Kundalini Yoga is a powerful type of yoga that focuses on the energy within the body. The focus is usually pinpointed on a specific area. In the old language, the definition for this type of yoga is known as energy and also as coiled, and is likened to the energy of a coiled-up snake.
This energy is said to reside at the bottom of the spine, lying in wait until the user taps into the power and lets it flow throughout the body.
Historical Roots
Kundalini practices trace back thousands of years in the Tantric traditions of India and Tibet. Long before becoming widely known through modern Kundalini Yoga as taught by Yogi Bhajan in the West, these powerful techniques were preserved in esoteric texts and oral traditions. Ancient Vedic and Tantric scriptures contain references to this dormant spiritual power, describing it as the cosmic energy that animates all existence.
The Symbolism of the Coiled Snake
The coiled snake metaphor carries deep symbolic significance. Traditionally depicted as having three and a half coils, each coil represents different states of consciousness: waking consciousness, dream state, deep dreamless sleep, and the half coil represents transcendental consciousness. This serpentine energy remains coiled at the base of the spine in most people, containing immense potential that awaits awakening through dedicated spiritual practice.
The Seven Chakras and Their Meanings
To be able to focus on this energy results in the ability to achieve consciousness of one’s inner being on a new level. This consciousness is referred to as the chakras. Within the body, there are seven chakras, or energy centers.
These energy centers are said to give those who practice yoga a system of energy, control, or subtle power. The chakras have within them things like the spiritual side, the kindness of a person.
They also help focus on the ability to share verbally and in the way we express ourselves. To tap into the chakras is to tap into the love, the power within, and even the will to survive.
Root Chakra MULADHARA
- Location: Base of spine
- Qualities: Energy, stability, comfort, safety
- Affirmation: “I AM”
Sacral Chakra SVADHISTHANA
- Location: Lower abdomen
- Qualities: Sensuality, sexuality, pleasure, sociability
- Affirmation: “I FEEL”
Solar Plexus Chakra MANIPURA
- Location: Upper abdomen
- Qualities: Strength, personality, power, determination
- Affirmation: “I DO”
Heart Chakra ANAHATA
- Location: Center of chest
- Qualities: Acceptance, love, compassion, sincerity
- Affirmation: “I LOVE”
Throat Chakra VISHUDDHA
- Location: Throat
- Qualities: Communication, expression, self-expression
- Affirmation: “I TALK”
Third Eye Chakra AJNA
- Location: Forehead
- Qualities: Intuition, clarity, meditation, trust
- Affirmation: “I SEE”
Crown Chakra SAHASRARA
- Location: Top of head
- Qualities: Knowledge, consciousness, fulfillment, spirituality
- Affirmation: “I UNDERSTAND”
It’s A Journey
For someone who’s never studied any type of yoga, Kundalini Yoga isn’t a starting point but rather a graduating point. The poses used in yoga are also done with practiced breathing, much the same as in other styles of yoga.
Releasing Energy
While other styles of yoga do center on several different aspects, such as physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual, Kundalini Yoga has a strong emphasis on the spiritual. Like other yoga forms, partaking in this kind of yoga will also strengthen the body and help users have a balanced life.
However, the main component of this versus other types of yoga is the concentration on bringing the unreleased energy into play and having it travel through the chakras until the goal of understanding or enlightenment is reached.
There are rewards to be reaped from undertaking any kind of yoga designed to improve your overall health and emotional well-being. But because this style of yoga is so powerful, beginners are cautioned to align themselves either with an instructor who’s familiar with the power involved or with someone who understands how to use the energy correctly.
There are challenges involved with a yoga that has coiled energy, and you don’t want to tap into something you’re not sure how to handle emotionally or physically.
The Protective Aspect
In traditional teachings, Kundalini energy serves as a guardian of deeper spiritual potential. The very fact that it remains dormant until properly awakened is seen as a protective mechanism. This innate wisdom ensures that profound spiritual transformation occurs only when the practitioner has prepared their physical, emotional, and energetic systems to handle such powerful energy. This protective aspect explains why traditional practices emphasize the purification of the body and mind before attempting to awaken Kundalini.
The Role of the Teacher
Historically, Kundalini knowledge was carefully transmitted through direct teacher-student relationships. The guru’s role was not merely instructional but served as both guide and energetic catalyst. An experienced teacher could recognize signs of premature awakening and provide techniques to help integrate or temporarily dampen overwhelming experiences. Even in modern practice, having the guidance of an experienced teacher is considered essential for navigating the complex territory of Kundalini energy safely and effectively.
Variations in Experience
It’s important to acknowledge that experiences with Kundalini vary widely among practitioners. Some report dramatic awakenings accompanied by intense physical sensations, spontaneous movements, visions, or emotional releases, while others experience more subtle, gradual changes in awareness and energy levels. Neither experience is considered more valid or “correct” than the other, as each person’s journey with Kundalini is uniquely tailored to their individual spiritual development.
