How to Harness Kundalini Energy
Updated: Jan 24, 2022
There are many styles of yoga that you can practice: Power Yoga, Restorative Yoga, Yin Yoga, and more. Several forms of yoga involve enhancing physical strength, gaining mental clarity, and relaxing the mind. Other styles have a definitive focus on increasing energy in your body. Not just physical energy, but spiritual and enlightening energy. One such yoga style is Kundalini Yoga. This article will focus specifically on the energy generated by Kundalini and how you, as a yoga practitioner, can personally harness that energy.
What Is Kundalini Yoga
It would be wise to first start with the definition of Kundalini Yoga and its intention. Kundalini is an ancient yoga practice and philosophy; it has its origins in the 8th century and continues to be practiced today. With its roots in the Tantric Yoga tradition, Kundalini Yoga is a stimulating practice that helps one discover, harness, and efficiently use powerful energy from within to help transform one's life.
Awaken the Sleeping Snake
In Sanskrit, the language of yoga, Kundalini means "coiled snake" that resides in the base of the spine. It intends to deliver that powerful energy throughout the mind and body. The idea of a coiled snake is a good image to help explain and understand the nature of Kundalini Yoga. Imagine a sleeping coiled snake at the base of your spine. When you engage in specific exercises of breathwork, movement, and chanting, you awaken the sleeping snake so it can transport its powerful energy up the spine through energy channels called the Chakras and Nadis. The ultimate goal is to experience spiritual liberation.
The Main Components of Kundalini Yoga
To begin harnessing this energy source, one engages in a comprehensive style of practice containing six main components.
Opening Chant: A Kundalini Yoga class often begins with an opening chant. It is a way to tune in and fully arrive in the present moment to dedicate your time to this practice.
Pranayama: This is a breathing technique common among many yoga styles. In Kundalini, it is one of the primary sources of powerful internal energy.
Kriya: This is a sequence of movements, breathing, and hand gestures accompanied by chanting and meditation. These themed and intentional exercises are directly related to channeling this newly harnessed energy.
Relaxation: After the Kriya exercise, take time to relax to absorb the previous practice's intentions fully.
Meditation: Coming to stillness and silence is essential for the Kundalini practice to cultivate full awareness.
Closing Chant: A closing chant or song provides closure of the practice and is a positive send-off and motivator to sustain the Kundalini energy.
Harness the Kundalini Energy
When you engage in a consistent Kundalini Yoga practice, you generate powerful energy within you. Often called Kundalini Awakening, it is through the practice of chanting, pranayama breathing, the Kriyas, and meditation that opens the door to this potential.
Its purpose is to help you realize that all these worldly byproducts can act as obstacles in your self-development that prevent you from spiritual growth. Everyday human experiences like stress, anxiety, depression, attachment, physical ailments, and cognitive inflexibility are just some examples of how those environmental occurrences affect your mind and body.
It is imperative to engage in healthy rituals to dissolve the impact of these worldly events and circumstances and ultimately achieve mental and physical clarity.
When using the six main components of the Kundalini practice, you open and awaken the energy channels. You'll find yourself flooded with an incredible Kundalini Energy that produces profound change and awareness. With continued practice, you will harness the power of these newly flourishing energy centers. You will experience new health, a boost in self-awareness, an increase in your thoughtfulness, and an awakened spiritual connection.
The Power of the Kriya
In simple terms, a Kriya is a technique in a disciplined yoga practice that achieves a specific result. The Kriya can be considered the "gateway" toward harnessing the Kundalini Energy mentioned earlier. These are purification exercises intended to clear the mind and body of any ailment or mental obstacle to living a more full and prosperous life.
Often these purification exercises are done for an extended period to maximize the energetic value of the practice. An example of a Kriya movement is the Cat/Cow Spinal Flow. Cat/Cow is common in many yoga practices but can have a specific result in Kundalini Yoga of unlocking tension in the spine and pelvis.
Cat/Cow Spinal Flow Practice
Come to your hands and knees with your wrists aligned under your shoulders and your knees aligned under your hips. As you inhale, tilt your pelvis anteriorly; this will create an arch in your back like you're doing a minor backbend. Tip your gaze upward and open your chest. This is Cow Pose.
Exhale and tilt your pelvis in the opposite direction. Round your back and tuck your chin toward your chest. This is Cat Pose.
Continue this fluid movement of the body for at least two minutes. Finish in a resting pose like Child's Pose or Savasana.
Take A Kundalini Yoga Training
To fully comprehend the powerful nature of Kundalini Yoga and its benefits, you may want to experience a Kundalini Yoga Training. Even as a beginner, you can tap into the electric power of this practice and harness its intentions. For further depth of understanding, you may consider taking an Online Kundalini Yoga Teacher Training that is devoted to the Kundalini philosophy.
You will find that Kundalini Yoga is a practical and approachable practice that offers you a magnitude of self-discovery and growth.
Not sure if a yoga teacher training is right for you? Check out our 5 part series to help you decide the next step of your yoga journey!
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