FAQs
What is Yoga?
The word Yoga derives from the Sanskrit „yugit“, meaning „to connect“. So what is connected in Yoga? We live in a world of polarities, of opposites: man - woman, plus – minus, yin – yang, good – bad, you – me, macro – micro-cosmos etc. The invitation in yoga is to connect these polarities. Where does this happen? In the place where all opposites originate: namely, in yourself. This is where masculine and feminine meet, where the finite, limited “I” meets with the infinite, unlimited “I”. That is yoga.
In this way, yoga means unity and harmony. It is also an ancient collection of experiences and realisations about our body, mind and spirit, with the aim of bringing these 3 aspects into harmony. Through yoga we develop our natural abilities and inner possibilities, which can lead us to healing and wholeness.
What is Kundalini Yoga?
“Kundalini” is synonomous with the life force within all living things. Kundalini Yoga works on awakening and channelling this primal creative energy while simultaneously strengthening the nervous system, endocrine (glandular) system, muscle and organ systems.
Kundalini Yoga helps you towards a better body feeling and greater physical as well as mental health. Yoga generally means “to connect” so ultimately it is always an invitation to come into better contact with yourself.
To do this we work with the principle of tension and relaxation: complete relaxation follows conscious tension. This is a natural law, just as every inhale must follow an exhale. In Kundalini Yoga we use physical exercises, breathing techniques, concentration and relaxation techniques, as well as meditation. Kundalini Yoga combines elements of Hatha, Raja, Bhakti and Naad (sound) yogas. Pranayama (breath technique), Mudras (hand positions), Bhandas (body locks) and also meditation are incorporated early on when you learn Kundalini Yoga.
A special aspect of Kundalini Yoga is that it is taught in complete sets of exercises called Kriyas. Individual exercises and variations of exercises are combined to work on a particular theme. In Kundalini Yoga there are more than 3000 different exercise sets and meditations.
The practice of Kundalini Yoga is not tied to a religious practice. However, the tradition of Kundalini Yoga does have an influence on the way in which the teachings are conveyed.
Do I have to be flexible to be able to do yoga?
There are no gold medals to win in yoga, rather the opportunity to lose your pride and shame. While physical flexibility is not really important, through regular practice, depending on your age, constitution and overall state of health, your flexibility will improve, sometimes dramatically. Even as an absolute beginner, you can experience the effect of the exercises on the body directly and immediately. Ultimately, yoga is above all also an inner exercise in which your own commitment to be fully present with your whole being is more important than being able to wrap your legs behind your head!
When should I or shouldn´t I practice yoga?
Generally there are no criteria that would exclude you from yoga. It is, however, important for the teacher to know if you have physical complaints or injuries, since there are certain exercises which should be avoided by people with particular problems or tendencies. Actually, many complaints, physical or mental/emotional complaints can be reduced through yoga, if not completely removed.
In the case of acute illness, if you have an infection of some kind where your pulse is faster than normal it may be advisable to wait until the acute phase passes before beginning yoga again. In fact, yoga is a powerful tool for deflecting illness in its early stages or speeding up the recovery process, once the acute phase has passed. If you are unsure in any way, see a doctor.
What happens in a typical Kundalini Yoga class?
In Kundalini Yoga we work with exercise sets, called Kriyas. These are completely self-contained, specially put-together series of exercises and meditations. Each exercise can be practiced alone, but the real effect comes from the combination of exercises together, making a total which is greater than the sum of its parts. Kriyas wirk, for example, on particular muscle and organ groups, glandular and hormonal systems or on mental themes like for example fear or dependencies.
Every Kundalini Yoga class as taught by Yogi Bhajan follows a pattern in which it is taught all over the world: we begin by tuning in with a mantra in which we bow down to the inner teacher in all. Through this we open an internal and external space which brings us into contact with our inner self and creates a protected environment for our practice. We then do some warm-up exercises followed by a Kriya (exercise set). There are Kriyas for the spine, the individual organs, hormone and glandular system and also for mental/emotional themes like strengthening intuition, defeating insecurities, strengthening self-esteem, healing sleep-disturbances and much much more. After this comes the deep relaxation, in which you can fully let go and relax, followed by a meditation to integrate the effects of the Kriya you´ve just done. Most of the time the meditation relates to the theme covered in the Kriya. Finally, we tune out with 2 mantras.
Is Kundalini Yoga a religious practice?
No, but it is a spiritual practice. Kundalini Yoga as taught by Yogi Bhajan is rooted in the tradition of Sikhism, as the throne of Kundalini Yoga (a kind of Raj or royal yoga) was passed down to the 4th Guru of the Sikhs, Guru Ram Das. So we talk in Kundalini Yoga about belonging to the House of Guru Ram Das, which means we are connected to his energy of loving service and healing when we do Kundalini Yoga. The mantras in Kundalini Yoga are in Gurmukhi language, as opposed to Sanskrit, the language of mantras in most other forms of yoga. So while you definitely do not have to be Sikh or even know anything about Sikhism to do Kundalini Yoga and have it work for you, it is suffused with this special presence. There is nothing religious about Kundalini Yoga, but it is overtly a spiritual practice, meant to connect you with your own spirit, and not just physical exercises.
I don´t consider myself to be a spiritual person; can I do Kundalini Yoga anyway?
Yoga has as much to do with spirituality as you yourself want it to. One thing is clear however: yoga has a lot to do with YOU: your body, your inner and outer posture, your thought patterns, needs and longings and with the impulse from your within (from your soul, if you like) to connect with yourself and to enjoy this connection. This might be called spirituality. It is entirely up to you to decide how deeply you want to go into it. We trust that your own experience of yoga will guide you and take you forward on your unique path.