Kundalini yoga is a form of yoga designed to detoxify your body, and specifically, to strengthen your kidneys, adrenals, immune system, nervous system and circulation. The integral part of detoxification with Kundalini is the emphasis on relaxation and stress release. Kundalini yoga enlists a combination of movement, breath, meditation, mantras and chants that help you to awaken and energize your body while simultaneously relaxing your mind and detoxifying your internal organs.
History
Kundalini yoga has been in practice for thousands of years. It is said to have come from a form of Hinduism know as Kashmir Shavism in India. Originally, in India the teachings of Kundalini yoga were maintained as a strict and restricted oral tradition that could only be learned through a specific lineage of master-to-student teachings. In 1969 Yogi Bhajan brought Kundalini yoga to the United States and began to teach the practices widely and openly while offering detailed explanations of its technology.
Significance
From its Sanskrit origins, the word "kundalini" literally means "coiled power." The coiled energy referred to in the practice of Kundalini yoga is said to reside at the base of the spine; it is imagined to be in the form of a coiled serpent. Kundalini yoga is developed as practice that seeks to awaken this coiled energy and move it up the spine through the brain. Kundalini yoga relies upon the use of your chakra energy centers, or subtle energetic fields, to fuel energetic movement. The practices of Kundalini yoga seek to integrate your body and mind towards greater states of awareness, while allowing toxins to be naturally released.
Physical Effects
The physical effects of Kundalini yoga are experienced in a variety of ways. These physical effects are said to be the result of energetic awakenings and are often experienced as involuntary or spontaneous reactions. Physical effects include bodily heat, bodily vibrations or shaking, visions or vocalizations. The commonality among all of these physical effects is typically found to be feelings of intense pleasure and emotional release. With these physical effects, the body is believed to be experiencing a detoxification of body and mind which can support the immune system, internal organs and glands, circulation and nervous system.
Detoxification
Kundalini yoga is believed to prepare your body for detoxifying processes by using energizing techniques known as kriyas. Kriyas combine specific yoga postures with breathing exercises such as kapalabhati, or the breath of fire, that serve to awaken energy movement along your chakra centers. Yoga postures are then coordinated along with your breath to maximize energy flow. These coordinated techniques are believed to produce cleansing effects for your body through activation of internal heat.
Considerations
It is believed that Kundalini yoga can be awakened and channeled to benefit the mental, physical, and spiritual facets of your life. However, it is also believed that awakening this energy can be dangerous for an untrained or unprepared student. If you are interested in Kundalini, seek instruction from an experienced practitioner who can guide you toward safe "energetic awakenings." Further, Kundalini yoga has a very specific set of practices and a detailed belief system; it is important to learn about these values before deciding if Kundalini yoga is right for your personal detoxification strategy.
References
- "A Glossary of Sanskrit from the Spiritual Tradition of India"; Eknath Easwaran; 1970
- "History of Kundalini Yoga"
- "Awakening of Kundalini"
- "What is Kundalini Yoga"
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