How Is Kundalini Yoga Different From Other Yoga

Physical activities are still used, but they aren't the main focus. This is not the same as hatha or vinyasa yoga, which are both based on physical positions.

Kundalini yoga is also more precise and repetitious than other forms of yoga. Unlike other forms of yoga, Kundalini yoga incorporates chanting, singing, motions, and breathing into particular rhythms.

What makes Kundalini different from traditional yoga?

The physical poses of Kundalini yoga are derived from Hatha, which is the physical practice of yoga. The most significant distinction is that Kundalini yogis combine physical positions with mantras and breathing exercises. In comparison to Hatha yoga, Kundalini yoga places a greater emphasis on meditation and mantras.

What is the difference between Kundalini Yoga and Hatha Yoga?

Iyengar and ashtanga yoga are descended from the same tradition; both BKS Iyengar and the late Pattabhi Jois received their training from Tirumalai Krishnamacharya. Although many of the asanas (postures) are similar, the method is distinct. Iyengar yoga is excellent for understanding the finer points of proper alignment. Props such as belts, blocks, and pillow-like bolsters assist beginners in achieving proper alignment in poses, even if they are new to them, injured, or simply stiff. Anusara yoga is a more contemporary version of Iyengar yoga.

Ashtanga yoga is a more active form of yoga. It includes a series of positions that are held for only five breaths each and are punctuated by a half sun salute to keep things moving. You have the option of taking a conventional class or a Mysore-style class (see below).

In a group environment, Ashtanga yoga is taught one-on-one. Students are welcome to arrive at any moment throughout a three-hour window to complete their own practice as instructed by their teacher. This is my preferred method of learning yoga, as well as the safest and most conventional, in my opinion. You walk at your own speed and in your own time.

Teachers guide students through sessions that flow from one stance to the next without pausing to discuss the details of each pose. Students will get a terrific workout as well as a yoga experience this way. If you're new to yoga, it's a good idea to start with some slower-paced classes to gain a feel for the positions. Vinyasa flow is a catch-all word for a variety of yoga methods. It's also known as flow yoga, flow-style yoga, dynamic yoga, or vinyasa flow in some studios. Ashtanga yoga has affected it.

Anyone who enjoys sweating will like Bikram yoga. Bikram Choudhury, an Indian yogi, invented it in the early 1970s. He devised a 26-pose yoga sequence to stretch and strengthen muscles, as well as compress and “cleanse” the body's organs. To aid in the discharge of toxins, the positions are performed in a warm area. Every bikram class you attend, no matter where you are in the globe, follows the same 26-pose sequence.

The purpose of Kundalini yoga is to activate energy in the spine. Meditation, breathing methods such as alternative nostril breathing, and chanting, as well as yoga postures, are all included in Kundalini yoga programs.

Hatha yoga simply refers to the physical aspect of yoga (asanas as opposed to, say, chanting). Hatha yoga is now widely used to describe a class that is less fluid and focuses on the asanas that are common to all yoga styles. It's usually a light yoga session.

The Taoist style of yin yoga focuses on passive, sitting poses that target the connective tissues of the hips, pelvis, and lower spine. Poses might last anywhere from one to ten minutes. The goal is to promote flexibility and a sense of release and letting go. It's a fantastic approach to learn the fundamentals of meditation and mind-stilling. As a result, it's great for athletes who need to relieve stress in overused joints, as well as people who need to unwind.

Restorative yoga focuses on mending the mind and body by holding easy poses for up to 20 minutes while using supports like bolsters, pillows, and straps. It's similar to yin yoga, but with a focus on relaxation rather than flexibility.

Jivamukti, which means “freedom while living,” was founded in 1984 by David Life and Sharon Gannon. This is a themed vinyasa practice that often includes chanting, music, and scripture readings. Teachers at Jivamukti encourage students to incorporate yogic philosophy into their daily lives.

How is Kundalini different from Vinyasa?

