This post is adapted from the book “Clearing Your Chakras” by Donna Davidge, the owner/operator of Sewall House Yoga Retreat.
Welcome to the world of Kundalini Yoga!
Kundalini is an exciting adventure to self-awareness, a powerful tool to enhance the well-being of your body and mind, and a safe space to tune in to your higher, spiritual nature.
Yoga is spiritual, not religious
Please don’t be put off by the term “spiritual”. Often people confuse “spirituality” and “religiosity”. Yoga is not a religion.
I once had a conversation with a man — let’s call him “Paul” — during which he said, “Oh, how interesting. You teach yoga. I am a Catholic.” Every time I tell that story I laugh. Paul was a wonderful man. He took care of his physical body by jogging and eating healthily. Paul didn’t understand that his life was on the same track as those of us who practice yoga: working to open our spiritual selves to all the possibilities our time on this planet has to offer.
Yoga builds flexibility
If Kundalini focuses so much on the spiritual side, what about yoga poses? Are they still important? They are!
While the spiritual part of yoga focuses on reaching a peaceful place with a clear mind, the physical poses are also important because you are only as open as your breath is open. You are only as flexible as your spine is flexible.
If you’re thinking, “I’m not very flexible, so I can’t do yoga,” you’ll need to eliminate the negative self-talk and open yourself to the possibility of your body’s stretching, strengthening, and developing a new awareness. Maybe change your inner voice to say, “I’m not very flexible, so I must do yoga to allow my body to reach it’s maximal flexibility.“
Always keep in mind that doing the poses perfectly is secondary to the spiritual side of yoga. You don’t need to be a pretzel. Doing the poses with the proper breath and state of mind — and in a way that you do not injure yourself — gets you to the spiritual place faster and more easily. Your yoga practice is exactly that: your practice. Take it easy on yourself. Move at your own pace. Find a teacher in tune with your needs and get started.
Kundalini Yoga can enhance your work performance, any activity you choose to engage in, and, as a result, your life in general. Kundalini has a proven track record. After all, people have been practicing it for thousands of years. Give it a go and watch yourself grow!
For more information about Kundalini, please read our article about what to expect from a Kundalini Yoga session.
Check out the other excerpts from Clearing Your Chakras.
