By Shama Kaur
Kundalini Yoga Instructor
and Wellness Mentor
I usually inform my college students that when they expertise Kundalini Yoga, they won’t stay the identical: the very nature of Kundalini Yoga is to awaken the vitality of consciousness.
The observe brings to our consciousness our self-limiting beliefs and behavior patterns that we inherited from the previous. It invitations us to course of and launch painful reminiscences which can be saved in our unconscious. It awakens our capacity to develop into intuitive and delicate, to grasp an individual or a state of affairs even when no phrases are spoken- to grasp the implications of actions earlier than they occur.
Confidence and pleasure
I like sports activities and lots of varieties of rigorous yoga like Vinyassa and Ashtanga. I see these practices as adventurous and difficult. By training recurrently I’ve observed enchancment in my pace and efficiency. They provide me a way of accomplishment, confidence, even slightly pleasure, after I see myself performing handstands and headstands.
My Kundalini observe has remodeled me. The kriyas and meditations are fairly structured practices, however fairly than specializing in the bodily alignment, the kriyas are a particular set of workout routines that generate vitality, organise that vitality and lead you to a particular energetic state – notably certainly one of better consciousness.
Additionally, throughout the observe, are built-in moments of stillness the place we sit quietly and awaken to our Self. The breathwork throughout the kriyas is so highly effective that it begins to strip away the layers that veil our consciousness and within the candy moments between poses, we will sense the fullness of who we’re.
I observed through the years many refined advantages to training Kundalini yoga reminiscent of:
.Strengthening the nervous system: whenever you’re in a downward canine or plank pose for 3 entire minutes and your complete physique is shaking, haven’t any worry! Your nervous system is firming. And the stronger your nerves develop into, the extra it is possible for you to to behave in a cool, calm and picked up matter within the face of any state of affairs, be it a automobile accident, large presentation or household drama
.Awakening your interior will-power proper on the core of your photo voltaic plexus (third Chakra) on the navel level. What this implies is that robust warmth will construct up on this space of your physique, which helps in digesting not solely meals, but additionally previous reminiscences and self-doubt. We develop into capable of course of and digest occasions that occur and take obligatory motion instantly to eradicate issues, folks or conditions which can be inflicting us extra hurt than good
.Clearing the fog out of your thoughts. When the thoughts turns into clouded with a number of ideas, it feels slightly like a cobweb of ideas tough to untangle. A couple of minutes of speedy respiratory (breath of fireplace), or one-minute breath, the thoughts turns into crystal clear, you’ll really feel extra alert, centered, concentrated, with a greater reminiscence and the power to make sound choices
.Releasing worries and awakening your creativity: Respiration via alternate nostrils brings into stability the left and proper hemispheres of the mind. We normally act and analyse extra ceaselessly than we really feel, visualise and picture. And that is as a result of the suitable facet of the mind is normally under-stimulated. Kundalini yoga awakens our interior creativity by releasing our worries about little issues and opening us as much as the infinite potentialities that life has to supply
.Gaining an angle of acceptance: Kundalini yoga opens the center heart (4th Chakra) and poses such because the Tree Pose present us with safety within the root Chakra. So, we really feel like robust regular bushes planted firmly within the earth and when our wants aren’t met, we do not really feel prefer it’s the top of the world. We stay open and trusting that God will present us with what we want when the time is true. So, the world does not collapse after we do not get that job, fail that examination, or endure from a breakup or a household loss of life. No matter it’s, we acquire an angle of acceptance. Understanding that it is all OK. It is all good. We’re open to no matter life has to supply
.Changing into compassionate: poses such because the shoulder stand open the throat centre (fifth Chakra). Add this to an open coronary heart and we develop into forgiving, compassionate and non-judgemental; our lips can bless, give gratitude and kindness to all these round us. Thus, do not be stunned whenever you begin addressing your boss, cousins or neighbour by expensive, dearest, sweetheart, my love and so forth. Extra so, when there’s something bothering you, you will see that one of the simplest ways to specific your self is by gently saying absolutely the fact
.Awakening your instinct. We spend a lot time caught in our minds, analysing the professionals and cons of every determination when in actuality the reply is inside us. We at all times have a intestine feeling about one thing, however we are inclined to ignore it. Yoga offers you the power to pause and hearken to the message behind that intestine feeling. It lets you quieten down your thoughts to the purpose that your ideas develop into nonetheless and you may really feel what your coronary heart yearns for
.Making Smart Selections: All types of yoga make us extra aware beings. So, do not be stunned whenever you begin refraining from behaviours that trigger hurt to you and the atmosphere reminiscent of smoking, ingesting, medication, meat and dairy, water and electrical energy overuse. As an alternative, you’ll select to eat contemporary greens, fruits and entire meals to guard animals and the atmosphere. One can find your self serving others via charitable giving and taking on actions like singing, dancing and artwork, that take away you from the corporate of individuals and environment that not convey out the very best in you
Kundalini Yoga is to not be taken frivolously. It’s like an specific practice that shakes and wakes you up. Some kriyas will go away you feeling excessive and completely blissed out. Different kriyas will actually provoke and confront you. What’s essential is to remain current and settle for pleasure and ache as a part of the identical journey to well being and stability. Our ego naturally leans in direction of pleasure and luxury. It takes concerted effort and self-discipline to start to launch the ego’s grip on our consciousness. This effort is the work required to start to entry the reality of who we’re, to create a powerful connection to our soul and due to this fact our Soul’s work on this planet. It’s the place we begin to make nice strides in direction of dwelling as an enlightened being.
This 2023, I encourage you to embark on a journey of transformation that may most actually deepen your connection to your true self, with the observe of Kundalini Yoga. Think about becoming a member of the Kundalini Yoga Instructor Coaching Programme in Amman that begins this February 2023!
Reprinted with permission from Household Flavours journal
