Frequently Asked Questions
What is kundalini yoga?
Kundalini Yoga is known as the Yoga of Awareness. It is a comprehensive and effective school of yoga. It incorporates breath-work, posture, meditation, mantra and deep relaxation with the goal of awakening the kundalini. The practice of kundalini yoga is focused on developing and nurturing our subtler sides, emphasizing the nervous system and mind.
Patanjali’s second sutra states the goal of yoga is “the control of the thought waves”, the cessation of the churning of the thoughts and identifying those thoughts as reflections of the self. Kundalini yoga aims to empower us to experience stillness and live with an attitude of gratitude. Building inner strength and self-awareness to its maximum, so we can reach our highest potential.
For many who may have practiced yoga, they find that Kundalini Yoga is unique in its capacity to include so many of the diverse elements of the ancient teachings of yoga, for example integrating the use of sound (mantras and the gong), breathing techniques (pranayama), body posture (asana), hand positions (mudras) and meditation. Due to this breadth it is intended as a contemplative and self-reflective practice.
As our society becomes increasingly more dependent on technology, our world becomes more intimately connected and influenced by its numerous cultures. The pace of change is on the rise and the stress on our body’s nervous system is increasing. The science of Kundalini Yoga allows us to tap into a system, which Shiva Singh Khalsa likes to call “the most recently revealed ancient technology”, to help us cope with this escalating demand. The inner science of the mind is the tool enables us to cope with the pressure of these changes. It is the mind that interprets our outer and inner worlds and it is the mind that we can and, frankly, must train to guide us through the flow of change.
Kundalini Yoga can give you the experience of being your original self.
Unfortunately, amid today’s hectic schedule, many of us have forgotten who we are and why we are here. There is only so much wisdom you can get out of a book, but wisdom cannot sustain you. Wisdom only becomes knowledge once you have experienced it. Kundalini Yoga opens you to the experience that we are “spiritual beings having a human experience not human beings having a spiritual experience”; and then you can experience the infinite joy, health, and happiness, which is our birthright
For Beginners - Exalted not Exhausted!
We welcome you to attend classes and other events. If you are a beginning student, go at a pace that suits your flexibility and endurance. As you feel more comfortable with the exercises you will find the more you relax the more natural class becomes. There is no pressure in Kundalini Yoga to push the body too far; there should be no pain or fear of judgement. We say “Keep up and you will be kept up!” Approach class with an attitude of gratitude and the benefits happen.
How do I prepare for a kundalini yoga class?
It is said all you need to have to attend a Kundalini Yoga class is the will to transform. All are welcome! No experience necessary!
Since we are now also having classes using Zoom, we suggest you set yourself in as private a space as possible, making sure that children and pets won’t distract you or others in the class.
We invite all to participate to the best of their ability. We can always provide appropriate modifications.
We suggest not eating a heavy meal before class. If you want to eat something beforehand, eat a piece of fruit or something light.
There is no particular "dress code" for a class. Comfortable loose fitting clothing works best. (Often you may notice long time students wear white clothes but it is not required)
We welcome you if you are pregnant or menstruating. Though we recommend keeping to gentler practices to no over-exert yourself.
Please note that it is not appropriate to attend our classes while intoxicated, we want you to have an authentic experience of self and substances impact that experience. There are other places and spaces for such activities.
A typical kundalini yoga class is as follows:
1. Tune-In, intention setting exercise
2. Pranayama, breathing exercise
3. Kriya, physical exercises
4. Savasana, sometimes accompanied by the gong
5. Meditation, mental exercise
6. Closing affirmation, gratitude exercise
What is kundalini?
The word “kundalini” means “coiled snake” and in yogic philosophy refers to the divine feminine energy that lays at the base of the spine. Usually dormant, this awareness in a person is an innate source of self, our own spiritual energy that has the power to clear the duality which makes us feel apart from ourselves and others.
Modern psychology has brought us the understanding that self-actualization necessitates security. Therefore in order to access this well of deep creative power we must create secure attachments to ourselves and the world around us.
We like to say that even without a yoga practice, once in a while a little kundalini “seeps" into our awareness and we have everyday experiences of joy, calmness, peace of mind, oneness and bliss. Practice just enables more of that energy into our awareness!
