Kundalini-yoga - the yoga of awareness

"Within us there lives the most calm, serene lake of wisdom. You must leave your limitations and use all methods to raise your consciousness. If you understand Kundalini, you understand the whole universe. It is your existence. It is the power in you through which you make your mind expand." - Yogi Bhajan

According to scientific research, Kundalini-yoga can help reduce or remove the symptoms of many conditions include insomnia, depression, anxiety, stress, high blood pressure, feelings of isolation, and indeed has many, many more health benefits. However it is not the primary reason why people attend a Kundalini Yoga class. They attend, because it makes them feel good. It gives them as sense of feeling at home in the universe. Kundalini Yoga is simultaneously grounding, stabilizing and nurturing while expanding your awareness of your own soul and consciousness. Because of this, it is an extremely healthy and safe practice that can be enjoyed and experienced by all ages, shapes and sizes. BEING FLEXIBLE is not a prerequisite of doing kundalini yoga, however becoming flexible in body and mind is one of the outcomes of a regular practice.

Reasons to choose Kundalini Yoga

  • I know that in attending a weekly Kundalini Yoga class, my week works out better
  • Kundalini Yoga is a good workout, and is as strong or as gentle as I make it
  • Kundalini Yoga gives me a space to connect with myself, and quieten my mind
  • I sleep better when I do Kundalini Yoga
  • I have a better appetite, and I have more energy
  • I don't feel stodgy or heavy in the afternoons when I do Kundalini Yoga in the morning
  • My life is more synchronous, things happen in the right order, at the right time
  • It is a process of sharing a space with others. I feel connected. I don't feel alone

What is Kundalini Class?

Yoga means Union. So Kundalini Yoga is the practice of the union and alignment of your physical, emotion, mental and spiritual body. There is written evidence of it's practice in the Vedas which is between 5 and 6 thousand years old.

Kundalini Yoga consists of  warms ups and stretching, followed by chanting the mantra "Ong Namo Guru Dev Namo" that marks beings the class.  This is followed by a particular yoga set chosen to build stamina, willpower and to focus on a particular aspect of the mind and/or body.

It builds physical strength, rebuild and strengthens the nervous system and the glandular systems. It incorporates mantra (chanting) and meditation in every class, and has a strong spiritual component, because it works on strengthening the connection between the soul body and the physical, mental and emotional bodies.

There is always a point of silent stillness after a workout, which brings one to the neutral mind, or a space called the yogi-mind.  It is a raj yoga incorporating all 8 limbs of yoga and It not aligned or part or any particular religious orthodoxy. in fact it may seen as a system or scientific technology that makes one feel more at home in the universe. If you are a christian, it will make you a better christian, if you are muslim, it will make you are better muslim, if you are an atheist, it will confuse the heck out of you.

Kundalini Yoga as taught by Yogi Bhajan consists of over 8,000 yoga sets and meditations, all directly towards a particular purpose, and has an exact scientific outcome for it's practice. There are yoga sets to help relieve the symptoms of nearly every medical, mental and emotional condition known, and can work on all the major organs and glandular systems, and greatly helps in building a balanced and strong nervous system.

What do I need to bring to class?

Bring a yoga mat and a light rug or blanket to cover yourself during long deep relaxation.  If you are new to Yoga, it may be advisable to bring a firm cushion or yoga block with you, so that you can sit comfortably during meditation. Classes are approx 1.5 hours long, and usually finishes with tea and snacks and is an opportunity to chat, ask question of the teacher and mix with the other participants of the class.

Where can I find out more?

You can read a more about Kundalini Yoga here