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The Sanskrit word yoga means union, and the ancient practice of Kundalini Yoga ‘yokes’ individual consciousness with spirit, through movement, breath, mantra, and meditation. Benefits include elevation of mood, spirit, consciousness and intuition, increased capacity to love oneself and others, and the integration of the mind, spirit and body. This practice is open and accessible to all.

I have practiced Kundalini for many years. A certified instructor with the Kundalini Research Institute, I am looking forward to beginning level two KRI training in 2026. I am blessed to live and teach by the ocean on the traditional territory of Snuneymuxw First Nation.

About Kundalini Yoga

Kundalini Yoga is a comprehensive yoga tradition that combines meditation, mantra, physical exercises and breathing techniques. It is known as a householder’s path, practiced by those with families and jobs as opposed to a renunciate’s path of celibacy and removal from society, which was, historically, the path of a yogi.

Kundalini Yoga as we practice and teach it, is also known as the Yoga of Awareness, since it is focused on self-awareness and highest consciousness. It is a technology aimed to elevate the spirit, which has no boundaries. The practice is for everyone, regardless of gender and sexual orientation. It is universal and nondenominational.

Kundalini literally means “the curl of the lock of hair of the beloved.” This poetic metaphor alludes to the flow of energy and consciousness that exists within each of us. Connecting with this energy enables us to merge with (yoke) the universal Self. Fusing individual and universal consciousness creates a divine union. The Upanishads, dating back to the fifth century B.C., describe Kundalini, although the oral tradition reaches back even further into history. For thousands of years, this sacred science and technology was veiled in secrecy, passed along verbally from master to chosen disciple.

Kundalini Yoga tends to use rhythmic motions linked with conscious breathing, and chanting, and it looks and feels very different from the more widely known forms of yoga, such as Hatha. It has an enormous variety of techniques and meditations, allowing the instructor to tailor programs that support individual goals. It’s a safe way to stimulate the body’s natural resources and become healthy, happy, and holy—in body, mind and spirit. It’s a proven path to the Self and the Soul—to an experience of your highest destiny.

History of Kundalini Yoga

Kundalini Yoga was brought to the West in 1968 by Yogi Bhajan. In the early days of this new open sharing of these profound technologies in Los Angeles, it was already evident that it provided quick, transformative, and practical benefits for modern life. Prior to that time, this style of yoga had been only known by those lucky enough to be able to dedicate their lives to study and it was passed on through that means.

About a Kundalini Yoga Practice or Class

In any Kundalini Yoga class, anywhere in the world, you can expect to find six major components:

  1. Tuning-in with the mantra “Ong Namo, Guru Dev Namo”
  2. Pranayam or warm-up
  3. Kriya
  4. Relaxation
  5. Meditation
  6. Closing

The typical class is 60-90 minutes: 5-10 minute warm-up, 30-45 minute kriya, 5-15 minute layout, 11-31 minutes of meditation.

Kriyas are complete sets of exercises that are performed exactly as they were taught, without any alteration by the instructor. They can be simple short sequences, or they may involve vigorous, even strenuous exercises, and strong breath techniques such as Breath of Fire, which challenge and strengthen the nervous and endocrine systems and test the will of the practitioner beyond the limitations of their ego.

Pranayam practices range from One Minute Breath, Breath of Fire, alternate nostril breathing, Dog Breath, Sitali Pranayam, and suspended breath techniques, to name a few. Meditations often involve movement or mantra, and generally have an eye focus (drishti) in addition to mudra (hand position) and asana (body posture). Many Kundalini Yoga kriyas and meditations include mantra and chanting. One of the first signs of the awakening of the kundalini is a new awareness of the power of our words. You begin to meditate on and develop inner sounds using mantra and naad. The use of mantra throughout our practice is very effective in attaining two particular goals of the practice—expansion of the Self and elevation of the spirit. Mantra also supports those new to meditation, who find silence and absolutely stillness very challenging. In this way it is a beginner’s practice and can be used by anyone to attain clarity, balance, and equanimity. In addition, there are many meditations that are silent, practiced in a profoundly transformative stillness called Shuniya.