Kundalini Yoga
Yoga is an ancient Indian exercise program combining the physical, mental,
emotional and spiritual forms of movement for total well-being.
Kundalini yoga or Laya yoga is an advanced form of yoga incorporating asana,
pranayam, mantra and meditation. Kundalini or coiled-up snake is the sleeping
primordial, divine cosmic power or shakti lying dormant at mouth of sushumna,
nadi or base of the spinal cord in all human beings.
It is aroused by kundalini
yoga and pulled upward through the ‘chakras,’ or the psychic centers of the
body, toward the head. The head is the seat of highest consciousness. The union
of individual and pure consciousness takes place here, leading to illumination,
liberation, knowledge and total bliss.
Female power is referred to as Shakti; goddess of speech and source of all
power, while pure consciousness is male power or Lord Shiva. The universe is the
balance of positive and negative energy, male and female, static and dynamic.
Practice of kundalini yoga leads to a state of arousal and equanimity in an
individual. It is an advanced form of yoga requiring a thorough knowledge of
physical body and purification of psychic centers of the body. It should be
practiced correctly under the guidance of a master or Guru.
Benefits of Kundalini Yoga
Classes begin with 15 minutes of warm up exercises. The physical postures or
‘Kriyas’ stretch and discipline the physical body along with purification of
inner organs. Pranayam or breathing exercise tones the nervous system purifies
the nadis or astral channels through which flow the prana.
The mind is rid of
all thoughts by meditation and chanting of mantras. Mental purification is very
important for spiritual progress. Chanting of Om, the all-inclusive universal
sound vibration, in different pitches triggers the subtle centers of the brain.
According to one yogic theory, there are 72,000 nadis or astral channels in the
body linked to spinal cord or sushumna nadi. Kundalini resides in the lowest
extremity of spinal cord. As it gets aroused, it passes through six chakras or
way-stations or storage houses of subtle, vital energy.
Each chakra has a
corresponding center in the spinal cord and associated nerve plexuses of the
physical body. It rises to meet the seventh chakra at the crown of head or the
location of pineal gland of the body. With the increasing pitch of Om mantra,
concentration and patience, the kundalini rises up slowly, passing from one
chakra to another. This takes years of practice.
Under the guidance of a guru, an aspirant’s self-discipline, purity of thought,
meditation, physical exercise, controlled and regulated breathing, and
purification of vital astral nerves takes place. A lengthy and continuous
process is required for the person to be ready. His yearning for union with pure
consciousness, evolution toward purity awakens the power of kundalini.
It is the
state of supreme consciousness and spiritual enlightenment making him jnani, in
state of highest knowledge. It suffuses a person with well being, internal
balance and relieves him of all stress and strife of life.
The kundalini yoga class concludes with meditation and deep relaxation.
Thereafter, with great reverence, mantra or song of blessing is invoked before
dispersing.
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