So, what’s this Kundalini yoga thing all about, then?
Taking your first class, or thinking about it? Maybe you’ve been going to classes for a while but have questions. Hopefully they will be answered here!
🐍What actually is Kundalini yoga?
Kundalini yoga focuses on - you guessed it! Raising the Kundalini!
“Kundalini” has many different definitions and translations, but in a nutshell, it’s the divine creative energy that we are all born with. The Kundalini energy is the Shakti, the divine feminine creative power within each of us. This energy lies dormant in the spine until it is activated. It can be activated in many ways, but Kundalini yoga does an amazingly good job of safely and quickly raising the Kundalini energy.
When the Kundalini is activated in your root chakra it can then move through your chakras and creates a powerful connection between you (the finite) and universal consciousness (AKA God, the divine, the infinite).
Kundalini yoga uses mantra, chanting, breathwork, physical movement and meditation to make this happen.
And once you get it moving, Kundalini yoga can help it keep moving!
⚡I’ve heard that Kundalini Yoga is “intense”, how do I know if I’m ready for it?
Great question! Kundalini yoga can be intense, but not always, and you are always in complete control in class as to how far you want to go. If any of the practices feel like too much in the moment, you can always pull back and take a break.
Kundalini yoga moves energy and that can be an uncomfortable experience, especially if you’re not used to it. Kundalini yoga is called the “yoga of awareness” and so it may bring things to light. It’s not unusual to cry during a class or to feel other emotions coming up. You might feel angry (especially if you’re holding a posture for a long time!), or you may feel completely blissed out and in love with yourself and the universe! Every class hits different. Sometimes Kundalini yoga just makes you feel better, and then you go on with your day with a lighter step!
People are usually ready for Kundalini yoga when those nudges start coming. If you’re suddenly seeing Kundalini content popping up on your social media, noticing Kundalini books in bookshops, seeing flyers on noticeboards, or if you’re just curious about Kundalini yoga in any way that can be a nudge that it’s time to check it out!
Kundalini yoga is not for everyone. It requires a willingness to sit with yourself. Sometimes in some unusual positions.😅
However, if you have done some personal and/or spiritual development work already and you’re keen to go deeper within yourself to heal, clear and release some old junk as well as activate your soul, heart, mind and personal power, these practices can be very powerful.
🥨Do I have to be flexible or fit to do Kundalini yoga?
Nope.
There are no levels in Kundalini yoga and you are always welcome to come and modify as needed. Most teachers (including me!) will give you modifications.
Not everyone is a pretzel. I’m not a pretzel either but I still get so much out of the practices even when I modify them to work with my body.
It’s said that 80% of the work in Kundalini yoga is just showing up. So even if you just sit in easy pose the whole time, you’re still getting a lot of benefit! 😅
🎶What’s with all the chanting at the start?
Most Kundalini yoga classes start with two mantras:
Ong namo guru dev namo
This roughly translates as “I bow to the divine wisdom within” or “I bow to the invisible guru.” Guru meaning the one who removes the darkness.
This mantra sets the intention for class, connects you to your higher self, inner and divine wisdom.
Then we chant:
Aad Guray Nameh
Jugaad Guray Nameh
Sat Guray Nameh
Siri Guru Devay Nameh
This roughly translates as:
I bow to the Primal Wisdom, I bow to the Wisdom through the Ages, I bow to the True Wisdom, I bow to the great, unseen Wisdom.
This is a protection mantra which creates safe space and a shield of light around you as you practice. You can find out more about this in my Shield of Light workshop!
🧘♀️What actually happens in a class?
Usually we chant, then do some physical warm ups and a physical kriya. Kriyas are movement sets that are done to achieve a certain specific outcome. You can think of them like HIIT workouts for the physical and energy bodies, or like spells using the movements of the body instead of magickal tools.
Then you get a nice lie down for a bit and before you sit up for a final meditation. This varies, but it can involve chanting, mudra and/or some simple physical movements.
Then we finish with the Long Time Sun song. This is a blessing we sing to ourselves, for ourselves, for each other and the world. Cool fact about this song is it was written by The Incredible String Band in the 1960s.
😲What? I thought these were ancient practices?!
Ok, let’s back up a bit here. Kundalini yoga is an ancient technology that has been practiced for thousands of years. A lot happens in that amount of time and so there are many versions of these practices out there. In the west many of us practice a style of Kundalini yoga that came through the Sikh tradition (this is what I practice and teach). It was brought to the west in the 60s by Yogi Bhajan. And during that time, he found out about the Incredible String Band’s Long Time Sun song and started adding it to the end of class.
🙄Isn’t Yogi Bhajan a bit problematic?
Yes. A lot of people choose not to practice Kundalini yoga because of this, but unfortunately most spiritual and magickal paths have had problematic teachers. If we were to stop practicing anything that had connections to problematic teachers, most of us would be without practices pretty quickly.
On any path we must be able to separate the teachings from the teacher.
To throw out thousands of years of ancient wisdom because of one man’s challenges and choices doesn’t work for me. Yes, there have been problematic teachers on this path, but there have (and are!) thousands and thousands of teachers who are doing the work on themselves and holding beautiful safe space for the teachings to be shared and experienced. I like to think I am one of them!
The days of guru worship are over. As you embark on any spiritual journey (including Kundalini) always trust yourself, use discernment and listen to your own intuition.
🤍What’s with everyone wearing white all the time?
It’s said in the teachings that wearing white expands the aura. It becomes a kind of practice in itself to wear white. Because white is harder to keep clean, when wearing it you become more aware of how you eat and where you sit, making you move through the world in a different way.
Wearing white is totally optional. Try it and see how you feel. Or just wear whatever is comfortable for you!
I love the feeling of wearing white when I practice yoga, but I also love colour and so you’ll find me sometimes teaching all in white, other times I’ll be wearing leopard print! 😜
The most important thing is just to be comfortable. Wear leggings, dress like you’re going to the gym, or wear something baggy, flowy and comfy, or a bit of both! There are no rules.
👳♀️Ok, and what about the head coverings?
There are various reasons people like to cover their head during Kundalini yoga. It’s said to protect the crown, raising the Kundalini safely through the chakras rather than blasting the crown and connection to source wide open (which isn’t a great idea).
Some teachers say that wearing a turban activates pressure points and/or holds the bones of the skull in correct place for deeper meditation. Others choose to wear a head covering as a way to pay respect to the Sikh tradition and some wear a head covering as a practice in itself or a way to a prepare and set intention to practice.
There is no right or wrong, it’s all about finding what works for you personally as a practice.
🌟How does Kundalini Magick differ from other forms of Kundalini yoga?
My spiritual practice is vast and varied. I love the Kundalini teachings and Kundalini yoga is something I practice daily. But I am also a witch, a magician, a tarot reader, a lightworker, and so many other things!
One thing I have found fascinating is how similar all these paths are when you start diving deep.
In my humble opinion, Kundalini yoga is magick.
I never alter the teachings and will always share them with you exactly as written, but in my classes I will talk about them from not only a yogic perspective but also from a magickal one as well.
I teach both physical yoga and non-physical workshops.
You can find out about new courses and workshops here and check out previous classes here.
Got more questions for the FAQs? Contact me here.
With love and Kundalini rising,
Vix
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