This post is the first of a new series I am thrilled to share with you called "Healing Toolkit”. Over the past 10+ years I have spent countless hours researching, experiencing and using tools that have supported and empowered me on my healing journey. The intention of this series is to share them with you so that you can create your own healing toolkit on the path of being your own healer.
First up is Kundalini Meditation, a constant and non-negotiable part of my daily routine over the past six years. If you have visited The Dreamerie before, you know I am extremely passionate about this practice and am a certified Kundalini Yoga and Meditation Teacher. It is both a big part of my life as well as my work.
Today we are diving into what Kundalini is, what you can expect and the benefits of this practice. I also created a free guide to dive deeper titled "Eleven Things To Know About Kundalini Meditation" which you can find below, I hope it serves you!
While there are many ways to incorporate this modality into your life, even three minutes of daily practice will shift your entire state of being. I would recommend this meditation for anyone getting started. If you are looking for more personalized support, check out my sessions here.
What is Kundalini Meditation?
Kundalini Meditation is a meditation technique that works on the entire being: body, mind & spirit. It combines mantra, breathwork, mudra (hand position) and drishti (eye focus) to create a connection between you and your mind, and between your mind and body.
There are 100's of Kundalini Meditations available, each holding a specific benefit but all giving you the opportunity to be with yourself, connect to your breath and create stillness inside of you.
While practicing Kundalini Meditation you will release trauma from the body, learn to live from the frequency of love, quiet your mind, let go of negative thought forms, overcome self-imposed limitations and connect to higher consciousness. This allows you to be fully in the flow with yourself and the Universe. With regular practice you build your internal energy to handle whatever life brings your way with confidence, strength and grace.
Benefits:
As with anything, consistency and repetition leads to lasting change. You will feel the benefits of this practice immediately and over time, that will only continue to strengthen. A few of the benefits you can experience are:
- Mental focus
- An increase in energy
- Clarity of the mind
- Connecting to higher consciousness
- Calming the nervous system
- Releasing habits, fears and blocks
- Developing the intuition
- Balancing the Chakras (energy centers)
- Inner Peace
- Transforming emotions
- Overcoming self-imposed limitations
- Prosperity and abundance
The Experience
Kundalini as taught by Yogi Bhajan is different from many other forms of yoga and meditation. While each experience is unique, there is almost always a combination of breath, mantra and movement. Kriyas (or series of postures) have different benefits and are held for a specific period of time to work on different parts of the mind and body.
You might have your hands in the air for a few minutes or do breath of fire for a prolonged period of time, this process allows you to experience yourself more deeply. As with any practice listen to your body. For example, if you are pregnant or on your menstral cycle you wouldn't do breath of fire but would instead do long deep breathing. This is about your experience and spiritual practice, not who can keep their arms up the longest.
When you attend a class the typical flow is tuning-in, a warm-up and pranayama or breathwork series followed by a kriya. Between postures there are period of rest and relaxation. The class ends with a meditation and closes out with the mantra Sat Nam which stands for true identity.
A few helpful terms to know:
- Mudra: The position of your hand.
- Drishti: The point of focus for your eyes.
- Bandhas: Body locks or contractions of specific core areas of the body.
- Kriya: A series of postures, breath, and sound that work toward a specific outcome.
- Chakras: Energy centers within the body.
Stay Open
In Kundalini you will utilize a variety of tools including breathwork, mantra, movement, and meditation. The practice goes deep and can support you in accessing so many of its benefits including an increase in energy, feeling at peace, a deeper connection to your intuition, clarity in your life, abundance (which comes in many forms!) and feeling happier. All that is asked of you is to show up and do your best.
Experience Kundalini Meditation
A wonderful meditation to begin your practice with is Kirtan Kriya.
“Kirtan Kriya, often referred to as SA TA NA MA meditation, is the most important meditation in Kundalini Yoga. It was one of the first meditations taught by Yogi Bhajan and remains today as a foundation meditation recommended for every student. Yogi Bhajan said that if you can do only one meditation, this is it.”(kundaliniyoga.org)