What’s kundalini yoga’s relationship to other forms of yoga
Kundalini yoga developed out of hatha yoga. Most notable differences are the emphasis on the use of mantra and rhythmic movement with breathing exercises. Similar to yin yoga, postures are held for longer periods of time but often involve repetitive movements, mantra, or breath.
Kundalini yoga uses many postures familiar to asthanga and hatha practitioners while also incorporating subtler exercises that work on the nervous system and energetic systems. This means that some classes may be largely seated and others much more rigorous on the body. This range often makes kundalini yoga more accessible to beginners or people with limited mobility.
What’s with all the white?
We encourage people in practice to wear loose clothing of natural fibers like linen, cotton, and wool and to wear colors that aren’t jarring or attention grabbing.
Part of conscious living is recognizing the harmful impact that synthetic fibers (a.k.a microplastics) have on us and our environment, choosing clothing made from plants and animals is kinder to the planet and in accordance with natural cycles. The craze of “athlesiure” wear is antithetical to core principles of yogic philosophy as it capitalizes on vanity and consumerism which are superficial limitations. In class, it doesn’t matter what brand you’re wearing or how “good” you look, period.
Continuing that thought, we believe that clothing worn during yoga practice should reflect how we want to feel during practice, comfortable and unrestricted. This means wearing clothing that is not distracting or disruptive to our practice (not too tight or too itchy or whatever). This is why we recommend finding loose fitting clothing that allows unrestricted movement while allowing our skin to breathe.
On the topic of disruptive, we often invite people to wear white as its not harsh on the eyes in the same way bright colors are. But if colors are your jam, neutrals and earthy tones (blues, greens, browns) are great ways to have your cake and eat it too. We want people to be focusing on their individual experience, not someone’s neon orange leggings across the room.
We encourage people to dress according to what their personal practice calls for and will not turn anyone away nor judge them for their decisions on how to dress.
Where did yoga come from?
Happiness is our birthright. The practices for expanding our awareness, experiencing our oneness and fulfilling our life’s purpose we call Yoga have no religious or national boundaries. This technology of consciousness and healthy living is a compendium of knowledge studied, practiced and compiled over thousands of years. Its recent introduction to the West came from India.
Yoga has been called a “black science” as it originally came from the part of Africa that is now Ethiopia before the continents shifted millennia ago!
Is yoga a religion?
Yoga comes from the ancient vedic writings which Hinduism draws its origins from as well. The teachings of yoga are intended to facilitate our union with the divine and we like to leave the “divine” open to the interpretation of the practitioner. Most faith traditions arose from the expanded consciousness of a person who attempted to share their awakening. Over the years we’ve seen yoga practitioners gain deeper understanding of their personal faith traditions. As any spiritual practice has roots in various traditions, many of the mantras we use in our classes are from the Sikh tradition and reflect the philosophical contributions of Sikhi on life and consciousness.
What’s this about a “kundalini awakening”?
Kundalini yoga creates a safe and balanced environment for transformation and personal growth. Yogic anatomy identifies 72,000 energy meridians, called nadis in the body. The primary three are the ida, pingala and sushumna, intertwining along the spinal column.
When through consistent practice the ida and pingala merge, the sushumna or central channel will be clear and the kundalini may rise from the base of the spine, where it normally lays dormant. Thus we are simply clearing the blocks which allow our natural, everyday energy of consciousness and awareness to be fully realized.
This process can occur suddenly, over many years, many times, maybe only once. It also looks different for everyone though many people report a sensation of euphoria and enlightenment. Others will describe the experience as overwhelming or stressful, often to an overflow of energy and information. The only way to insulate oneself from such an experience is to have a rich and steady practice to ground and secure the sense of self.
Will practicing yoga conflict with my current spiritual beliefs?
Anyone can practice yoga without limiting, abandoning or changing their faith tradition. Many of our students and teachers have spiritual beliefs that are completely unaffiliated with the Hindu faith which yoga originates from. In fact for most people the practices of yoga enhance their own beliefs.
I’m worried that yoga isn’t accessible but I want to participate, what should I do?
We believe that any sincere effort placed into practice will aid the whole self. The physical, mental and spiritual are all intimately connected. People with physical or cognitive limitations can experience benefits from the practices of yoga through things like variations and visualizations. We happily offer adjustments to much of what we do and welcome all to make bring their sincere efforts. If you would like more information please don’t hesitate to reach out and ask!