Kundalini yoga was coined, created and popularized in 1968 by Yogi Bhajan. He described the intent of his instructing to be a “wholesome, comfortable, holy” (3HO) lifestyle. He taught his American college students awaken their internal non secular vitality via mantra chanting, breath work, and yoga poses. This observe and life-style shortly caught on with many Westerners who had been looking for a brand new method to spirituality, well being, and wellness. Whereas Kundalini yoga flourished through the lifetime of Yogi Bhajan, new accounts have surfaced after his loss of life that reveal a darkish and disturbing previous.
What’s kundalini?
The Sanskrit time period kundalini means “coiled serpent” and refers back to the divine vitality that lies dormant contained in the human physique. This vibrant vitality is contained beneath the basis chakra, situated between the anus and genitals. It often stays dormant and nonetheless, however there are particular Tantra Yoga and Hatha Yoga methods that can be utilized to activate this vitality. As soon as activated, it then rises from and travels upward. It strikes via the susumna, the central vitality channel within the heart of the backbone, via the seven chakras, till it reaches the crown chakra, the place it turns into united with the divine consciousness.
Activating kundalini creates an final state of bliss. But with out ample preparation, releasing this coiled-up serpent vitality can result in catastrophe. The discharge of such a robust supply of pranic vitality into the physique’s delicate methods could cause ache and, in uncommon instances, result in psychological instability. Earlier than kundalini is activated and launched upwards, the physique and thoughts should be ready via hatha yoga workout routines, accomplished in a particular order.
Throughout an activation, one can expertise opposed results as kundalini strikes via the physique and the nervous system adjusts to this dramatic enhance of psychic vitality. Due to this fact, it’s not suggested to activate kundalini with out the steerage of a professional instructor and help of a non secular neighborhood.
What’s kundalini yoga?
The Kundalini Yoga observe created by Yogi Bhajan combines respiration workout routines, yoga postures, repetitive motion, meditation, mantra chanting and different Hatha Yoga and Sikh methods to awaken the physique’s kundalini vitality.
Within the Hatha Yoga custom, Kundalini is slowly woke up by the observe of asanas (postures), pranayama (respiration methods), meditation, and bandhas (vitality locks). These practices put together us to soundly expertise the ability of kundalini. In addition they assist us to grasp the delicate nature of the chakras (vitality facilities) throughout the physique. They need to be practiced slowly and step by step over time to construct up a yogi’s internal power and consciousness to handle and comprise these excessive ranges of life pressure vitality.
How is kundalini totally different from different forms of yoga?
Kundalini yoga lessons embody most of the similar postures as different types of yoga, however these are principally the seated poses which concentrate on spinal workout routines and repetitive actions. It additionally focuses extra on the esoteric and energizing features than different forms of yoga. Meditation, mantra, pranayama and visualization are emphasised over alignment and the opposite bodily features of Hatha Yoga.
You will note devoted practitioners sporting white garments in a kundalini class and utilizing sheepskins as an alternative or on high of yoga mats. They imagine sporting white will develop their aura and venture constructive vitality out into the world. Kundalini yogis might also put on turbans or different head coverings as a approach to focus their vitality on the third eye or sixth chakra heart. These usually are not required, however are used to represent the devotion to the observe and to strengthen the neighborhood.
Historical past of kundalini yoga
Yogi Bhajan promoted his teachings as a secret custom from an historical lineage that he had publicly revealed for the primary time. It’s now understood that he made up this type of yoga from a fusion of two totally different traditions. The asanas and respiration workout routines had been derived from his research with an Indian hatha yoga instructor named Swami Dhirendra Brahmachari. The chanting and devotional practices have their origins within the teachings of the Sikh saint Maharaj Virsa Singh.
Although this was not the “historical yoga observe” he promoted it to be, Yogi Bhajan’s teachings had been an enormous hit in Los Angeles within the early 70s. His instructing group shortly grew throughout the US and worldwide, and expanded to over 300 facilities in 35 nations. This enlargement included the creation of a number of profitable companies and non-profit organizations that had been estimated to be value billions of {dollars} on the time of his loss of life. He died of problems of coronary heart failure at his dwelling in New Mexico, on October 6, 2004, on the age of 75.
Accusations of abuse
Whereas Yogi Bhajan turned a revered instructor and had helped enhance the lives of lots of his followers, there have been many accusations of sexual, verbal, emotional and bodily abuse made after his loss of life. There have been different studies of drug smuggling, cash laundering, and fraud.
To its credit score, the dad or mum firm, SSSC, commissioned Olive Department, to carry out an unbiased investigation into the claims of abuse, they usually collected and assessed accounts from practically 300 witnesses. Olive Department’s report, launched to the general public in August 2020, concluded that these accusations of abuse “extra seemingly than not occurred.” Upon information of the report, some lecturers and trainers have distanced themselves from the neighborhood or have stopped working towards teachings of Yogi Bhajan.
The SSSC created an unbiased therapeutic and reparations program to acknowledge the hurt and assist heal the neighborhood. This voluntary program offers emotional sources and monetary help to serving to “people who skilled hurt in our faculties and youth packages, no matter whether or not the hurt was perpetrated by a employees member or a peer, and people who report sexual abuse by any chief or different particular person below institutional management in the neighborhood. ”
The risks of kundalini yoga
Many individuals imagine that awakening the kundalini vitality throughout the physique may be harmful, and that it could trigger you to develop into mentally unstable. Activating this serpent energy vitality may be achieved safely with the correct approach, instructor and intention.
Activating and stirring up this stream of vitality and not using a clear objective or intention can really feel disruptive and result in detrimental outcomes. Rapidly and forcefully stoking the serpent vitality in a yoga class can create very sturdy and uncomfortable reactions. In the event you start to really feel unbalanced, lightheaded, or emotionally disrupted by this observe, decelerate or cease, take a while to breathe deeply, and see what you’re feeling. Taking time throughout and after the observe might be essential to combine any new energies that come up.
You need to at all times seek the advice of with an skilled instructor earlier than starting any kind of yoga, particularly kundalini yoga. If you’re involved about its potential results in your psychological well-being, discuss to your physician, counselor, or therapist first.
The advantages of kundalini yoga
Kundalini yoga has many bodily and psychological advantages if practiced appropriately. The depth of this observe builds resilience, grit, and internal power. Like different types of yoga, it could enhance your flexibility, power, endurance, stability and coordination.. It reduces stress and nervousness and improves stability and coordination. The observe of Kundalini yoga may also help launch outdated patterns and habits and deepen your non secular observe.
What to anticipate in a kundalini yoga class
A typical Kundalini yoga class is comprised of three elements: a gap chant (referred to as “tuning in”) adopted by a short warm-up on your backbone, a kriya (which is a sequence of postures paired with respiration methods), and a closing meditation or track.
A typical Kundalini yoga observe begins with a brief chanting session referred to as tuning in. After the sequence of postures, there’s a closing meditation or track, the place we concentrate on stillness and silence.
Most of the frequent poses are used as kryias. A Kriya combines yoga postures with pranayama, Mudra and bandhas to maneuver vitality via the physique. Many of the frequent kundalini poses are seated positions that concentrate on the backbone. Cobra, Bow and Camel poses are all backbends that open the guts and chest. Spinal flexing in a seated cat cow pose and higher physique actions in different seated positions are quite common.
A number of pranayama practices are used, however the most well-liked respiration methods in a kundalini class is breath of fireplace. This focuses on expelling the breath as shortly as doable whereas nonetheless sustaining management over the inhalation via the nostril. This is usually a bit difficult for freshmen, however the breath of fireplace has many nice advantages so as to add to a yoga observe.