Have you ever wondered how Kundalini yoga differs from the yoga you currently practice?

Well, it's a vigorous kind of yoga that differs from vinyasa or hatha yoga in that it emphasizes the physical exercises of yoga above breathing techniques or mantra chanting.

Though it is still a form of yoga, it is not the type you are accustomed to. It's more of a spiritual experience, with asana, pranayama breathing, and mantra chanting used to awaken Kundalini energy.

How is Kundalini Yoga Different?

If you're not sure what kind of yoga you're doing right now, it's probably vinyasa or hatha yoga.

At least, these are the most common types of yoga seen in most gyms and yoga studios.

Because flow Vinyasa yoga and hatha yoga can be customized to a variety of levels and progress through the fundamental yoga poses to improve flexibility and balance. In essence, they're both solid yoga styles.

However, you've probably heard about Kundalini yoga's strength and all of the divine healing advantages that come with it (aka awakening the Kundalini, vital prana energy).

Not only that, but Kundalini yoga practitioners swear that it aids them in all aspect of their lives, including stress, anxiety, relationships, abundance, relaxation, and more. Kundalini yoga assists individuals in calming their minds and balancing all of the swirling energy that can sometimes take over in our daily activities.

And I have to say, it's correct. Every every day, I reap the benefits of Kundalini yoga. I've had such a positive experience with the therapeutic properties of prenatal yoga that I designed an entire prenatal yoga course around it.

Why is Kundalini Yoga dangerous?

When done appropriately and responsibly, Kundalini meditation and yoga are not harmful. Any good Kundalini yoga teacher will know how to appropriately guide students through this ancient practice and when to scale back for newcomers. A hand mudra, breathwork, meditation, and several kriya techniques are all part of a normal Kundalini yoga program.

Yogi Bhajan created each Kundalini kriya, which has been passed down from one Kundalini yoga instructor to the next. So if you follow the instructions of this ancient technique, your typical Kundalini class won't unintentionally create some harmful energy or bodily hazard.

My first Kundalini yoga lesson, on the other hand, was so intense and frightening that it completely ruined me for a few days. Despite the fact that I was safe and healthy, I was not in good mental health. I had never worked with Kundalini energy before, and the breathing method taught in class was way too sophisticated for me. Despite the fact that the yoga instructor should have recognized my struggle and offered assistance, she did not (this is NOT a good yoga instructor practice!).

Slow down and watch if you start to feel unwell during this practice. While this is not a harmful technique, it has the potential to be quite effective.

What is Kundalini Yoga good for?

With consistent practice, Kundalini yoga can give a spiritual awakening and increased pranic energy. The yogi moves spiritual energy through the spine, where the chakras are located, through Kundalini yoga. The kriyas performed in the practice are supposed to encourage circulation of the Earth energy through the chakras via the root chakra, which is connected to the Earth through the root chakra at the base of the spine. There might be a lot of physical, emotional, and spiritual changes as this spiritual energy movement starts. This Kundalini energy awakening process can be tremendously powerful and life-changing.

Can beginners do Kundalini Yoga?

Absolutely! Many of the kriyas are suitable for novices, however they may be unsettling at first. Kundalini yoga is practiced by celebrities as well. The majority of yoga studio sessions are geared at beginners, and many of my online videos are ideal for those who are new to Kundalini.

The 3 Key Characteristics of Kundalini Yoga

A yoga practice encompasses much more than simply the yoga asanas. Specific breathing techniques, sequencing, postures held for specific lengths of time, and reciting meditation mantras are all part of Kundalini yoga.

It's a whole experience that's both really difficult and extremely rewarding. The following are the primary differences between Kundalini yoga and other styles of yoga:

REPETITION

To transform our consciousness, Kundalini Yoga uses repetitive motions (imagine twisting left to right over and over), pranayama breathing (or breath practice such as breath of fire), meditation, and chanting mantras (such Sat Nam – truth is my identity) for lengthy periods of time.

