Uncoiling the Serpent

There are nine modern paths of yoga:

1. Bhakti - the yoga of devotion
2. Hatha - the yoga of the body
3. Jnana - the yoga of wisdom
4. Karma - the yoga of service
5. Kundalini - the yoga of latent spiritual awareness
6. Mantra - the yoga of sound
7. Raja - the yoga of the mind
8. Tantra - the yoga of sexual polarity
9. Yantra - the yoga of vision

The word Kundalini comes from the Sanskrit word kundal , which means "coil".

Kundalini is actually depicted as a serpent coiled at the base of the spine. It is believed that, without the practice of Kundalini yoga, this serpent remains dormant and coiled at the spine's base. Often, you will hear yogi's talk about "raising the Kundalini". This means they are awakening the Kundalini energy as it rises up the spine and nervous system like a stirring snake. The purpose of Kundalini yoga is to raise one's consciousness of one's self and of one's connection with all that is the Universe. It does this by bringing a balance of energy among all the seven major chakras that, without coincidence, are found along the spinal path from the base of the spine to the crown of the head.

While practicing Hatha yoga, one becomes very aware of that which this yoga serves: The Body. That is what Hatha yoga is designed to do. Hatha yoga forces you to focus on the body. Kundalini yoga is designed to be just as focusing. Only, it forces you to focus on that which it serves: The Spirit. Similarly to Hatha Yoga, Kundalini yoga practices a very focused movement. A coiled serpent must be "raised" with care and with conscious awareness of each area of the spine for which the Kundalini energy is being ~ raised one chakra at a time. Kundalini yoga encourages continual movement. How else is one to "raise the Kundalini"? For, in order to create energy, one must create friction. In order to create friction, one must create movement between elements; in this case elements within the body. Therefore, if one is to "raise the Kundalini" or awaken the serpent energy within, one must continually move the body causing friction, causing energy, awakening the Kundalini.

Often a Kundalini yoga session starts in the sitting position practicing a spinal flex at the base of the spine. This is done in easy pose (with legs crossed and spine straight), holding on to the ankles with each hand and flexing the spine forward (breathe in) and backward (breathe out) in a continual motion for the length of 1 to 2 minutes. Afterward, you are to inhale deeply, holding your breath for a small time, while also tightening your rectal muscles to encourage the energy, just created by the spinal flex, to live in the base of the spine. Unless you experience this for yourself, it is difficult to believe the powerful experience that comes with such a simple exercise. But I have to tell you there is quite a powerful feeling of awakened energy that I experience each time I practice spinal flex at the beginning of my Kundalini yoga sessions. After spinal flex, there are other poses or exercises that are also practiced in a certain order to slowly and consciously bring that ball of energy, created by spinal flex at the base of the spine, up chakra by chakra to the crown of the head. And that, in a nutshell, is Kundalini yoga.

Kundalini yoga is filled with mystery. Many call it the secret fountain of youth. I remember watching a yogi guru as she described this aspect of Kundalini yoga. I remember agreeing with her, thinking that, for a woman in her thirties, she certainly maintained the body of a woman in her twenties. Then she announced her age. She said she was 56 years old. I was shocked, utterly speechless. She certainly didn't look anywhere close to the age of 56. She had few, if any, wrinkles and her skin and body were firm and youthful.

Let me leave you with this: Through the practice of Kundalini yoga, I find I am calm in times of stress, more joyfully aware of my presence in the world, full of energy and oddly wiser, if I dare say. And so, I challenge you to give Kundalini yoga just one try. Don't worry about the turbans the teachers wear and the chanting that goes on. You don't have to participate in either. I certainly don't wear a turban and I only choose to participate with some of the chants that I'm more comfortable with. Remember, your yoga practice belongs to you. Do what feels comfortable for you and you will never go wrong.

Namaste