| Kundalini Yoga | | | | |
| | | | Kundalini yoga is not only useful in |
| Kundalini yoga is considered the most | | | | strengthening the health and well-being of |
| powerful form of yoga. Kundalini yoga comes | | | | the physical body, but also very useful for |
| from the Sanskrit word kundal, which means | | | | emotional balance, stress relief, mental |
| the lock of the hair from the beloved. The | | | | clarity, and personal transformation. |
| hair symbolizes the unlimited potential | | | | Kundalini can be awakened by various means |
| inside each individual. | | | | and these different methods are called by |
| | | | different names, viz., Raja Yoga, Hatha Yoga, |
| Basic Idea behind Kundalini Yoga | | | | etc. |
| | | | |
| In Kundalini Yoga the creating and sustaining | | | | Chakras |
| Sakti of the entire body is in fact and truly | | | | |
| united with Lord Siva. It uses asanas, | | | | A yoga practitioner should know something |
| pranayama, and mantra. It is based upon | | | | about the spinal column, which is the |
| Kundalini energy which is "one's dormant | | | | location of five of the seven chakras, or |
| spiritual energy." | | | | energy centers to practice Kundalini yoga. We |
| | | | all know that the spinal column is part of |
| This energy is symbolized as a coiled up | | | | the human nervous system, which also includes |
| snake at the base of the spine, which is the | | | | the brain and nerves. |
| first chakra. The energy is released through | | | | |
| breathing, chanting, and movement in order | | | | These things jointly are responsible for our |
| that you can recognize your full potential. | | | | thought, imagination, memory, and |
| | | | intelligence. Five of the seven chakras are |
| It brings together the masculine and feminine | | | | situated alongside the spinal column and the |
| powers of the body. The goal of Kundalini | | | | remaining two chakras are situated on the |
| yoga is to move the Kundalini energy up | | | | head one in the middle and one on the top. |
| through all seven chakras. When you reach the | | | | |
| seventh chakra you experience enlightenment. | | | | A person can visualize the Kundalini energy |
| | | | traveling up the spine as he or she breathes. |
| Benefits of Kundalini Yoga | | | | This energy begins and ends with that |
| | | | individual. It is the awakening of the self. |
| * Balancing of emotions | | | | Often a person will feel warmth along the |
| | | | chakras, when an individual awaken the |
| * Strengthening of the nervous system | | | | Kundalini energy. Others have reported they |
| | | | feel a tingling sensation. |
| * Increases energy level | | | | |
| | | | Kundalini yoga includes a set of postures and |
| * Enlivens sense of awareness | | | | exercises that work on a particular area of |
| | | | the body, mind, and spirit. There are |
| * Encourages sense of peace | | | | hundreds of these sets, which can be used to |
| | | | awaken a yoga practitioner to his or her full |
| * Brings clarity to the mind | | | | potential. |
| | | | |
| * Stress reduction | | | | These postures deal with each aspect of human |
| | | | nature right from the issues of physical |
| * Strengthens the immune system | | | | health to issues of mental health to general |
| | | | well being. |
| * Increases lung capacity for better | | | | |
| breathing | | | | Yoga practitioner enters a state of deep |
| | | | relaxation often accompanied by spiritual |
| * Supports and encourages personal | | | | music and sometimes a gong after the |
| transformation and growth | | | | completion of the sets. Lastly, the yoga |
| | | | practitioner of kundalini yoga ends up with a |
| * Orients consciousness to create happiness | | | | breath or mantra meditation. |
| and health | | | | |