| Kundalini seems to be one of the schools of yoga | | | | realized how different Kundalini was from other types |
| around which there is an air of mystery and | | | | of yoga. While some poses and practices were |
| mysticism. Some might even say there is a hint of | | | | similar, the other yoga classes I tried lacked the |
| danger in it. Kundalini is different than some of the | | | | explicit connection between the physical work of the |
| more popular and mainstream types of yoga most | | | | body during the practice and the mental and spiritual |
| commonly practiced in the United States, but I'm not | | | | work associated with it. I have tried many styles of |
| sure how it has earned the reputation it has, for | | | | yoga over the years, and enjoy many of them, but |
| being a more eccentric yoga practice. | | | | Kundalini is still a favorite. |
| Some of the information that you can find on the | | | | When Yogi Bhajan gave his first public lecture in the |
| internet about Kundalini yoga enhances its mystical | | | | US in 1969, he explained that it is everyone's |
| reputation, with prominent references to coiling | | | | birthright to be happy, healthy and holy, and that |
| snakes, even large pictures of cobras on the front | | | | Kundalini Yoga was a powerful way to claim that |
| page of the website. I think Yogi Bhajan, the man | | | | birthright. Kundalini was created as the "householder's" |
| responsible for bringing Kundalini yoga to the United | | | | yoga, the yoga for the common man. While other |
| States, would be disappointed to see this lovely form | | | | forms of yoga required endless hours of practice and |
| of yoga characterized in this way. | | | | a withdrawal from society, Kundalini was designed to |
| Kundalini just happened to be the first type of yoga I | | | | offer the same benefits in a fraction of the time. |
| practiced. It just happened to be the class that was | | | | The working man's yoga, Kundalini provided a path to |
| most convenient. For months, Kundalini was the only | | | | enlightenment for people with families to take care |
| yoga I knew, and I loved it. I loved the connection | | | | of and work to do. |
| of the breath to the movement, and the repetitive | | | | Far from spooky or kooky, in my experience, |
| motions, like moving mediations. I loved that my | | | | Kundalini is a challenging and rewarding practice that |
| teacher set an intention for each class for a certain | | | | leaves me feeling both invigorated and nurtured. |
| spiritual goal, or the opening of a certain chakra, and | | | | Though I have found few teachers over the years, I |
| all of the poses and motions throughout the class | | | | refer often to the first book I purchased, "Kundalini |
| were meant to work toward that goal. This yoga | | | | Yoga for Body, Mind and Beyond" by Ravi Singh and |
| was unlike any other exercise I had done before, but | | | | I enjoy the many Kundalini Yoga DVDs by Ravi Singh |
| afterward I felt physically tired and spiritually uplifted | | | | and Ana Brett. Kundalini Yoga may not be for |
| and opened in a way I had never experienced | | | | everyone, but if you're willing to open your mind and |
| before. | | | | try this empowering form of yoga, you just might |
| It wasn't until I began attending other classes that I | | | | enjoy the results. |