Kundalini Yoga is a householders yoga.
The system is a technology that allows us to move our bodies, harness our mind to experience and elevate our soul, while simultaneously needing to be a husband/wife, caregiver/parent, employee/employer (ie, regular life continues!).
Yogi Bhajan brought the secrets of Kundalini Yoga to the west when he move to the United States in 1969, in order to assist everyday people in transitioning from the Piscean Age (where religion was the opiate of the masses, with lack of equality, masculine/feminine energies not in balance) to the Aquarian Age (associated with electricity, computers, flight, democracy, freedom, humanitarianism, idealism, modernization, astrology, nervous disorders, rebellion, nonconformity, philanthropy, veracity, perseverance, humanity, and irresolution). Yogi Bhajan often said what worked in the past will no longer work.
In the Aquarian Age, fatigue and feelings of alienation are prevalent and we turn to technology such as social media and other stimulus to counteract the feelings of loneliness. Our nervous systems are fatigued and we feel constantly "on the go" and we have no ability to allow our mind to relax and return to a neutral state. Yogi Bhajan taught Kundalini Yoga so that people would have techniques to consciously develop the sensory system, and find their Strength Within.
"Kundalini Yoga is the science to unite the finite with Infinity, and it's the art to experience Infinity in the finite." -Yogi Bhajan, 10/27/88
Check back frequently, because as the popularity grows, so will the class availability options!
Practice Guidelines
Before you begin:
Consume only a light snack and water in the 2 – 3 hours prior to practicing.
Turn off all cell phones and other distractions.
Have water in a closed-lidded container handy.
Wear lose, comfortable clothing and a natural-fiber head covering (e.g., bandana, scarf, cap).
Have a sheepskin or blanket (natural fiber) to sit on and a shawl or second blanket to cover yourself during relaxation and meditation.
If you are tight in the lower back, hips, or legs, have a pillow or cushion to elevate yourself during meditation and seated postures.
Why natural fibers? Through time, yogis found it to be the best insulator to keep grounded during meditation.
Tune-in with the Adi Mantra: Chant Ong Namo Guru Dev Namo three times before beginning any warm-ups, kriyas, or meditation.
During Your Practice:
Kundalini Yoga is the yoga of awareness. Listen to your body; do what works for you.
Challenge yourself to extend just past whatever you think your limits are. For instance, if you think you can only do one minute of an exercise, then try for one minute and ten seconds.
Follow the directions! Keep the order and type of posture. Do not exceed the stated times. If you wish to shorten an exercise, shorten all exercises in the kriya proportionally (i.e., cut all times in half or quarter).
In a class, feel free to ask for clarification on an exercise or other aspects of the practice.
Drink water as needed between exercises.
Remember the Moon! During the heaviest part (one to three days) of a woman's monthly menstruation, avoid strenuous yoga. In particular, do not do: Bow Pose, Breath of Fire, Stretch Pose, Camel Pose, Locust Pose, Root Lock, Sat Kriya, inversions (e.g., Shoulder Stand), or strenuous leg lifts. Instead, visualize yourself doing the posture or ask the teacher for a modification.
After Your Practice:
Drink lots of water. Pay attention to your physical, emotional, and mental self.
Incorporate what you experienced in class into the rest of your life, particularly the “simple” things like long, deep breathing and a graceful, royal posture.