Haven Yoga Meditation explains what makes Kundalini yoga different from other forms of yoga.
Yoga has long been known to be beneficial to our health. There are many, many forms of yoga, however, different forms of yoga benefit different needs. A question that we often get asked in the studio is what the difference between our regular Hatha-based yoga classes, and our Kundalini Yoga sessions.
So what is it that makes Kundalini yoga unique from other forms? As providers of yoga sessions in Brisbane, we explore how Kundalini yoga differs from other modalities, and the unique benefits that it provides.
The History of Kundalini
Kundalini yoga is based on the concept of Kundalini energy, which has been recorded in Ancient Vedic texts as far back as 1000 B.C.E. The term ‘Kundalini’ originates in the Sanskrit word for ‘circular’ and draws from the idea of Kundalini energy as a coiled, sleeping snake at the base of your spine.
Kundalini yoga was introduced to the Western world in the 1960s. The practice activates your Kundalini energy and moves it up through the chakras in your spine, cultivating spiritual balance and wellness in the practitioner. Kundalini yoga aims to make you feel a deep consciousness and awareness.
As Much Spiritual Than Physical
Kundalini yoga differs from other modalities of yoga by incorporating mantras, meditation, breathing exercises, as well as physical postures into its practice. Because of this, Kundalini yoga is a spiritual experience as compared to Hatha or Vinyasa yoga, which put a heavier focus on physicality and flexibility.
Kundalini yoga is precise and repetitive, grounding you within your own body and awakening your consciousness. The focus away from the physical provides a pathway for individuals to explore and deepen their spiritual connection, inner awareness, and consciousness, leaning to a holistic transformation beyond the body.
Science-Backed Benefits
The incredible and unique benefits of practising Kundalini Yoga are also backed by science. Studies have shown that Kundalini yoga demonstrably improves cognitive impairment and reduces stress*. There is also evidence that Kundalini yoga improves body positivity and lowers anxiety**. Anecdotally, in our own Kundalini yoga sessions in our Brisbane studio, we have witnessed these incredible benefits in individuals who regularly attend.
Good for Beginners
If you’re new to yoga, Kundalini yoga is a perfect place to start. Haven sees plenty of beginners in our own Kundalini yoga sessions in Brisbane.
For Kundalini yoga, you don’t need to be amazingly flexible or incredibly physically fit, it simply requires an open mind. This is why it’s such a fantastic way for nearly everyone to introduce themselves to yoga and mindfulness.
*Based on study: A Randomised controlled trial of Kundalini yoga in mild cognitive impairment https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5540331/
**Based on study: Kundalini Yoga in Women with Anorexia Nervosa and Bulimia Nervosa bit.ly/3LuZXdg
