Discovering the Secret World of Kundalini Yoga

“When you don’t go within, you go without.” – Yogi Bhajan

In late 2016, I was struggling with life. The dreary Michigan weather was making me feel blah, and the sun going down before 6pm didn’t help. I wouldn’t say that I was depressed, but I was not myself and that was not OK.

I randomly stumbled upon Gabrielle Bernstein’s book, The Universe Has Your Back. I’d never heard of Gabby, but I decided to purchase the audiobook. I listened to it every night on the way home from work, allowing Gabby’s warm words to thaw some of the December chill.

I grew to love Gabby’s teachings and it was through her that I stumbled into kundalini yoga. I had heard about this type of yoga before, but was not familiar with it. To be completely honest, whenever I heard it mentioned, I’d picture an old man in a turban chanting in a foreign language. Turns out, I was completely wrong.

Tapping Into Your Natural Energy

Kundalini yoga is a great way to tap into your natural energy. Kundalini is the energy that resides in the base of your spine. The goal of kundalini yoga is to transfer this energy through the chakras and up into the brain.

Unlike some traditional yoga, there are no Sun Salutations or poses utilizing bricks and straps. Kundalini is about focusing less on poses and more on breathing and releasing.

Breath of Fire

One of the first things I learned about was Breath of Fire and I’ll admit, I was a little terrified.

It turns out, Breath of Fire is simply breathing in and out through your nose, filling your belly up with air. Breath of Fire sounded intense, but there is always an option to take it slow.

As the practice goes on, you begin to shorten each breath and pick up the pace. Some people can do it for 10 minutes straight off the bat, while others slowly work their way up in increments. Just remember: Your practice, your pace.

Breath of Fire is beneficial because it strengthens the nervous system against stress and boosts the immune system. My favorite thing about Breath of Fire (and other Kundalini yoga practices) is that it can be done anywhere.

Feeling stressed after a long day? Practice on the subway! Need to take a break at work? Close your office door and take five minutes to relax. You don’t need a ton of space, just a place to sit straight and place your hands in Prayer Pose.

The Meaning of Sa Ta Na Ma

I also discovered the kundalini mantra “Sa Ta Na Ma.” The sounds represent the following: Sa = Infinity, Ta = Life, Na = Death, and Ma = Rebirth. You can practice this mantra in a seated position. There are a few different takes on this, but the way I practice is by touching my fingers to my thumb. For example, my thumb and index finger touch during “Sa” and my middle finger and thumb touch during “Ta.” This is a great technique to calm the nervous system, especially during stressful times.

The thing I love most about kundalini yoga is how flexible the practice is. There’s no wrong way to do it. There’s also so many parts involved, that if you don’t care for one aspect of it, that’s okay!

Kundalini yoga is a great way to escape our fast-paced world. I am so thankful that I found it during a dark time in my life. Shortly after I began kundalini yoga, I noticed the winter blues began to thaw and fade away. I still continue to practice, as it has allowed me to remain calm in many situations and literally “take a breather.”

Kati Jewell is a self-proclaimed spirit junkie who lives in Michigan. When she’s not on her boat with her husband and daughter, she can be found at yoga class or lost in a good book.