Kundalini yoga is a form of yoga that involves practitioners engaging in exercises, chanting, and singing, as well as a variety of other repetitive poses.
If you’re wondering about starting a yoga practice, you might be curious to discover whether Kundalini yoga is the right one for you.
In this article, I will explore Kundalini yoga, from guides on how to do Kundalini yoga poses and the benefits of kundalini yoga.
Without further ado, let’s begin.
What Is Kundalini Yoga?
The purpose of Kundalini yoga is to activate your Kundalini energy that is located at the bottom of your spine.
Practitioners believe that Kundalini energy is similar to that of a coiled snake, sleeping at the bottom of your spine.
When this energy is activated, it is believed to awaken the chakras along your spine and help balance them while helping to benefit your spiritual wellness.
Kundalini yoga is considered to be more spiritual than other forms of yoga, combining singing, chanting, movements, and breathing in specific ways.
A Guide On How To Do Kundalini Yoga Poses
Cobra Pose
- Begin by lying on your front on your yoga mat, with both your legs and feet together and your feet resting against the floor.
- Next, you will need to plant your palms beneath your shoulders, making sure that your fingers are pointing forward and your elbows are parallel to each other.
- Breathe in, and raise your head and torso as you press your lower body into your yoga mat.
- Straighten out your arms, lifting your chest and stomach slightly. Bring your shoulders back and down.
- Hold the cobra pose for around 30 seconds, breathing deeply. Exhale and return to your starting position.
Archer Pose
- Begin by standing up straight with both of your feet together. Now, you need to rotate your foot outward, about 45 degrees.
- Step backwards with your right foot, making sure to straighten your leg. Bend your left knee, however, you will need to ensure that it doesn’t go past your left foot.
- Extend your arms until they are shoulder height, before curling both hands into fists and pointing your thumbs up.
- Next, you will need to rotate your upper body to the left. You will need to simultaneously bend your right elbow, bringing your fist toward your right armpit.
- Stare forward to help you maintain your balance while you hold this position for 2 to 3 minutes.
- Once this time has passed, switch sides. With your left leg back, bend your left arm and hold the position for another few minutes whilst you concentrate on your breathing.
Lotus Pose
- To begin, sit on the floor with both of your legs extended. Make sure that your spine is in a neutral position.
- Next, you will need to bend your knees outward, moving your feet towards your body as if you are about to sit in the cross-legged position.
- Move your left foot so that it is on top of your right thigh. Following this, you will need to place your right foot in the same place on your left thigh.
- Breathe in and breathe out deeply while in this position.
Benefits Of Kundalini yoga
Kundalini Yoga Can Improve Cognitive Function
Kundalini yoga has been associated with improving your cognitive function, especially when it comes to the role of memory.
Practicing Kundalini yoga can significantly improve your memory, as well as improve skills such as problem solving, reasoning, and cognitive flexibility.
Kundalini Yoga Can Decrease Stress And Provide Anxiety Relief
In today’s society, many of us spend the large majority of our time working in fast-paced and incredibly stressful environments.
Kundalini yoga has been known to help decrease stress as well as provide anxiety relief, particularly for those with generalized anxiety disorder.
The practice of Kundalini Yoga releases tension from the inner organs, glands, and nerves. As it largely focuses on breathing, relaxation, and meditation, this can do you a wealth of good if you’re a stressed or anxious individual.
Kundalini Yoga Can Work To Boost Your Self-perception
Last, but by no means least, kundalini yoga has been known to help boost your self-perception.
If you’re someone that is often down on yourself, Kundalini yoga may help you towards self-acceptance.
Studies have shown that Kundalini yoga can help people with a variety of eating disorders, such as anorexia and bulimia, through improving one’s perception and appreciation of themselves.
Tips When Starting Kundalini Yoga
Wear The Right Clothing
You might not think that it matters all too much, but you should wear what you feel most comfortable in.
A lot of practitioners tend to wear comfortable, loose clothing that allows them to feel as light as a feather as they meditate and engage in Kundalini poses.
You might find that as you become more experienced, you change what you like to wear when you’re doing Kundalini yoga. It all comes down to your preference and what you feel the most comfortable in.
Focus On Your Breath And Feel It Moving
Like many other yoga practices, Kundalini requires you to focus on your breath.
When it comes to focusing on your breath as you breathe and chant, you will need to take note of how the breath manifests and moves its way around your body, allowing you to relax.
This helps you to remain present. However, whenever your mind starts to wander, make sure you reel it back by focusing on your breath in order to ground yourself..
Slowly Increase The Time That You Meditate
When you’re a beginner, your Kundalini yoga sessions are going to be significantly shorter. However, as you gain more experience and confidence, you can slowly begin to increase the time that you spend meditating.
As you continue practicing, focus on allowing thoughts to come and go, noticing feelings of euphoria in your body when they arise and move along your spine.
In Summary
Kundalini yoga is a different form of yoga in that it largely focuses on spirituality and there are many benefits associated with practicing Kundalini yoga.
If you’re interested in learning, why not start today?
I created this website to help newcomers to yoga and enthusiasts alike, and to share our common passions for yoga.
- 8 Yoga Poses to Release Tight Shoulders - October 14, 2023
- 10 Yoga Poses for Kyphosis - October 14, 2023
- What are the Key Principles of Yoga Alignment? - October 14, 2023