The importance of repetition in Kundalini yoga is that it aids in the flow of energy. Our bodies are energy systems that constantly draw energy from the universe around us. When there are blockages in our chakra system, the energy becomes stuck, and we feel it cognitively, emotionally, or physically.

Chanting a Sanskrit phrase, meditative attention, and pranayama breathing help to renew our bodies by encouraging energy flow, or Kundalini awakening.

STRUCTURE

Warm up, flow through Warrior Poses or Surya Namaskar while integrating breath and movement, then cool down into forward folds in flow Vinyasa yoga. It's a planned sequence that takes you through the physical practice of yoga asanas and controlled breathing to strengthen and stretch your body.

On the other hand, Kundalini yoga has its own structure and approach. The movements are quantitatively precise, as is the pranayama breath training that goes with them (e.g. performs 42 squats inhaling with your head to the right and exhaling with your head to the left). The length of time you spend doing each action in a series is likewise extremely accurate (e.g. 11 minutes).

So, in a typical Kundalini practice, you'll be moving through specific postures for specific amounts of time in a prescribed sequence, but Vinyasa and Hatha-based yoga techniques allow for a bit more flexibility.

In fact, depending on the yoga teacher or yoga center where you practice, your vinyasa or hatha experience can vary dramatically!

The concept of this set construction is based on Tantra yoga's ancient teachings, and it's designed to transfer Kundalini Shakti energy through the chakras, from the Muladhara (root chakra) to the Sahasrara (crown chakra).

A Kundalini awakening occurs as a result of this, and it acts as a type of launching pad from which you can live your most loving, bountiful life. It's quite lovely.

KRIYAS

Kriyas are a set of Kundalini movement, breath, and mantra sequences. Yogi Bhajan (the pioneer of Kundalini yoga in the West) created these and they have never been updated or amended. This is because these kriyas move your subtle body energy in a certain way to boost the neurological and glandular systems.

Some Kundalini kriyas will leave you feeling blissed out, with a deep sense of peace, relaxation, clarity, and joy…

Remember that Kundalini Yoga is also known as the “Yoga of Awareness.” It's meant to slay your ego and set you off. This is precisely the purpose if you find the exercises challenging (or if you don't want to do 42 frog squats in a succession and become weary, irritated, or disappointed).

Kundalini Yoga teaches you how to react in a stressful circumstance. It acts as a mirror for how you respond to severe life situations.

If you're interested in learning more about this ancient Tantric yoga practice, listen to my podcast on the subject. I explain where this ancient art originated, how chanting aids in healing, how to use various breathing techniques, and why Kundalini yoga positions are so vital for awakening.

I also discuss how to take this ancient Tantric yoga practice off the yoga mat and into your daily life to get the advantages of Kundalini.

This podcast will answer all of your questions, whether you're ready to enhance your spiritual practice or simply seeking for a means to strengthen your existing yoga practice.

If not, feel free to post your queries in the comments area. I'd be delighted to answer them and assist you in finding the ideal yoga practice for you!

What is Kundalini Yoga based on?

Kundalini yoga (kualin-yoga) is derived from kundalini, which is defined in Vedantic culture as dormant energy at the base of the spine that is activated (by yoga, blunt force trauma, breath work, or psychological trauma leading to spiritual awakening) and channeled upward through the chakras in the process of spiritual perfection. Kundalini is thought to be a power related with Shakti, the divine feminine. Shaktism and Tantra schools of Hinduism have inspired Kundalini yoga as a yoga school. It gets its name from a concentration on kundalini energy awakening through frequent mantra, tantra, yantra, yoga, or meditation practice.

Can beginners do Kundalini Yoga?

While anyone can practice Kundalini yoga (unless they have a pre-existing medical problem), this kind of yoga is especially beneficial for those who want to combine a spiritual practice with a physical workout.

