Yoga is both physically and mentally beneficial, thanks to its slow, controlled movements that help to regulate your breath, calm your mind and relax your body. If you’re looking to take this mind, body, and breath connection to a deeper spiritual level, Kundalini yoga could be just what you are looking for.

“Kundalini yoga goes beyond the physical. It’s much more of a holistic practice and works all the systems in the body and helps us go beyond the limitations of the mind.”

Sjha'ra Taylor — qualified Kundalini yoga teacher and endota Retreat guide

By combining chanting and singing with repetitive yoga poses and breath, Kundalini yoga can help you to feel enlightened, emotionally aware and mentally clearer. In order to receive the most from your Kundalini yoga practice, it is beneficial to understand what kundalini is, its relationship with your body and how to best incorporate the yoga practice into your routine before you take to the mat.

The term Kundalini derives from the ancient Indian Sanskrit language, with the word Kundal  meaning coil or circle. This refers to coiled energy believed to be found at the base of your spine within your root chakra, which can be activated during a Kundalini yoga practice. This feminine energy is often depicted as a coiled snake that, once awoken from its rest, can weave its way up through the long, central channel of your body, working to unblock and balance each of your chakras in its upwards path. 

During Kundalini both feminine (Shakti) and masculine (Shiva) energies unite, not only within your chakras but from both sides of your body. Polar opposites, your masculine energy governs your body’s right side alongside your logic and determination, while your feminine rules your left side, which taps into your creativity and compassion. For example, having an internal balance allows you to act  with both compassion and logic, instead of favouring one over the other. Yoga, especially Kundalini, can help you achieve a  sense of harmony between the two energies. 

As a clearing process, Kundalini helps to heal imbalances and emotional blemishes within each chakra, causing an electrifying response within your body — as though you have flicked a switch on from within or turned an energetically charged key. This energetic pull and electrifying force can contribute to you experiencing a Kundalini awakening. 

This awakening can be attributed to free flowing energy within your body’s channel (meaning your chakras are balanced, healed and clear) and the experience of an expanded state of consciousness, which is a unique experience for each individual and often beyond your control. Once awakened, your mind and body will feel a shift, leading to noticeable changes in spirituality, connection to self and others, empathy and creativity — just to name a few. This creates long-term positive change and a greater sense of wellbeing from within. While Kundalini yoga is one main source to ignite this awakening from within, a combination of dancing, energy work, gratitude and meditation can also help contribute.

The practice of Kundalini yoga often awakens our sacral (or Svadhisthana) chakra. A powerful feminine chakra for receiving energy, located between the hips, above the pubic bone. With close proximity to our sexual organs it drives our sexuality, pleasure, and need for connection. Kundalini yoga regulates our sacral, bringing it into balance. This helps us to be more in sync with our sexual desires, enabling us to experience an active libido. 

Having a healthy sex drive provides an opportunity to form new connections or strengthen your bond to a partner or partners, as intimacy opens us up to vulnerability and deeper emotional connections. Physically and emotionally, it ignites a closeness like no other.

A healthy sacral also strengthens our connection to self, boosting our self-confidence and helping us to live authentically. When we are in tune with ourselves, we begin to trust our instincts more deeply, making it easier to express ourselves and communicate openly. This often leads us to feel happier, healthier and more sociable. As we radiate this positive energy people are naturally drawn in, enriching our relationship to self and others. 

If you’re looking to delve deeper into Kundalini yoga and connect with your divine energy, here are a few tips to help you get started.

A welcoming practice if you’re new to Kundalini yoga is Sjha’ra Taylors’ Expand your Radiance. This class will help you create positive, free-flowing energy to enrich your wellbeing.

If you enjoyed this practice you can explore more Kundalini yoga classes on endota Retreat. To learn about alternative yoga practices, Vin and Vinyasa, read our blog here.