If you've been feeling stuck, angry or anxious, Kundalini kriyas can help you release negative emotions and move forward in your life.
For thousands of years, the teachings of Kundalini were kept secret because yogic masters felt the public was not prepared to absorb such powerful knowledge. Kundalini came to the West in the 1970s, but it still flies under the radar, maybe because it is subtle, spiritually directed, and incorporates more chanting, singing, and meditation than most other forms of yoga.
Kundalini yoga moves energy through kriya. Kriyas are sequences of postures, breath, and sound that are integrated to allow the manifestation of a particular state. By powerfully stimulating energy in the body, Kundalini kriyas awaken the life force energy (“prana”) we all have coiled at the base of our spine. It moves this energy up through the body and out the top of the head, promoting an awakened state and a feeling of well-being.
At times, energy gets trapped in our bodies. Repetitive thoughts breed anger, fear, resentment, and guilt, making us feel like we want to crawl out of our own skin. Similarly, an abundance of positive energy makes us feel we are going to burst from joy. Once we understand overwhelming feelings can be rapidly transformed and expelled using breath and sound, we are on the path to freedom.
Kundalini kriyas take focus and commitment and their rewards are profound. Sometimes the breathing exercises will calm you. Sometimes they will stimulate you, generating a rush of creativity or optimism. You may feel sensual pleasure as your energy centers wake up. At times, Kundalini exercises can bring up long-buried emotions. All of this is positive once you understand that trapped energy must be moved out if we want to connect with our infinite nature and live with a sense of safety, ease, and joy.
Chanting and singing are key aspects of Kundalini kriyas, too. They function as a tuning fork that aligns us energetically with our unique vibration. The combination of words and sounds, whether it is a song or a mantra, creates a healing experience. Listen to Snatam Kaur’s rendition of “Long Time Sun,” (the closing song of most Kundalini yoga classes), and you will feel the peace that quality of sound can induce.
Ready to practice?