Although Kundalini yoga is a demanding practice, its physical and mental benefits make it an excellent choice for both beginners and seasoned yogis. There's a reason the discipline has exploded in popularity, attracting everyone from yoga aficionados to celebrities.

Is Kundalini Yoga physically challenging?

Much of Kundalini Yoga is both difficult and soothing in equal measure. Chemical responses in the body are triggered by the practice's fundamental science, resulting in palpable, dramatic transformations in your thinking, physical health, and daily life.

What language is used in Kundalini Yoga?

The ten Sikh Gurus created the Gurmukhi language. It's a mash-up of several languages designed to trigger the meridian points on your tongue's roof. Sikh texts are lovely tributes to God and the Universe written in Gurmukhi.

The word Gurmukhi literally means “from the guru's mouth,” or “from the guru's spoken word.” If you read the Sri Guru Granth Sahib, you'll come across the term Gurmukh, which refers to someone who speaks consciously as opposed to unconsciously. When we speak, chant, or sing Gurmukhi words, they are strong to the extent that we repeat them with reverence and dedication. Because of the tone and frequency with which Gurmukhi words vibrate, they are extremely strong. Words in Gurmukhi do not require definitions; instead, they must be repeated. Furthermore, by noticing how the sounds influence and co-create with his or her own interior journey and increasing consciousness, the one who repeats them develops wise.

Sat Nam means “genuine vibration” in Sanskrit. When Guru Nanak emerged from three days submerged in the River Vaee, he said this word for the first time. When you chant Sat Nam, you unite yourself with your destiny.

Har: This is a word for the heart's voice, as well as a name for God. The tip of the tongue strikes the roof of the mouth when we recite Har, making it sound more like HUD. This is a sound that activates the navel and brings kundalini energy to the surface.

Wahe Guru is the wisdom of present-moment happiness. This is an ecstatic expression.

Siri: This is a strong, creative sound for a woman. Its simple meaning is “great,” yet it is also a moniker for someone who is revered.

Sri Guru Granth Sahib: This is a sacred teacher for all beings; the holy sound stream creates a knot in your mind that connects you to Divine consciousness. We bow to it as a living entity who has given us these mantras, this heritage, and this tradition. For Sikhism devotees, it is referred to as the sacred literature. It is a Guru who is still alive.

Guru is a combination of the words gu and ru, which signifies “darkness” and “light.” A guru is someone who helps us go from darkness to light.

Guru Ong Namo Dev Namo: There is only one united creation, and I bow to it as the holy guru. I surrender my ego to the Creator's and Creation's wisdom. I acknowledge the wisdom that exists inside myself and all things.

Guru Nanak chanted the Japji Sahib, which is a long spiritual poetry or hymn. It's the music that kicks off the Aquarian Sadhana. It's a potent instrument for uniting individual consciousness with heavenly consciousness.

One Universal Creator/Creation (Ek Ong Kaar). This expression evokes a sense of oneness, of unity between the Creator and the rest of creation.

After the Gurdwara service, the seekers are offered prasaad, which is a sweet dish.

Amrit Vela: This is the finest time for a yogi to rise from sleep and practice between the hours of 3 and 7 a.m.

What does Sat Nam mean in Kundalini Yoga?

You may not have realized the tremendous meaning and transforming effects of Sat Nam, one of the most often utilized mantras in Kundalini Yoga. Sat signifies truth in Gurmukhi, the ancient Sikh language. Nam is a word that signifies “name.” Sat Nam, when taken together, means “I am truth” or “Truth is my essence.”

Sat Nam is a bija (seed) mantra, meaning it is a one-syllable sound that stimulates the chakras. “It's little, but it packs a punch. Yogi Bhajan, who introduced Kundalini Yoga to the United States in 1968, said, “Great things bloom from it.” “This mantra engraves it in your destiny if it is not already engraved in your destiny to be with God and know your higher consciousness.”

Sat Nam is like a seed that starts to sprout within you. A mantra's vibration affects us on an atomic level. The vibration of Sat Nam, in particular, starts the journey to selfhood. Individual truth and global truth merge to form a single entity.

