Kundalini Yoga: Rookie Experience



"When you don't go within, you go without" -Yoji Bhajan

Today I took my very first Kundalini Yoga class. I had always associated Kundalini with white turbans and chanting - both of which I felt were for "older" people. I preferred a yoga practice that was physically intense, yet awakening. Little did I know, Kundalini Yoga is exactly that! Though the practice is very different from the Westernized yoga most of us are familiar with, it was definitely physically, mentally and spiritually intense.
Kundalini is considered one of the most spiritual types of yoga. The emphasis is on breathing, meditation, mudras and chanting. As physically challenging as it is, it goes beyond the performance of poses. The practice is described as untapped energy located at the base of the spine, that when activated through the body, awakens each of the seven chakras.
I recently read a truly inspiring story about Yogi Bhajan (late founder). He left a career in Indian government to bring Kundalini Yoga to the West. His first lecture in Los Angeles drew not a single person that evening, yet since he was there to teach, he went on to lecture to an empty hall. I'm so fascinated by that story. As a teacher myself, I've feared not having a single person attend my class. To hear that Yoji Bhajan began his Western experience speaking to an empty room, goes to show the power of honoring your truth. Needless to say, he went on to work with world renowned religious figures such as the Dalai Lama and Pope John Paul II.
I attended this Kundalini class with a open heart and mind, with an intention to reject any personal judgement that may surface. By consciously remaining connected to my breath, I was able to feel strong energy movement rooting from my belly. After nearly 8 years of practicing yoga, I tried something ancient, yet new! Put your ego aside and take that class you've been shying away from. It's never too late to try something new - you might actually love it!