A Guide to Kundalini Yoga
There are quite a few different types of yoga that you can practice, and one of the most popular is Kundalini yoga. Kundalini yoga is an incredibly dynamic system, one that is comprised of breathing, movement, stretching meditation, and the use of sound and rhythm, relaxation and meditation. It is one of the most powerful forms of yoga that you can practice, and classes usually entail spine and flexibility warm-ups.
The term Kundalini actually is from the Sanskrit, meaning coiled-up, and refers to a latent force in us which is considered as being the catalyst for all forms of self-healing and higher cognition. It is an energy which is in everyone, and therefore Kundalini yoga is a technology that can be used in order to gracefully access this energy.
Breathing
Breathing is a particularly important aspect in Kundalini yoga, and each exercise has a specific breath which is associated with it. The Breath of Fire for instance, which is also known as the Maha Agni Pranayam, is a rapid, rhythmic breath through the nose, and some of the claims for this particular breath are that its rhythmic aspect creates a harmonic resonance among all systems and organs which synchronizes the internal workings of the body and mind, it creates an optimum brain wave balance, and that on the energy level it engenders benefits in one minute which would have taken up to an hour with regular breathing.
Mantra
The issue of mantra is also incredibly important here, and in this form of yoga the aim is to raise the frequency of the energy that you garner, so that the self-healing process can be enhanced even further. In order to accomplish these tasks a mantra must be used, which is a sound or grouping of sound that has a pre-determined vibratory effect and which helps with the breathing and other relaxation techniques involved in the exercise.
It is important to remember that Kundalini yoga is a form of yoga which has a purpose of gaining strength and self-confidence through breathing and meditation techniques, and here students are encouraged to tune in to their bodies and find the Kundalini energy within themselves that they harness but which they most likely are not yet aware of. The process is gradual and graceful, and there are both checks and balances built into this system.
This is also a great form of yoga to start off with if you are just being introduced to the exercise of yoga in general, as it is one of the easier and gentler forms of yoga.