Sat Nam is about expressing your actual self, not just for oneself but also for the sake of others. No one else can articulate the exact frequency combination that you do. You are a part of everything that exists—the enormous global truth. You are one of a kind in an infinite universe. Your frequency is required for the universe to be full.

How Sat Nam Inspires Bravery

Self-awareness begins with bravery. It necessitates accepting your own truth. And that “yes” is frequently at odds with your family, your social circle, and the current quo. If you're reading these words, you're probably being called to something more than the current quo. You have a strong desire to make a difference.

When you recite Sat Nam, you are harnessing the power of the spoken word, and living in any way other than your absolute truth might make you feel very disturbed. Speaking and living truth takes courage, but denying and suppressing your truth is the real danger. You can break through fear in the mind by chanting Sat Nam from the heart.

Two Ways to Practice Sat Nam Right Now

Sat Nam is a global mantra that can be said regardless of one's religious beliefs.

1. Meditation in a Chair

Find a seat that is comfortable and allows for a long spine. Imagine a sound current pulsating at the base of your spine as you chant Sat Nam. Visualize Saaah's vibration climbing up the spine, triggering the frequency of each chakra as it does so. Close the initial syllable with the t sound, as if kissing your upper palate with the tip of your tongue, when the sound reaches the very top of your head—the thousand-petaled lotus. Feel the sound stream flowing into the energy field surrounding your body on the second syllable, Naam.

2. Meditation while walking

When my mind is overburdened by external stimuli or other people's beliefs or opinions, I go for a stroll outside and meditate on Sat Nam. I silently chant Sat with my right foot and Nam with my left foot as I take a step forward.

Making a 20-minute commitment to the exercise brings me back to my own inner truth. The actual teacher resides within you, and relying on the opinions of others at this time in history may leave you feeling frustrated and impotent.

Why do you wear white for Kundalini Yoga?

Have you ever wondered why everyone in Kundalini classes wears white? Learn how it can help you feel better no matter what style you use.

Colors, according to Yogi Bhajan, the master of Kundalini Yoga, have an effect on awareness. White, like a prism, is a balance of all colors, thus it has a special effect on the conscious and subconscious minds.

“We ask you to wear white so that you will reflect what is outside and go within yourself—that's what white clothes can do for you.” —Yogi Bhajan, 1975

Wearing all white clothing increases one's auric brilliance by at least one foot, he advised his students. This is said to strengthen one's individuality while also acting as a filter against bad influences from the outside world.

Wearing white is also a form of meditation in and of itself, as keeping white clothes clean necessitates greater concentration and care. “The most difficult thing on the globe is to wear white from head to toe; white is the finest therapy,” he once said. So, whatever type of yoga you do, consider following Kundalini's lead and ditching your standard-issue black leggings in favor of something lighter. Here are a few suggestions.

What are the stages of Kundalini awakening?

An old style of life will no longer work during a Kundalini Awakening. Personal crises, changes of attitude, tastes, likes, and dislikes can all occur in people.

This had already happened to me in the United States. For me, the life I was living there was insufficient. My feet were itchy, and my relationship began to come apart as I yearned for a new life. It wasn't enough that I lived in a beautiful little town with foxes, chipmunks, Aspen trees, and snow-capped mountains. I flew home on my own in the end. Life as I had left it didn't fit when I returned home. Things that used to make me happy were no longer making me happy. My gaze was drawn to a new horizon.

I became really ill, waking up one night with a fever and severe chills that rendered me unable to move or walk. I was transported to the hospital because I couldn't stand up on my own. With excruciating body aches (especially in my hips), fever, and physical weakness, I stayed there for two nights. I was eventually well enough to leave the hospital without a diagnosis after IV antibiotics, X-rays, and observation. I have no idea what was wrong with me to this day, but I believe it was one of the Kundalini Awakening Stages.