About Kundalini Yoga
WHAT IS KUNDALINI YOGA?
Kundalini yoga is a powerful awareness practice that combines physical exercises (asanas), conscious breathing techniques (pranayama), meditation and chanting of mantras.
By combining all these elements, not only physical, but also subtle bodies are affected, thus achieving the desired result can be much more efficient.
KUNDALI ENERGY
The essential purpose of kundalini yoga is to awaken and raise the kundalini energy that lies dormant at the base of each of us. When awakened and activated, this energy strengthens our awareness and opens self-healing processes. It is not for nothing that kundalini yoga is also called the yoga of awareness.
THE ROOTS OF KUNDALINI YOGA
The origins of Kundali Yoga can be found in the oldest Indian scriptures, the Vedas, and it was brought to the west and made famous by the teacher Yogi Bajan, who combined his knowledge and experience to create over 5,000 Kundalini Yoga kriyas and meditations and passed this knowledge on to future teachers.
HOW IT DIFFERS FROM OTHER TYPES OF YOGA
Compared to other forms of yoga, Kundalini yoga is a more spiritual practice. Other types of yoga flow with the breath, while Kundalini yoga combines chanting, movement and breathing in certain patterns to get the most effective result.
Benefits
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ANXIETY AND STRESS REDUCTION
Like other forms of yoga, Kundalini yoga can help reduce stress and anxiety.
in 2017 in the performed smallin the study, participants experienced an immediate reduction in stress after a Kundalini yoga session. This effect continued for another 3 months of consistent practice.
in 2018 doneinvestigation showed that 8 weeks of Kundalini yoga sessions reduced participants' anxiety levels. Researchers have concluded that Kundalini yoga may be an effective treatment for people with generalized anxiety disorder.
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COGNITIVE SKILLS
in 2017 in the controlledin the study researchers studied 81 participants with mild cognitive impairment. Participants were randomly divided into two groups. One group practiced Kundalini yoga, while the other group participated in memory training for 12 weeks.
While both groups showed significant improvements in memory at the end of the study, the Kundalini yoga group showed short- and long-term improvements in executive functioning. These include skills such as reasoning, problem solving and cognitive flexibility.
In addition to improving cognitive function, the group that practiced Kundalini yoga had fewer symptoms of depression at the end of the study.
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SELF-PERCEPTION AND EVALUATION
in 2017investigation has shown that Kundalini yoga can increase self-awareness and acceptance. This benefit was seen in nine women diagnosed with anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa.
According to researchers, Kundalini yoga can help treat eating disorders by improving self-awareness and self-esteem.
KUNDALINI YOGA AND THE NERVOUS SYSTEM
The unique combination of repetitive movements followed by periods of rest in Kundalini yoga helps retrain the nervous system. It is believed that most of the physical and mental illnesses in our lives are fundamentally caused by chronic stress. Chronic stress indicates an imbalance of the autonomic nervous system. The autonomic nervous system consists of the sympathetic (fight or flight) and parasympathetic (rest and digest) nervous systems. In today's world, we are overstimulated and the nervous system is constantly activated. When we can't relax, the nervous system becomes unbalanced and the body becomes dependent on adrenaline, the hormone that facilitates the fight-or-flight response. Digestion, healing and sexual functions, which are related to the process of rest and digestion, are constantly compromised and disabled. Breathing is chronically shallow, and diseases quickly strike. If these problems are not addressed, the tendency to mental disorders, sleep disorders, depression, anxiety, sexual dysfunction, digestive problems and chronic diseases increases.
Kundalini yoga aims to alleviate the symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder, reduce various addictions, obsessive compulsive disorder, insomnia, chronic fatigue, hyperactivity.
KUNDALINI YOGA AND THE ENDOCRINE SYSTEM
When you're in a bad mood, you can come up with a variety of reasons, such as bad weather conditions, phases of the moon, the behavior of those around you, etc. However, it is possible that the causes of bad mood lie in hormonal disorders. Our endocrine glands, which include the pituitary, thymus, thyroid, and adrenal glands, produce hormones that regulate body growth, metabolism, and mood. Kundalini yoga promotes a balanced expression of glandular secretions in the body, not only those that support the response to stress, but also those that support relaxation, communication, digestion, and sexual functions. It is not for nothing that kundalini yoga is also called hormone yoga
HOW A KUNDALINI YOGA CLASS WORKS
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Opening of the class. Each lesson begins with the chanting of an initiation mantra and a protection mantra;
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Pranayama or warm-up. Warm-up exercises are intended to prepare the body for further practice;
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Creeping Kriya is a sequence of poses, pranayama, mudras (hand positions), sounds that have a clear purpose (for example, to strengthen certain organs, glands, systems, affect the subtle bodies, emotions, etc.)
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Relaxation. This is a very important part of the practice, allowing the body and mind to absorb the effects of the kriya;
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Meditation. Each meditation has a different purpose, but in general they all harmonize, calm, develop awareness, and help you connect with your deep being.
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Closing the session with the mantra LONG TIME SUN and SAT NAM
IS KUNDALINI YOGA SAFE?
Kundalini yoga, like all types of yoga, should be practiced according to the individual situation. If you are not sure if you can practice, talk to your doctor.
Be careful if:
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you have breathing problems
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you have joint pain
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you have an injury
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you have balance problems
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you are waiting
Kundalini Yoga is unique in its effectiveness. The changes you want to achieve in life happen very quickly. A huge variety of kriyas (exercise sequences) and meditations gives you the opportunity to choose and practice what leads to the desired result.
This type of yoga is suitable for everyone who wants to overcome old habits, become healthier, more aware, have more energy, inner radiance, joy, confidence.
