the wisdom of your true worth. | | | | is always equipped with a coded sonic vibration that |
| Kundalini Yoga is so much more than a set of physical | | | | cuts through the psyche and starts to balance out |
| exercises. If genuinely practised, with respect and | | | | areas within that need attention. When there is a |
| reverence, it will change your life.There is only one | | | | mantra, you may find yourself immersed in the sound. |
| way that you can practise Kundalini Yoga. It is very | | | | This is the most powerful part of Kundalini Yoga. The |
| specific, clearly laid out and it is practised as it was | | | | word mantra breaks down into man, which means |
| given, with no alterations. Its path can take you to | | | | mind’ and tra, which is to vibrate’. |
| many places, whether you wish to achieve | | | | Therefore, mantra means to vibrate the |
| enlightenment or to release parts of yourself that are | | | | mind’. This miraculous technique shifts many |
| out of date and do not reflect the person you wish to | | | | character traits and behavioural patterns that keep us |
| be. Kundalini Yoga can also offer an approach for | | | | suffering. In the chapter on Mantra (see page 51), I will |
| those who have only limited time to devote to this | | | | explain exactly how this sonic science works.I would |
| practice, but who also deserve the rewards of this | | | | like to close this section by saying that you can never |
| priceless gift. The practice is easily understood and | | | | predict a kundalini class. It is always full of surprises, |
| accessible for complete beginners to yoga who have | | | | since many changes will be going on in all the various |
| decided that they need a tool to help them balance out | | | | people present. There have been times in my classes |
| everyday pressures. This is the yoga for modern | | | | when there have been outbursts of laughter, which is |
| humankind. This practice is for our present-day | | | | always good fun and I actively encourage it. Yoga is |
| dilemma: to feel whole and complete while maintaining | | | | usually synonymous with seriousness, quiet and |
| our day-to-day responsibilities. Kundalini Yoga is a | | | | solemnity, but this is not always the case. Laughter is |
| sacred technology that is greatly needed at the | | | | common in my classes. It is, after all, an explosion of |
| present time. It is direct, powerful and simple.It is | | | | happiness. This usually happens when a painful |
| important to understand that Kundalini Yoga is | | | | emotion or memory has been released. It is also |
| concerned with preparing the body for the kundalini | | | | common to find yourself so immersed in the kriya and |
| energy to rise up through the Sushmana (the energetic | | | | the breathing that you surface to find tears falling |
| spinal column). The scientific aspect of Kundalini Yoga | | | | down your cheeks. You may not actually be crying, |
| is designed to provide you with the experience of your | | | | but tears are falling silently. This is always a very |
| highest consciousness through the raising of your | | | | powerful realization of the many changes that are |
| kundalini. Kundalini is your latent spiritual potential. | | | | taking place within you.When you experience this, you |
| Through the practice of Kundalini Yoga, this psychic | | | | will find that harmony and balance are restored to you, |
| nerve centre is awakened; its revelation is the release | | | | and you will feel within an endless supply of energy |
| of your true potential. For this energy to awaken | | | | and happiness. When you experience this, even for a |
| safely, body and mind need to be strong and able to | | | | few brief moments, your life will not be the same |
| deal with this very powerful change in consciousness. | | | | again. The inner light is now switched on, shining |
| The practice of Kundalini Yoga is the powerful | | | | through you, and others will not fail to be drawn |
| cleansing of the whole being. Not only do the body and | | | | towards you. You will become a beacon for |
| mind need to be cleansed but also the energetic | | | | humankind, a touchstone for the truth, and the living |
| aspects of ourselves. The chakras (energy centres) | | | | reality of who we really are.To everyone who |
| and meridians (energy pathways) need to be | | | | embarks on the path of kundalini, I wish you the |
| unblocked and activated to allow this new influx of | | | | greatest journey. May your path show you the many |
| dynamic energy to flow freely throughout the whole | | | | examples of Divinity that are around you at any given |
| being.Kundalini and chakra work are closely linked. The | | | | moment. May you realize the ultimate truth: that only |
| kundalini energy can be depicted as a serpent, coiled in | | | | Love can set you free. Be free, my friend, as it is your |
| three and a half turns, sleeping in the Muladhara (Base, | | | | birthright. |